UNDERSTANDING THE CAPABILITIES OF NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTS FOR DEEP FOUNDATIONS

Nondestructive testing (NDT) of deep foundations is becoming a regular feature of large construction projects such as bridges and dams-particularly for those foundations constructed under water or in saturated soils where the slurry or water is necessary to stabilize drilled shafts until the concrete is placed. Unfortunately, the methods are relatively new in the United States, and are, at the time of the project, rarely covered in any detail in engineering classes. The results is that many of the people specifying the use of the methods, or basing their acceptance of the shafts in part on the results of NDT, are unaware that the methods vary considerably in their capabilities and limitations. Use of an inappropriate NDT method for a given set of circumstances will, at best, result in inconclusive data, and at worst, may be actively misleading. This paper reviews the principle behind each of the currently used methods and describes their capabilities and limitations as an aid to engineers and those concerned with selecting an appropriate method.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Pagination: 12p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00926445
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jun 24 2002 12:00AM