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SAMPLE SPECIFICATION for PILE INTEGRITY TESTING

by the LOW STRAIN IMPACT METHOD August


2!"
Note: This sample specifcation contains recommended or typical quantities in parenthesis,
in the format (quantity); the specifying Engineers can adapt these quantities for their
particular construction projects.
!# Ge$er%& Re'%r(s
Pile Integrity Testing (PIT) is a Non-Destructive integrity test method for foundation
piles. It is a Lo !train" #ethod (since it re$uires the impact of only a small hand-
held hammer). The evaluation of PIT records is conducted either according to the
Pulse-%cho (or !onic %cho & a time domain analysis) or the Transient 'esponse
(fre$uency domain analysis) Procedure. This test is standardi(ed )y *!T# D+,,-
!tandard Test #ethod for Lo !train Impact Integrity Testing of Deep .oundations.
2# Des)r*+t*o$ of Metho,
Lo !train Integrity Testing may )e applied to any concreted pile (e.g. concrete
piles/ drilled shafts/ augered cast-in-place piles/ concrete 0lled pipe piles). The test
re$uires the impact of a small hand held hammer on the shaft top and the
measurement of the shaft top motion (acceleration or velocity). The input
compression ave from the hammer is re1ected from pile toe (or a change in cross
sectional area or pile material $uality) and returns to the pile top at a time related
to the speed of travel of the ave in the pile material.
The pile top velocity is displayed as a function of time ith an e2ponentially
increasing magnitude such that the pile toe re1ection is enhanced. The averaged/
ampli0ed velocity/ averaged for several impacts/ is the standard result of the Pulse
%cho #ethod. The force as a function of time/ if availa)le/ provides additional
information as to the pile $uality near the pile top.
The Transient 'esponse #ethod result shos the ratio of velocity to force transforms
for all relevant fre$uencies in a plot called #o)ility. It should )e shon together ith
the related lo fre$uency pile sti3ness. Transient 'esponse re$uires that hammer
force is measured.
-# Test E.u*+'e$t
Provide a Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) manufactured )y Pile Dynamics/ Inc./ (456-+
*urora 'oad/ 7leveland/ 89 ::;4</ =!*> .pile.com?pdi> email@ salesApile.com>
phone@ B; -;C-,4;-C;4;> fa2 B; -;C-,4;-5<;C/)/ or an e$uivalent e$uipment. The
e$uipment shall have the folloing minimum re$uirements@
The analog to digital resolution shall )e at least -: )its/
The sampling fre$uency shall )e at least ;C/555 9(.
Data shall )e stored such that additional processing or further ave analysis
is possi)le.
Data shall )e displayed in the 0eld for evaluations of preliminary data $uality
and interpretation.
The e$uipment shall allo attachment of one or more ired or ireless
motion sensing devices capa)le of measuring acceleration/ velocity or
displacement due to the impact of the pile top ith a hand held hammer.
"# Test Perso$$e&
The 0eld testing shall )e performed )y an e2perienced technician ith at least DDD
(one) year e2perience in integrity testing. The interpretation of the records/
hoever/ re$uires e2tensive e2perience )y a graduated engineer ith at least DDD
(three) years e2perience in integrity testing.
/# Test Pre+%r%t*o$
.or cast in place piles/ integrity testing shall not )e performed until the concrete has
cured for a minimum of seven (6) days unless otherise approved )y the engineer.
The pile head shall )e free from ater/ dirt or other de)ris. The concrete at the pile
top surface must )e relatively smooth and provide suEcient space for attaching the
motion sensing device and for the hammer impact area.
DDDDDF (-5F/ +5F/ DDDF/ ;55F) of all piles shall )e integrity tested. The location of
piles for designated for integrity testing shall )e speci0ed )y the engineer DDDD
(after/ prior to) pile installation. If less than ;55F of piles are initially tested/
additional piles may )e selected for testing at the discretion of the engineer if
circumstances either during or after pile installation should maGe a pilesH integrity
suspect/ or if the initial tests reveal maIor defects.
0# Resu&t Prese$t%t*o$
The testing engineer shall present a report ithin DDD (-/ +/ ;5) orGing days after
performing the 0eld test to provide the 0nal test results and integrity evaluation.
.or each pile tested/ the averaged/ ampli0ed velocity versus time record shall )e
included in the report/ ith a ta)le summari(ing results and conclusions. *dditional
plots and analyses can )e included as re$uired or suggested )y the testing
engineer.
1# A))e+t%$)e %$, Re2e)t*o$
!hafts ith no signi0cant re1ections from locations a)ove the pile toe and ith a
clear pile toe re1ection may )e accepted. Jhere no clear toe re1ection is apparent/
the e2perienced test engineer shall state to hich shaft depth the test appears to
)e conclusive. Jhere re1ections from locations ith signi0cant reductions in pile
area or pile material strength or sti3ness a)ove the pile toe are o)served/ the pile
has a serious defect. If the record is comple2/ the results may )e deemed
inconclusive. 7onstruction records (concrete usage/ grout pressure records/ soil
)orings) may )e valua)le in result interpretations or additional numerical analysis
modeling may )e used to $uantify the record. The decision to reIect and replace/ or
repair/ any defective shaft is at the sole responsi)ility of the engineer-of-record for
the foundation.
3# Re'e,*%& A)t*o$
'eIected or $uestiona)le piles may )e replaced. Kuestiona)le piles may also )e
su)Iected to further testing/ e.g./ static load testing/ dynamic load testing/ core
drilling/ ultra-sonic logging/ etc. 'emedial action may include pressure grouting
through core holes. If the pile top appears $uestiona)le/ further pile top cut-o3 and
retesting may )e advisa)le. If a maIority of piles diagnose as LinconclusiveL/ partial
or even complete pile e2cavation or another test method may )e necessary for pile
acceptance.

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