The Static Load Tester

(SLT) System

2019
 Why We Test For Capacity ?
Safety Economics
ASD LRFD
pre 2007 after 2007
AASHTO: F.S. φ
SLT (≥1) + DLT (≥2 and ≥2%) 1.90 0.80
SLT (≥1) 2.00 0.75
DLT (100%) --- 0.75
DLT (≥2 and ≥2%) 2.25 0.65
Wave Equation Analysis 2.75 0.50
FHWA mod. Gates Formula 3.50 0.40

With More Testing

Pier suddenly dropped 11 ft Reduced number of piles
Shorter pile lengths = less $
Reduced risk
 How We Test For Capacity ?

Static Load Test Dynamic Load Test

1000 Tons 20 Ton Ram (2.0%)
 Types of Static Load Tests

Axial compression load test on 1724 mm O.D. Axial tension load test on a 1724 mm O.D.
(68 inch) open end pipe pile (68 inch) open end pipe pile
 Types of Static Load Tests

Lateral load test on 356 and 406 mm O.D. 20 MN (2250 ton) bi-directional jack being lowered
(14 and 16 inch) concrete filled pipe piles into a 1520 mm O.D. (60 inch) drilled shaft excavation
 Top-Loading Static Load Test
• Load is applied at the pile head
(compression, tension, or
lateral).
• Potential instrumentation:
• Above-Grade:
• Jack Pressure
• Applied Load
• Displacement (test pile, reaction
piles)
• Strain (test pile, reaction piles)
• Tilt
Top-Loading Above-Grade
Instrumentation
Above-Grade Instrumentation

VW Strain Gages
Top-Loading Static Load Test
• Load is applied at the pile head
(compression, tension, or
lateral).
• Potential instrumentation:
• Below-Grade:
• Strain
• Telltales
• Tilt
Conventional Static Load Test Procedure
Q1+Q2+Q3, etc.
Q1+Q2+Q3
Q1+Q2
Q1 Load (Q)

Telltale “B”
Telltale “A”
Telltale “A”

Pile Head
Movement

Telltale “B”
 Top-Loading
Below-Grade
Instrumentat
ion
 Load vs Movement Curves

Load - movement curve from a compression load test Load - movement curve from a tension load test
 Top-Loading
Below-Grade
Instrumentation

For prestressed concrete

piles, sister bar
strainmeters are installed
in the casting yard
 Below-Grade Instrumentation
Resistance Strain
Gage on Rebar

For prestressed concrete piles, sister bar VW or resistance

strainmeters can be installed in the casting yard
 Load – Transfer Information
Calculated Axial Compression Load in Pile (tons)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150
605
600
595
590

Measuring ε
585
580
Elevation (ft)

575 εEA = Load

570
565
560
555
550 53.9, 549.7
545 16.3 tons / [ 12.3 ft (3.67 ft) ] = 0.36 tsf
540 145 kN / [ 3.75 m (1.12 m) ] = 34.5 kPa
37.6, 537.4
535
 Bi-Directional Static Load Test

In a bi-directional static load test, the

load is applied at a location below
Stiff
Clay
grade.

Above grade instrumentation read:

• Displacement
Dense
Sand
Upward
Movement
Break
in
Downward
Shaft
Movement
Above Grade Instrumentation
Leica INVAR Barcode Scale on Cage
(2 measure shaft top movement)

Leica Digital Levels

LVWDT’s atop Telltales

(2 measure top plate movement)
(2 measure shaft toe movement)

Backhoe Operator Effect

 Below Grade Instrumentation

In a bi-directional load test, the load is

- Strain Gage
applied at a location below grade.
Stiff
Clay

Below grade instrumentation read:

• Jack pressure
• Jack expansion
Dense
Sand • Strain
• Telltales
13.3 MN (1500 ton) bi-directional jack being lowered 29 MN (3,300 ton) bi-directional jack being lowered into a
into a 1372 mm O.D. (54 inch) shaft excavation. 1520 mm O.D. (60 inch) drilled shaft excavation
Begin Pumping Water
into Cell.
Expanding Cell Cracks
Shaft Concrete.
- RS

RS

RT
Load vs Movement Curves

Upward load-displacement
curve above jack assembly

Displacement
Applied load

Downward load-displacement
curve below jack assembly

Bi-Directional Test Initial Results

 Load vs Movement Curves
Pile head load
Sum of Top Plate
Upward and
Bottom Plate Downward
Top Plate (ETL Curve)
Upward
Pile head displacement

Extrapolated Portion
(Top Plate Upward)

Bottom Plate
Downward

ETL Curve Construction Based on Bi-Directional Load Test Initial Results

 Results from 58.7 MN
Internal (13,200 kip) Jack Assembly

Force
Profile
from
BDSLT
 Need for a
Datalogger
• Static load tests may require
many types of instrumentation
to be read by a datalogger.
• Static load tests may require
many numbers of
instrumentation to be read by a
datalogger.
• In photo at right:
• Test pile had 74 below-
grade strain gages alone.
• Took an entire day to wire
the datalogger in the field.
Another Reason for a Datalogger
 Instrument Types
(all read by SLT system)
• Displacement • Load
• String Pot • VWSG Load Cell
• LVDT • Resistive SG Load Cell
• VW Displacement Trans. • Strain
• Electronic Indicator • VW Strain Gauge
• Digital Level • Resistive Strain Gauge
• Pressure • Tilt
• VW Pressure Transducer • VW Tiltmeter
• Resistive Pressure Transducer
• Voltage Output (4-20 mA)
 Static Load Tester (SLT)
Data Acquisition Box (DAB)
• Compact, lightweight, water-
resistant.
• Reads virtually all types of static load
test instrumentation.
• 30 hours of battery life.
• Storage capacity for 4,000 readings
(additional capacity available,
requires software upgrade).
• 16 input channels per box: 12
analog, and 4 digital.
 Static Load Tester (SLT)
Data Acquisition Box (DAB)
• Additional boxes can be connected
together to provide as many
channels as required (coming soon).
• All channels can be configured by
user, or automatically when using
PDI sensors with a smart chip.
• PDI will install smart-chip
connectors on customers’ existing
instrumentation at no charge.
• Termination box to connect flying
lead instruments
(embedded/consumable)
 Static Load Tester (SLT) Tablet
• Consists of a dedicated SLT Tablet.
• Interfaces with SLT Data Acquisition
Box via proprietary serial data cable,
or Bluetooth®, (wifi in future).
• Saves all readings it receives.
• SiteLink® capable.
• Cloud Capabilities
Static Load Tester (SLT) Tablet
• Programmable save intervals.
• User-configurable real-time
graphical presentation of:
• Load vs. Displacement.
• Load vs. Time.
• Strain vs. Time.
• Jack Extension (BDSLT).
• Generates user-configurable data
tables, and plots, in PDF and JPG
format for download to user’s PC.
Force vs. Time

34
Load vs. Displacement – Conventional
Load vs. Displacement – Bi-Directional

36
Bi-Directional Jack Extension

37
Tabular Results
Questions / Comments?