MONITORING QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR DEEP FOUNDATIONS. IN: CURRENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE TRENDS IN DEEP FOUNDATIONS

Constructing deep foundations is both an art and a science and their as-built acceptance should be based on evidence of quality confirmed by testing. Early prevention of problems is the most effective means to avoid costly and time consuming construction delays. Recent developments in equipment and methods aid in real-time monitoring of various pile installations. For driven piles, monitoring of diesel hammers has been done for years using the Saximeter. The measured kinetic energy of any hammer type can now be transmitted by telemetry to the Saximeter unit and stored electronically in an installation log for downloading or computer printout. Traditionally, the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) is used by an experienced engineer who collects and interprets measurements on the construction site, and later issues a report after returning to the office. The engineer's travel and availability often dictates the testing schedule and impacts the construction activity. Utilizing wireless cell phones, dynamic pile testing can now be done remotely at the contractor's convenience with substantial cost savings and even more substantial time savings. In the office, the PDA engineer receives and simultaneously views the measured data in real-time, immediately analyzes the data, and summarizes the monitoring results, often issuing the test report within hours of the test. Thus, the foundation installation and quality assurance testing proceed without interruption or delay. Devices are available for auger cast-in-place pile installations to guide the contractor in real-time to installing a good pile with documented quality so that it can be accepted without doubts or time delays. For drilled shafts, the most common quality assurance tool is cross hole sonic logging (CSL). New 3D tomography analysis of CSL data holds further promise to evaluate the quality of drilled shafts. The paper describes these new monitoring devices and illustrative experience from actual project sites. Recommendations for use and future development are made.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1061/40743(142)13
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0784407436
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  Geo-Institute
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Likins, G
  • Piscalko, G
  • Rausche, F
  • Hussein, M
• Conference:
  • Contributions in Honor of George G. Gobel
  • Location: Los Angeles California, United States
  • Date: 2004-7-27 to 2004-7-31
• Publication Date: 2004-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 222-238
• Monograph Title: CURRENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE TRENDS IN DEEP FOUNDATIONS
• Serial:
  • ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication
  • Issue Number: 125
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cast in place structures; Construction; Construction equipment; Foundations; Monitoring; Quality assurance; Support piles; Testing
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00987891
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780784407431
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 10 2005 12:00AM