COMPARISON OF PULSE ECHO AND TRANSIENT RESPONSE PILE INTEGRITY TEST METHODS

Pile integrity test methods of driven and cast in situ piles have been developed by several researchers using differing equipment and methods. Some methods require expensive special preparations during pile manufacture or installation. Others can be applied to randomly selected piles or to piles selected on the basis of their installation histories. The latter methods are inexpensive, easily applied, and, therefore, routinely applied worldwide. Often, all piles on a site are tested and problem piles are identified for corrective action. These methods, called low-strain tests, use signals from a hand-held hammer striking the pile top, which generates a compressive stress wave in the pile. Stress wave reflections from nonuniformities or the pile toe are observed at the pile top, processed, and interpreted by the experienced test engineer. The pulse echo method records the pile top velocity as a function of time. The transient response method displays the mobility (i.e., the ratio of frequency spectra of pile top velocity to force). How both low-strain methods can be combined into one method yielding an optimal amount of information is demonstrated. Recommendations for test preparation and data analysis are given. It is concluded that the new method contains more information than either previous method alone and recommended that analyses be made in both the frequency and time domains.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1991/1331/1331-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=COMPARISON+OF+PULSE+ECHO+AND+TRANSIENT+RESPONSE+PILE+INTEGRITY+TEST+METHODS&author=F.+Rausche&author=S.+Ren-Kung&author=G.+Likins+Jr&publication_year=1991
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309051681
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1331, Integrity Testing of Foundations 1991. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Rausche, Frank
  • Ren-Kung, Shen
  • Likins Jr, Garland E
• Publication Date: 1991

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 21-27
• Monograph Title: Integrity testing of foundations, 1991
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1331
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data analysis; Mathematical analysis; Recommendations; Structural analysis; Structural tests; Support piles; Test procedures; Transient analyzers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Pulse echo method; Structural integrity; Transient response
• Old TRIS Terms: Pile tests
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Research; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00622272
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309051681
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: May 31 1992 12:00AM