Pile Load Test

Seminar on “Building Control and Geotechnical Building Works”

INTERPRETATION OF
STATIC LOAD TEST RESULTS

Wong Kai Sin

WKS Geotechnical Consultants

28 September 2017

Jointly organised by:

What do we get from the load test?

Q

Q Q

DTOP

QS = fs As

• Unit skin friction, fs

• Unit end bearing, fp
• Pile top settlement, DTOP
QP = fp AP

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 Pile Load Test

Interpretation of Pile Load Test Results

Three stages of interpretation:

1. Assessing results presented in test report
2. Processing the data from strain to force
3. Making sense of the test results

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Stage 1: Assessing results presented in test report

Example 1
Design: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.5N
Measured: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.7N

Response from relevant parties:

• Designer (QPD)
• Client (Consultant)
• Piling Contractor
• Instrumentation Specialist

Is everybody happy?
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 Pile Load Test

Stage 1: Assessing results presented in test report

Example 2
Design: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.5N
Measured: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 1.1N

Response from relevant parties:

• Designer (QPD)
• Client (Consultant)
• Piling Contractor
• Instrumentation Specialist

Everybody happy?
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Calculated Load
Depth

Depth

fs=1.1N fs=1.1N
N≥100

fs=2.7N

Load Distribution Curves Mobilised Skin Friction

6
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 Pile Load Test

Mobilised Skin Friction

1WL
(72mm)

Mobilised End Bearing

? 1.5WL
(155mm)

Need detail checking on data processing?

Applied Load
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Stage 2: Processing the data from strain to force

Pile Force

Example 3
Design: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.5N
Measured: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 1.1N
Depth

Mobilised Skin Friction

Mobilised End Bearing

Applied Load Applied Load

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 Pile Load Test

Stage 2: Processing the data from strain to force

Pile Force

Ignored

Average

Depth
These plots are not in the report. Only
the data are tabulated in the report.

Average

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Idealised Curves according to Report Uncorrected Curves based on Raw Data

Applied Load at Pile Top (t) Average Strain
0 1000 2000 3000 This is based on
0
measurements.

10

20
Depth (m)

30
Adopted Strain
This is artificial
40
and not real.
fs≈110 kPa fs≈210 kPa

50

fp≈4000 kPa fp≈1000 kPa

60
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 Pile Load Test

Missing info in most reports  Adopted Strain

Ignored

Average

Average

We should request the inclusion of such plots in the report!

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Alternative Approach: Present both Measured & Adopted Strains

Adopted
Strain

Measured
Average
Strain

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 Pile Load Test

Another key variable is Modulus of Concrete

F = Ec A ε

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Method commonly adopted to

determine Pile Modulus
Measured Strain

Fellenius’ Method
Applied Load (t)

Δσ
ΔQij Et = -----
Δε

Es = ½ A ε + B

Et = Es Et = A ε + B

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 Pile Load Test

Tangent modulus plot presented in report

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This is how the actual data looks like!

Average Tangent Modulus Chart
200

180

160
Tangent Modulus (GPa)

140

120

100

80

60
Adopted: Y = -0.0027X + 31.57
40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Microstrain

This plot should be presented in report

together with the adopted Et line!
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 Pile Load Test

In addition to plotting all the

data in one plot (see below), it is
informative to plot the data at
each strain gauge level. This plot
reveals whether the skin friction
is fully mobilised at each level.

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These two sets of plots will provide invaluable information to the reviewers.

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 Pile Load Test

Idealised Curve according to Report Uncorrected Curves based on Raw Data

Applied Load at Pile Top (t) Applied Load at Pile Top (t)
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
0 0

10 10

20 20

Depth (m)
Depth (m)

30 30

40 40 Report
Report
Actual
50 50

60
60

Report Unadjusted Data

Applied Load at Pile Top (t)
0 1000 2000 3000
0

10
Conclusion:
fs = 2.1N in OA
20
fp = soft toe
Depth (m)

30

40
fs≈110 kPa fs≈210 kPa

50

fp≈4000 kPa fp≈1000 kPa

60
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 Pile Load Test

What is the maximum test load?

Average

2437 t

Average

2180 t 2437 t

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2180 t

Methods to Determine
Pile Modulus
Tangent Modulus, Et
Secant Modulus, Es

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Method 1
Measured Strain

Fellenius’ Method
Applied Load (t)

Δσ
ΔQij Et = -----
Δε

Es = ½ A ε + B

Et = Es Et = A ε + B

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Method 2: Predetermined relationship between Et and ε

Predetermined equation:
Et = 43.15 – 0.0027ε

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Method 3: Fellenius method using only top level strains

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Method 4: Determine Es based on Cube Strength

Secant Modulus of Concrete
50

45
Secant Modulus (GPa)

40

35

30

25

20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Cube Strength (MPa)

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Example 4
Design: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.5N
Measured: fp = 2500 kPa & fs = 1.1N

fs = 1.1N

0.85WL

fp = 2500 kPa
165mm

Settlement at 0.85WL = 165mm !!!

Stage 3: Making sense of the test results

Example 4
Design: fp = 4000 kPa & fs = 2.5N
Measured: fp = 2500 kPa & fs = 1.1N

✓ Stage 1  fp & fs too low!

Need detail checking!
✓ Stage 2  Data reduction ok!

Why are fp & fs so low?

Need Level 3 check!

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 Pile Load Test

Why is the skin friction so low?

 Poor workmanship
 Mud cake from bentonite slurry
 Strain gauge faulty
 Wrong strain gauge factor
 Data recording error
 Piling contractor please explain
 Instrumentation contractor
please explain
 Any other suggestions?

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Example 4: Piling in OA at Marina Bay

BH-4

B1

BH-1

BH-2
BH-3

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All data confirmed that the OA soil

Clay and Silt Contents (%)
between 34 and 55 m is a silty clay.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0

% Clay
10
% Fines

20

Depth (m)
30

40
100
90
50
Clay and Silt Content (%)

80
70
60
60
50
40
30 70
20
10
80
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

% Clay % Silt
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O(A) as a SILTY CLAY

fs = α cu fp = 9 c u
N= 100
cu ~ 300 kPa α ~ 0.35
fs ~ 100 kPa
Computed: fs ~ 1N Computed: fp ~ 2700 kPa
Measured: fs ~ 1.1N Measured: fp ~ 2500 kPa

Terzaghi, Peck & Mesri (1996)

Cu , kPa
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Stage 3: Making sense of the test results

Example 5 – fs in OA
Design: fs = 3N
Measured: fs = 5N

Are you happy with the results?

• Designer (QPD)
• Client (Consultant)

Is everybody happy?

Why is measured fs so high?

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Example 5: Design fs = 3N & Measured fs = 5N

SPT N Value

0
0 20
20 40 60 80 100
Why is measured fs so high?

10
10
SPT Hammer efficiency ≈ 84%
20
20 Under-estimated N by (84/60) = 1.4
Corrected N or N60 = 1.4N
(m)
Depth(m)

30
Depth

30

Measured fs = 3.6N60
40
40

50
Verdict:
50
No need to change the design
60
Design fs = 3N60
60
N N N60

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 Pile Load Test

Other Uncertainties in Conventional Pile Load Test

Data Logging

Manual

Bulging
Necking

Soft toe
Mud cake
Automated
Honey comb
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What is the pile diameter?

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 Pile Load Test

Moving Forward . . . Average

1. Conduct independent interpretation when

in doubt. Adopted

2. Request relevant intermediate plots to be

included in report.
3. Request plots of load distribution curves
before and after adjustment.
4. Use N60 i.e. must apply correction to
hammer efficiency.
5. Request automated data logging instead of
SPT N Value
manual recording. 0 20 40 60 80 100
0

6. Go back to fundamental when in doubt. 10

α - method: fs = α cu fp = 9 cu 20

Depth (m)
30
b - method: fs = 𝛃 𝛔’v fp = ½ Nq 𝛔’v
40

50
N N60
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Last but not least . . .

The instrumentation sub-contractor should

be an independent party working directly
under the client. Once the report is done, it
should be sent to all parties involved.

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Thank you for

your attention!

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