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A Self-Learning Manual - Institution of Engineers Mauritius

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A <strong>Self</strong>-<strong>Learning</strong> <strong>Manual</strong><br />

Mastering Different Fields <strong>of</strong> Civil Engineering Works (VC-Q&A Method) Vincent T. H. CHU<br />

reflections arrive at the pile top is a function <strong>of</strong> their locations along<br />

the pile length. The measured force and velocity at the pile top thus<br />

provide necessary information to estimate soil resistance and its<br />

distribution.<br />

(ii) Measurement <strong>of</strong> pile stress during driving<br />

Compressive stress at pile top is measured directly from strain<br />

transducers.<br />

(iii) Measurement <strong>of</strong> hammer energy delivered to the piles<br />

The hammer energy delivered to the pile is directly computed as the<br />

work done on the pile from the integral <strong>of</strong> force times displacement<br />

( ∫Fdu ) and this can be calculated as force times velocity integrated<br />

over time ( ∫Fvdt ).<br />

(iv) Determine if pile damage has occurred.<br />

Pile integrity can be checked by inspecting the measurements for<br />

early tension returns (caused by pile damage) before the reflection<br />

from the pile toe. The lack <strong>of</strong> such reflections assures a pile with no<br />

defects.<br />

There is a growing trend <strong>of</strong> using PDA test to check driven pile capacity<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> traditional static load test which is more expensive and<br />

time-consuming. Some engineers may have reservation on the use <strong>of</strong><br />

dynamic formula to evaluate driven pile capacity because <strong>of</strong> the fear <strong>of</strong><br />

improper selection <strong>of</strong> quake values and damping factor.<br />

4. Can both Pile Drive Analyser (PDA) and Pile Integrity Test (PIT) be<br />

used for checking pile capacity? (PDA2)<br />

Pile Drive Analyser is a high-strain dynamic test to determine the force and<br />

velocity response <strong>of</strong> a pile to an impact force applied axially by a driving<br />

hammer at the pile top. It is applicable to driven piles or small diameter<br />

bored piles. The operation measures the elastic deformation <strong>of</strong> a pile after<br />

a hammer blow and is mainly used to check the ultimate capacity <strong>of</strong> piles.<br />

However, it may also be adopted to detect damages in pile body and obtain<br />

the friction pr<strong>of</strong>ile along the pile shaft.<br />

Pile Integrity Test is a low-strain dynamic test which involves the use <strong>of</strong> a<br />

small vibrator or a light hammer. It is applicable to small diameter driven<br />

concrete piles and large diameter bored piles. It can be used to check the<br />

following properties:<br />

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