Technology Transfer – NCDOT Experience with PDA and Embedded Data Collectors (EDC) for Driven High Strength Prestressed Concrete Pile

Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) and the associated software has been used widely by the transportation industry since the 1980s to estimate driven pile static bearing resistance, pile stresses, and to generate pile driving criteria. Gauges used for PDA are attached near the pile top to measure accelerations and strains during pile driving, from which resistance is calculated in real time for each hammer blow. PDA field collected data from test piles is typically analyzed through Case Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP) signal matching software to estimate the distribution of static skin and tip resistance, and to develop soil dynamic characteristics for wave equation analysis. In recent years, a new method called Embedded Data Collectors (EDC) was developed as an alternative to PDA. EDC instrumentation is embedded inside a pile near the pile top and bottom during pile casting. The bottom EDC unit provides measurements of strain and acceleration from which tip resistance can be calculated directly. Tip gauges also have the advantage of providing measured compression stress at the pile tip and allow for the evaluation of possible pile tip damage during the pile driving process. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is currently a member of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Innovation Initiative Program for the exploration and implementation of EDC technology. This paper presents recent experiences and lessons learned from three EDC pilot projects conducted by NCDOT; and provides preliminary findings and comparisons between EDC and PDA.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Alternate title: Technology Transfer: NCDOT Experience with Pile-Driving Analyzer and Embedded Data Collectors for Driven High-Strength Prestressed Concrete Pile. This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFS30 Foundations of Bridges and Other Structures.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Chen, Shunyi C
  • Mulla, Mohammed A
  • Herrera, Rodrigo
  • Strickland, Sara K
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Mechanical acceleration; Pile driving; Pile foundations; Pilot studies; Prestressed concrete; Resistance (Mechanics); Strain (Mechanics); Support piles
• Identifier Terms: Case Pile Wave Analysis Program (CAPWAP)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Embedded data collectors
• Geographic Terms: North Carolina
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551415
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1554
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:23AM