DRI supports our projects during construction. Our extensive experience – particularly with foundation installation – is valuable and can help reduce additional costs at the time of construction.
We perform pre-construction wave equation analysis (WEAP) of driven piling systems, high-strain dynamic testing (PDA testing) of pile foundations, low-strain pile integrity testing (PIT), vibration monitoring, subgrade evaluation for pavements and floor slabs, and monitoring of geotechnical instrumentation.
- Wave equation analysis of driven piling systems (WEAP)
- Dynamic testing
- Low-strain pile integrity testing (PIT)
- Vibration monitoring
WEAP is used to model the soil-pile response to various pile hammers for different pile types and subsurface conditions, providing an estimate of soil resistance, pile driving stresses, and geotechnical capacities for each pile. WEAP is often performed in advance of pile driving to evaluate the suitability of pile driving systems proposed by piling contractors. The results can be used to confirm or select an appropriate pile driving system and establish a preliminary pile-driving termination criteria, which should be confirmed with high-strain dynamic pile testing (PDA) during production piling.
- Shallow foundations
- Cast-in-place concrete piles (friction and end bearing)
- Driven piles (timber, concrete, steel)
- Rock-socketted caissons
- Helical piles
High Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles
DRI has extensive experience with high strain dynamic testing (“PDA testing”) and CAPWAP analysis of driven pile foundations using the Pile Driving Analyzer® (PDA) equipment developed by Pile Dynamics Inc. Our experience includes timber piles, precast prestressed concrete piles and steel piles (HP and pipe).
We have a depth of experience with low-strain PIT testing of pile foundations using the Pile Integrity Tester (PIT-Q) developed by Pile Dynamics Inc. Our experience includes:
- Timber piles
- Precast prestressed concrete piles
- CIP concrete piles
PIT testing is a non-destructive test method that meets ASTM D5882. It can be used to detect potential shaft or pile defects such as major cracks, necking, soil inclusions, or voids. If the pile is intact, the results can sometimes be used to estimate pile lengths.
We’ve completed vibration monitoring of various buildings during installation of driven pile foundations on adjacent sites. Vibration monitoring is performed using geophones and data collectors developed by Instantel. The data we collect is important in understanding the magnitude of natural and man-made vibrations transmitted to various types of buildings.