Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ON
Site Supervision of
Bored Pile & Micropile
Installation
By
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction.... Pg. 2
1.1 Objective of this course/workshop
1.2 Detail course/workshop contents
1.3 Method statement
1.4 References
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1. Introduction
Eurocode EC7-1 also stipulates that To ensure the safety & quality of a
structure the construction processes and workmanship SHALL be
supervised. Supervision of the construction process including
workmanship should include the following, as appropriate:
Checking the validity of the design assumptions.
Identifying the differences between the actual ground conditions &
those assumed in the design.
Checking that the construction is carried out according to the
design (drawings & specification).
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1.4 References
a) Pile Design & Construction Practice, 4th Edition, by M.J. Tomlinson (1994),
b) Foundation Design & Construction, GEO (HK) Publication 1/2006,
c) Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures & LRFD Design Methods,
Publication No. FHWA-IF-99-025.
d) Drilled Shafts: Construction Procedures & Design Methods, Publication
No. FHWA-NHI-10-016.
e) Micropile Design & Construction Guidelines implementation Manual.
Publication No. FHWA-SA-97-070 (Jun 2000)
f) BS 8004:1986. CP for Foundations
g) BS EN 1997:2004. Part 1:General Rules (EC 7)
h) BS EN 1536:2000. Execution of special geotechnical work-bored piles.
i) BS EN 14199:2005. Execution of special geotechnical works-micropiles.
j) Code of Practice for Foundations, Hong Kong, 2004.
k) Code of Practice for Foundations,CP4;2003, Singapore Standard
l) Piling Engineering, 3rd Edition, by Ken Fleming, et al (2009).
This brief note intends to provide important information and details on how to
carry out site supervision aimed to ensure sound non-displacement piles
(bored piles and micropiles) are formed and installed according to the
design drawings and specifications and also in accordance with the
requirements about safety, serviceability and durability stipulated by code of
practice (BS EN 1536, BS EN14199, BS 8004/EC 7).
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The supervisor (RE/IOW) should also serve as the eyes and ears of the
designer/Client, and as the recorder (to make accurate & unbiased
observations; document events comprehensively & consistently;
perform duty promptly) and as the reporter (to keep diary up-to-date
& keep the designer/Project manager informed promptly) for the job
entrusted.
The basic role and responsibility of supervision team for the piling work
is primarily to ensure the piling work is carried out by the Contractor
properly according to the approved design drawings & works
specifications and record adequately to establish the as-built
conditions for future analysis and reference. To carry out the piling
work properly means to carry out the piling work using proper
materials, proper procedures and equipment and also with due care,
skill and diligence. Care and diligence are humane attitude factors
while skill means knowledge and experience that requires training
through attending courses/workshops, self-reading, practical/physical
site experience, etc.
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Generally important duties for piling supervisors (RE) or IOWs are as follows;
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l) CRE/REs whole purpose of being sent to site is to verify that the bored
piles are constructed in accordance with the specs & drags. Hence,
the specs, in reality, outline the responsibility of CRE/RE.
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Notes to Table 1
1. Level 1 = Inspection as and when required; Level 2 = Monthly inspection; Level 3 = Fortnightly inspection; Level 4 =
Weekly inspection; Level 5 = Full-time inspection during site working hours
2. Higher grade TCP and/or more frequent site inspection up to full time may be required at critical stages. Further
guidance is given in the Code of Practice.
3. For the qualification and experience required for each grade of TCP, refer to para 2.4.
4. The type of building works that are regarded as building works with significant geotechnical content are set out in the
Code of Practice.
5. The type of foundation works, including those in the designated area, that are regarded as building works with
significant geotechnical content are set out in the Code of Practice.
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Bored piles up to about 6m diameter & 80m deep have been reported to be
constructed to replace big groups of many driven big steel pipe piles for
bridge over a big river in USA. Non-displacement or replacement piles
generally refer to bored piles, micropiles, augered piles, hand-dug caissons
and barrete piles. Bored piles are also called drilled shafts, drilled piers,
caissons, bored & cast insitu piles.
Bored piles are deep, cylindrical (typically 0.5m to 3m), cast-insitu concrete
piles constructed by boring machine using various types of augers and
buckets, etc., to bore and to take out the cuttings with subsequent filling the
hole with concrete plus necessary reinforcement (typically 0.5% to 1%).
Bored piles are commonly and mainly used to resist lateral loads of deep
excavation and to support large structures with large vertical
compressive/tension loads and/or large lateral loads. It is very important that
bored pile designers should fully understand the design
principles/concept/model/behaviour and scope of design of bored piles in
various site and subsoil conditions with particular reference to estimation of
safe structural & geotechnical capacity (fsu & fbu), in addition to their
limitations & applications.
How drilling and concreting can affect bored pile behavior and performance
is EQUALLY IMPORTANT to how to estimate ultimate unit friction (fsu) and
ultimate end bearing capacity (fbu) of subsoil practically and realistically.
Certainly, bored pile designers should also know/learn what are the site
specific information and substrata properties that will affect bored pile
construction and performance and all these should be learnt & understood
adequately.
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Some of the details about design & construction practice (BS EN 1536) for
bored piles are as follows:
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3.2 Design & construction issues & requirements for bored piles
Some of the common design & construction requirements & practice for bored
piles in Malaysia are summarized as follows:
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d) Durability
Design life for normal buildings & structures (EC 7-1) should be 50 yrs.,
monumental buildings/bridges/special structures 100 yrs, replaceable
structure parts 25 yrs, agricultural structures 30 yrs & temporary structures 10
yrs. For aggressive ground (pH value<5, resistivity<2000 ohm-cm,
Sulphate>0.2%, chloride>0.1%), higher cement content (>380 kg/m3), etc.,
have to be provided. Refer Clause 10 of BS 8004 for durability requirements for
concrete, steel & timber.
e) Nowadays, bored piles for high-rise buildings and heavy structures often
adopt grade 45 concrete with normal 0.5% to 1% reinforcement or more
depending on the lateral load/bending loads on piles. Maximum permissible
average compressive stress (fca) can be as high as fca=0.25fcu, (BS 8004) but
fca is normally discounted by about 20% to account for uncertainties in
submerged tremie concreting as recommended by CP for Foundations (Hong
Kong, 2004). CP 4:2003 of Singapore Standard limits 0.25fcu to 7.5 MPa only,
but for rock socketed reinforced bored piles with full length reinforcement,
the allowable structural capacity is Qstruct =(0.4fcuAc + 0.75fyAs)/FOS, where
fcu=grade of concrete, Ac=concrete area, As=steel area, fy=yield stress &
FOS= or >2.
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5. Cost of construction
< RM1 to 3Million RM 1 to RM30 Million > RM 3 Million
works
6. SI Costs as % of
0.2% - 0.5% 0.2% - 1% 0.3% 2%
construction cost
SI to Code of Practice
Simple SI such as JKR
SI to meet Design Code of and planned by
probe & hand auger
Practice requirements. experienced geo
7. SI Scope required @ 15m to 45m
Spacing of BH/tests should engineer. Spacing of
spacing may be
be 15m to 45m BH/tests should be
adequate.
15m to 45m.
Experienced
geotechnical
Civil engineer under
Experienced geotechnical engineers with
supervision by an
8. Level of engineer under supervision independent design
experienced
Expertise required by very experienced check by BEM
geotechnical
geotechnical experts. accredited
engineer is required.
geotechnical
checker/ experts.
Dam, tunnel, port,
special /large bridge
projects or special
Low-rise buildings of Commercial/industrial
heavy structures.
about 500 kN /high rise buildings, etc.
Deep excavations
column loads or low Roads in rolling terrains
(>8m). Hill roads with
9. Examples retaining wall (<3m) with cuts/fills < 24m or
high cuts/ fills (>24m).
or roads with cut / fill retaining wall <10m.
Design of ground
<12m over stable Normal bridges with
anchors, slope
ground, etc. precast beams.
stabilization for
unstable
ground/slopes, etc.
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Soil/rock augers and buckets are commonly used. Some bored pile
designers just simply specify that suitable/appropriate boring machine and
tools shall be used to construct the bored piles as shown in drawings (not very
proper or specific). Sometimes, the bored pile designers specify on drawing
that unless otherwise approved in writing, the Contractor should deploy
suitable boring machine & drilling tools to ensure boring is completed for
each pile as shown in drawing using boring machine with minimum torque of
>250 kNm or equivalent to BG 25 and/or within 6 hours. If there is rock
coring/chiseling/rock socket construction, longer time (>3hours) to complete
the boring may be required especially when very hard fresh rock is
encountered. Designers also should specify the acceptable method of
construction for rock socket. Common and acceptable methods are by
annular coring with subsequent chiseling & cleaning out by proper cleansing
bucket, by coring with gradual increase in diameter from small diameter to
the required diameter in stages, or total open hole drilling by special rock
augers and/or bucket with a lot of tricone drill bits, etc. Details and specific
types/models of boring machine and drilling tools usually are left to
Contractor to propose through method statement showing how to meet the
requirements specified by the designer. Usually hydraulic boring machine or
reverse circulation machine is used. For small bored piles (<1.2m) without
rock socket or rock coring, boring machine with BHP of 50 to 100 or torque of
50 to 100 kN.m is quite adequate. For rock coring or large bored piles (1.2m
to 2m) boring machine with torque of 200 to 400 kN.m or more is normally
required to complete each bored pile within about 6 hours or so.
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During boring, if the ground differs significantly from the design such as
unforeseen impenetrable obstruction prior to reach its designed founding
level, the designer shall be informed of further action required to continue the
work.
The use of explosives for removing obstructions or for socketing piles into
bedrock shall not be allowed as it may result in damage to adjacent piles or
structures.
The construction sequence of piles shall be chosen so as to avoid damage to
neighboring piles.
When a bore hole is excavated, there will be some stress relief in subsoil
resulting in some movement of the surrounding ground and drilled shaft
collapse (inflow of water and/or soil into the bore) especially in water bearing
cohesionless subsoil or with artesian pressure. Proper drilled shaft stabilization
is very important:
to reduce zone of stress relief (that will reduce fsu),
to reduce disturbance to or instability of the bearing stratum or the
surrounding ground, especially loose granular and soft cohesive
ground,
to reduce unstable cavities outside the pile
to avoid/reduce overbreak or formation of irregular cavities.
Usual practice is to use temporary casing for the top few meters as guide
length and then use water as drilling fluid if the subsoil is mainly stiff cohesive
soil without very soft layers and absent of collapsible water bearing
sand/gravel layers. Temporary casing shall be cylindrical and without
significant longitudinal or diametrical distortion and also shall be strong
enough to take handling stress and ground pressure. For unstable subsoils
(uniform non-cohesive soils (d60/d10<1.5) below groundwater table or loose
non-cohesive soils with relative density <0.3 or sensitive clays or soft clay with
Cu<15 kPa) especially water bearing sand/gravel with some artesian pressure,
bentonite slurry or casing or both is necessary to suppress boiling and
borehole collapse. In built-up areas or more environment sensitive areas or
designed to have high friction, liquid or solid polymer is used instead of
bentonite. At all time during boring and concrete placement the level of
stabilizing fluid (water/bentonite/polymer slurry) shall be maintained (at least
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1m above the groundwater level). For deep very soft substrata, temporary or
permanent casing has to be used to prevent necking problem. Casing
exceeding 12m deep is difficult and/or problematic to install & extract, unless
double/triple casings are used. Nowadays, most bored pile designers specify
polymer to replace bentonite for drilled shaft stabilization because bentonite
slurry has been reported to have about 15% to 40% reduction in fsu, in addition
to environment problems, especially when poor quality bentonite is used and
proper control and tests on sand content, density and pH value of the
bentonite slurry are not carried out. Important QC tests for bentonite slurry (BS
EN 1536) to ensure performance are as follows:
Nowadays, polymer fluids have been used to maintain bore stability during
excavation as an alternative to bentonite slurry. Unlike bentonite slurry, polymer
fluid forms a barrier by blocking the pores within the soil. The polymers consist of
a number of individual molecules joined together and can penetrate deep into
sandy or silty soils. The advantages of polymer fluids include simpler site logistics,
rapid hydration, less requirement for storage, less disposal problems, inertness to
cement and absence of a filter cake. Polymer fluids are biodegradable and
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l) Base cleaning
The final cleaning of the pile base may be done with the use of a cleaning
bucket followed by air-lifting. The use of a skirted airlift in which debris
would be drawn in over a larger area may be more effective (Fleming et al,
1985). On some occasions, the reverse-circulation drill has been used for this
purpose. Opinions differ as to the effectiveness and potential disturbance
between the use of an airlift pipe and the reverse circulation
flush, particularly in weathered rocks which may be susceptible to disturbance or
damage of the bonding inherent in the grain structure. Thorough base
cleanliness may be difficult to achieve in practice, particularly with raking piles.
If base cleaning is not done properly, potential problems including plastering of
the filter cake and presence of large pieces of debris at the pile base may
occur.
Even if the base is free from significant debris, the soil below the base may be
disturbed and loosened as a result of digging, stress relief or airlifting
Fresh concrete may also force the base debris up the socket wall thereby
reducing the shaft resistance in the lower region of the socket. A possible
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remedial measure is to use high pressure water jetting to remove the loose
sediments at the base, if the sediments or segregations are not greater than 50
mm in thickness or 100 mm for piles longer than 30 m.
Pressurised grout is then used to fill up any voids. Several holes may be required
to facilitate the flushing of the debris. Further cores should be taken to verify the
effectiveness of remedial grouting in each pile.
The potential problem of trapping debris at the pile base can be minimised by
lifting the tremie pipe with a hydraulically operated equipment. In this system,
the lifting of concrete skip and tremie pipe is carefully controlled to maintain a
constant distance between the tremie pipe and the pile base. Cementitious
materials with a very high cement content or grout are used in the first charge to
prevent direct contact of concrete with water in the first pour.
Before concreting, the base of borehole should be reliably cleansed by suitable
method to avoid accumulation of debris/soft toe at base, especially those
collapsible water bearing silty/sandy subsoils. Normal bucket cleaning before
the end of boring plus air-lifting base cleaning method just before concreting is
usually the reliable base cleaning method that should be specified. Base and
borehole cleaning/stabilization can be a serious problems when the Specialist
bored pile Subcontractor is only involved with boring and placement of
reinforcement cage and concreting are done by the main Contractor himself.
For collapsible subsoil (sandy or silty strata and water bearing), waiting period of
more than 1 hr. for concreting after cleaning can be serious.
Some designers may specify, after normal bucket base cleansing, filling the base
with rock/crusher run and subsequent base grouting to ensure sound base.
1) Excellent Workability
It is essential that the concrete have the ability to flow readily through the
tremie, to flow laterally through the rebar cage, and to impose a high lateral
stress against the sides of the borehole to induce high friction. From a
geotechnical perspective, the objective of placing concrete is to re-establish
the lateral stresses in the ground around the bored pile that existed before
the borehole was excavated. This objective can best be met by using
concrete that is highly fluid with slump of exceeding 150mm to 250mm until
concreting is completed, but with low water cement ratio of less than 0.5. To
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achieve high slump at low water cement ratio (to avoid bleeding and long
term shrinkage), quality superplasticizer shall be added. In case the
concreting takes more than 2 hours, retarder should also be used to ensure.
2) Self-Weight Compaction
Vibration of concrete in a borehole is impractical, except very near the
surface. In some cases this will lead to defects in the completed shaft by
causing ground water, drilling fluid, or soil to mix with the concrete.
3) Resistance to Segregation
The concrete mix should have a high degree of cohesion and should be free
of large-sized aggregate; otherwise, it may segregate during placement,
particularly if free fall is allowed in dry holes, resulting in inferior concrete.
4) Resistance to Leaching
In some instances flowing ground water could cause a weakening of the
concrete after it is placed. A properly designed mix should be resistant to
such flow. However, if the rate of flow is substantial, a permanent casing or
liner will be necessary. Furthermore, when concrete is placed under a drilling
fluid (slurry or water), there is inevitable contact between the concrete and
the fluid, which is a condition that also requires the mix to be resistant to
leaching.
5) Controlled Setting
Bored pile concrete should retain its fluidity throughout the depth of the
borehole during the full time required for complete placement of the
concrete in the borehole to maximize the lateral pressures that are imposed
by the fresh/fluid concrete. Slow setting is also required to allow for inevitable
delays that may occur during concreting, such as: interrupted concrete
supply from ready-mixed trucks, difficulties in extracting casing, etc. At the
same time, it should attain an appropriate strength within a reasonable time
after placement. Normally some retarder is added for the expected delay
especially when concreting time is likely to exceed 2 hours for large and
long bored piles.
6) Good Durability
If the subsoil conditions is potentially corrosive or can become corrosive
during the life of the foundation, the concrete should be designed to have
high density and low permeability so that the concrete is able to resist the
negative effects of the environment. Only concrete with low water cement
ratio (<0.45), high slump (>150mm) and high cement content (>400kg.m3)
can have high density and low permeability. Also, the clear spacing
between rebars should be exceeding 125mm or preferably 200mm.
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Allowable compressive stress fca=0.25fcu, but fca usually discounted about 20% for
uncertainty in tremie concreting in collapsible subsoil and especially when
bentonite slurry is used. Other concrete properties specified: W/C=0.4 to 0.55
with minimum slump 130mm to 220mm or higher & with superplasticizer.
Consistency ranges for fresh concrete in different conditions (BS EN 1536) are as
follows:
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For large & long bored piles or concreting taking more than 2 hours to complete,
retarder admixture should be used to ensure slump of the concrete near the
base remains more than 100mm at the end of concreting. Why? How to check
the concrete is suitable with high quality for tremie concreting?
When the final casting level is well below the working platform, the fresh
concrete should be protected against contamination from above by concreting
above the cut-off level (at least 0.5m), by backfilling the empty bore with
suitable material or by maintaining a stabilizing fluid inside the empty bore until
the concrete has set.
The tremie pipe shall be water tight at all its joints and smooth to allow free flow
of concrete. The internal diameter of tremie pipe should at least 150mm or 6
times the max aggregate size (whichever is the bigger), but not to exceed 0.6
times the inner width of reinforcement cage. The tremie pipe shall extend to the
bottom of the pile at the commencement of the concreting. A bung or plug of
suitable material, to prevent mixing of concrete with any fluid in the tremie pipe,
shall be inserted into the pipe before commencement of concrete placement.
As the first batch, a cement enriched mix or a charge of cement mortar may be
used to lubricate the tremie pipe. To allow the first concrete to leave the tremie
pipe, the pipe shall be lifted slightly, not exceeding a value equal to the inner
diameter of the tremie pipe. Placement shall then proceed quickly to fill the
entire base of the pile so that no concrete which may have segregated at the
beginning of the discharge is trapped. During subsequent placement the tremie
pipe shall be withdrawn progressively as the concrete rises in the bore. The
tremie pipe shall at all times remain immersed in unset and workable concrete
(min 1.5m or >2.5m for pile diameter D>1.2m) which has previously been placed
and shall not be withdrawn from the concrete until the completion of the
concreting process. Tremie pipe shall not be extracted too quickly as the
resulting suction can lead to pile imperfections.
The extraction of temporary casing shall not be started unless the concrete
column has reached a sufficient height inside the casing to generate adequate
excess pressure to protect against inflow of water or soil at the tip of the casing
and to prevent the reinforcement cage from being lifted. The extraction shall be
carried out while concrete is still of the required workability. The supply of
concrete and the rate of extraction of the casing shall be such that no inflow of
soil or water occurs into the freshly placed concrete, even if a sudden drop of
concrete level should occur when a cavity outside the casing is uncovered. This
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is particularly important in loose or soft ground or close to the pile top (BS EN
1536). The depths of casing and of the tremie pipe shall be recorded.
What should be done if the immersion of the tremie pipe is accidently lost during
concreting?
Sampling of concrete on site for compressive strength testing shall be as follows
(BS EN 1536 Clause 6.3.3.4):
One sample (=4 cube specimens) for each of the first 3 piles on a site;
One sample for every subsequent 5 piles (15 piles if the individual
concrete volume is <4 m3);
Two additional samples after interruptions of the works longer than 7 days;
One sample for every 75 m3 of concrete cast on the same day; and
At least one sample for every pile cast where concrete stresses require
concrete classes C35/45 and above.
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normally As should be 1% to 2% (mainly for bridges, retaining walls and for slope
stabilization), but may be 3% in high seismic zones or high lateral load sites (soft
ground/unstable slope). BS EN 1536 also recommends that minimum concrete
cover to reinforcement should be minimum 75mm when the bored piles are
constructed without a (full) casing, etc. The concrete cover may be reduced to
40mm to the external face of a permanent casing or lining where used.
Practical minimum As is normally 0.5% for bored piles in stable ground with
negligible bending and tension. Only deformed rebar with fy>410 MPa should be
used if bentonite/clay/polymer slurry is used to stabilize drilled shafts. Rebars
should be bundled if necessary to ensure clear net holes of more than
100mmx200mm to enable concrete to flow out the reinforcement cage or
spacing of rebars (main & transvers) should be10 to 20 times the maximum
aggregate size. Cover for reinforcement recommended by AASHTO for W/C=0.4
to 0.5 concrete for bored piles of 1m, 1m to 1.5m & >1.5m should be respectively
75mm, 100mm and 150mm. If W/C>0.5, the cover should be increased by 20%.
This is because higher W/C will result in higher concrete permeability & more
shrinkage.
Joints /couplers in reinforcement bars shall be such that the full strength of each
bar is effective across the joint. Reinforcing bars shall not be welded at or near
bends, but spot welding is permissible (BS EN 1536).
The reinforcement cages shall be such that the cages can be lifted and installed
without permanent distortion and that all bars remain in the correct position.
To ensure the concentric position of the reinforcement cage and the necessary
concrete cover, proper spacers/centralizers shall be arranged symmetrically
around the cage with at least 3 spacers at each level and level intervals of not
more than 3m. Spacers shall be designed and manufactured using durable
material (plastic or at least grade 35 concrete).
o) Records
As performance of bored piles is very sensitive to construction, proper and
comprehensive construction records are essential to serve as QC and criteria
for selection of piles for tests. Two types of records as specified & shown in
Annex B1 to B4 of BS EN 1536 shall be made:
The site & general information: Project name, Type of structure, Client,
Name of main Contractor & Piling Specialist Contractor, Pile diameter
or size/depth/design working load, Boring rig type/make, Method of
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p) Pile Testing
Refer Para 3.3 (d) for preliminary pile tests and Para 4.2 (l) below.
Load tests are the most important design validation and are conducted to
determine the load carrying capacity of the piles.
SLT: CRP, MLT (ASTM D1143 for compression, D3689 for tension,
D3966 for lateral).
PDA/HSDPT (ASTM D4945-12).
Bidirectional load tests (SS CP4:2003 recognizes it as SLT). Refer
www.YJACKpiletest.com
Statnamic load test
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Maximum test load (MTL) for preliminary & working pile tests?
The maximum test load of preliminary load test (MLT or bidirectional load
tests) should be until ultimate load or 2.5 to 3 times the design working
load as recommended by Singapore Standard CP 4:2003 (Clause 7.5.4).
Other important issues that will be discussed in detail during the lecture
are:
When instrumented test pile should be carried out? Purposes? How?
How to identify/select bored piles that are likely have structural
integrity problems (with particular reference to subsoil conditions,
boring operation, bored shaft stabilization method, placement of
reinforcement cage & concreting)? What are the good construction
practices to mitigate these problems?
What are the applicable/suitable pile load test methods for bored
piles of small capacity (<300 T), medium capacity (300 to 1000T),
large capacity (1000 T to 2000 T) & very large capacity (>2000 T)?
What are the applications & limitations for SLT/MLT (ASTM D1143),
Bidirectional load tests (CP 4, SS), Statnamic load Tests, LSIT/PIT
(ASTM D5882-00) & HSDPT (ASTM D4945-12)? Test standards?
What are the common defects & errors for pile load test methods
such as SLT/MLT, Bidirectional load tests, Statnamic load Tests &
HSDPT? The requirements of test standards commonly ignored or
not fully complied with?
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What are the common tricks & malpractice in pile tests for
conventional contract with quantities remeasureable, direct nego
design & build contract with fixed sum or quantities
remeasureable? Mitigations?
How to determine the ultimate load from load test results?
What is the main uncertainty of load test results?
Refer Para 4.2 (l) for answers.
q) Pile spacing: Usually 2 to 2.5 times the pile size if subsoil mainly cohesive and
pile derive resistance mainly from end bearing or near the base.
Technical requirements & QC tests for Materials & Products for bored Piles
(materials for concrete & grout, concrete insitu, grout, stabilizing fluid,
reinforcement bars, couplers, spacers, etc.).
Design related considerations (construction tolerance, excavation/boring,
reinforcement, etc.).
Works Execution & construction requirements/controls for excavation/boring,
fixing & placement of reinforcement cage, concreting, etc.
Requirements for supervisions (pile construction & testing)
Requirements for records
a) The most important design validation for bored pile construction is to validate
fsu & fbu & overall performance with respect to capacity, settlement &
structural integrity conditions. Types/methods of tests, their frequency (1%-2%)
& acceptance criteria? Basis of selection of piles for tests shall be based on
subsoil conditions, drilling & concreting records? What standards shall be
adopted? How to carry out the design validation in practical ways and in
compliance with CP/established design guides? It is extremely important that
the basis & criteria for selection of method & location of tests shall be based
on sensible/adequate inspection details & records. Results of testing are not
everything until and unless the results can be representative for the untested
ones. How to achieve these? Examples? Case histories?
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The pile load test procedure (ASTM D1143), particularly with respect to
number of loading steps (at least 6 steps) & duration of these steps (until
settlement rate < 0.1mm/20 minutes) and the application of load cycles (2/3
cycles), shall be such that conclusions can be drawn about the deformation
behavior, creep and rebound of a piled foundation from the measurements
on the pile. For trial piles (preliminary test piles or instrumented test piles), the
loading shall be such that conclusions can also be drawn about the ultimate
failure load. The number of trial piles required to verify the design SHALL
depend on the following:
The ground conditions & their variability across the site;
The Geotechnical Category of the structure, if appropriate;
Previous documented evidence of the performance of the same type
of pile in similar ground conditions;
The total number & types of pile in the foundation design
A factual report shall be prepared for all load tests. The report shall include:
A brief description of site conditions with photos;
A brief description of generalized subsoil conditions based on SI
reports;
Pile type/size/length/design working load
Description of pile installation records & any problem encountered
during the works;
A description of the loading & measuring apparatus & the reaction
system;
Test standard adopted & drawing showing layout of load test
arrangement, spacing of Kentledge supports to test pile position &
supports of reference beams, etc.;
Calibration documents/certs for the load cells, the jacks & the gauges;
The installation records of the test pile;
Photographic records of the pile, load test layout & the test site;
Test results including date/time, load applied, displacement of each
gauges/load cells;
Time-displacement plots for each applied load when a step loading
procedure is used;
The measured load-displacement behavior; and
Reasons for any departures from the above requirements.
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It shall be specified that the installation of all bored piles is closely supervised &
monitored (by qualified personnel) & records are made as the piles are installed
including pile reference number, about the quality of installed piles.
Investigations shall be carried out to determine the conditions and if remediation
are necessary. Equipment used, date & time of installation (plus interruptions, if
any), peculiar observations during drilling/grouting, obstruction encountered,
pile deviations & as-built elevation shall be recorded to facilitate selection of pile
for testing. If observations & inspection of records reveal uncertainties, designer
shall be consulted for necessary design decision.
Important workmanship and quality requirements for materials & their QC tests
plus acceptance criteria shall be indicated on drawing. Design capacity & the
required performance tests & acceptance criteria shall also be indicated.
Piles that shall be selected for static load test shall be at least 1 to 2% or minimum
2 numbers per site. If some of the static load tests are to be replaced by high
strain dynamic pile tests or PDA test, at least 5% to 10% of piles shall be tested.
PDA tests shall be strictly according to ASTM D4945 and shall be planned,
conducted and interpreted by DFI or FQA accredited test engineer with
advanced level certification. Structural integrity assessment by PDA, static load
test (Prof Chin method) and or low strain integrity tests (ASTM D5882) shall be
carried out after detail examination of construction records. Normally about 5%
to 10% piles shall be selected for structural integrity tests.
Important to understand and differentiate what are the defective design and
the defective construction for displacement piles and how they can lead to
problems related to durability, structural integrity, distress and failure.
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a) Desk study: to collect & study all relevant documents and understand
the scope & nature of piling works involved. Important documents are:
contract document, SI factual report, SI Interpretation report, pile
design report with design drawings, specifications & BQ. In case of
doubt, consult the designer for clarification if necessary.
b) Check and inspect the site conditions and understand how the bored
pile installation works will affect the nearby buildings/structures,
services, etc., (if any). Dilapidation survey & mitigative measures
should be carried out if there are buildings/structures/services likely to
be affected.
c) Check and understand the Method Statement prepared by the
Contractor. Seek explanations & clarifications where necessary.
Method statement should be adequate & comprehensive as explained
in Para 1.5 (page 6). As performance of bored piles is very sensitive to
construction, all the construction requirements as stipulated by BS EN
1536 especially the issues discussed in Para 3.2 items (j) to (n) should
be adhered.
d) Are the proposed drilling rigs, equipment and tools appropriate with
the necessary output to complete within the scheduled time frame
with some contingencies? Consult others if not well-versed in the
subject. Are the Contractors operator & site manager well-versed in
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The following is a detail checklist to follow when constructing a bored pile or drilled shaft.
The answer to each of these questions should be "YES" or "NO" or "NA" unless drawings,
specifications or specific approval has been given otherwise.
CONSULT WITH CRE/RE or RESPONSIBLE ENGINEER FOR YOUR SPECIFIC
PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES. This checklist is modified from FHWA
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17. Do you understand & familiarize with all of the necessary forms to
record bored pile installation (if not contact the CRE/designer for
assistance)?
Trial/test Shaft
18. Is the trial/test shaft positioned away from the production shafts or as
suggested by CRE/RE or as specified in the contract documents?
19. Has the Contractor performed a successful test hole/trial shaft in
accordance with the approved method statement?
20. Can the Contractor complete a bored pile including boring, base
cleaning, placement of reinforcement cage & concreting within the same
working day?
21. Is the proposed construction method of rock socket suitable (using
proper rock auger/bucket/special tools)?
22. Has the Contractor revised the technique and equipment to (and the
revision approved) to successfully construct a bored pile within the same
day unless otherwise approved?
Shaft Excavation & Cleaning
23. Is the shaft being constructed in the correct location and within the
tolerances specified?
24. Does the Contractor have a benchmark so the shaft can be constructed
and inspected to the proper elevations?
25. If core holes are required, has the Contractor taken them in accordance
with the specification?
26. If a core hole was performed, was the Rock Core form completed and
did the Contractor maintain a log as specified?
27. If the Contractor is using slurry, can they perform tests and report
results in accordance with the practice/specification?
28. Is the slurry level being properly maintained in accordance with the
practice /specification?
29. Are the proper number and types of tests being performed on the slurry
in accordance with the practice/specification?
30. Are you logging the Soil and Rock Excavation forms?
31. If permanent casing is being used, does it meet the specification?
32. If temporary casing is being used, does it meet the specification?
33. Is the Contractor maintaining an excavation log in accordance with the
specification?
34. Is the shaft within the allowable vertical alignment tolerances as
specified?
35 Is the shaft of proper depth after checking?
36. Does the shaft excavation time meet the specified time limit (< 6hrs)?
37. Does the shaft bottom (cleanliness conditions) meet the requirements in
accordance with the practice/specification?
39. Did you complete the Shaft Inspection form?
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Notes/Comments
Construction details that shall be recorded are explained and detailed in Cl.10 of BS EN 1536
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1. Project: :. Pageof..
2. Contractor:.. Pile Ref No:
3. Logged by:. Date:. Pile Diam: ..
4. Inspected by... Date:.
5. Construction Drg No.:
Depth Date/time Elevation/ Drill Soil/rock strata description (BS 5930:2015) & observations/abnormalities
(m) In out RL (m) Tool
Rock socket construction details: Tools used & time start & end
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1. Project: :. Pageof..
2. Contractor:.. Pile Ref No: ..
3. Logged by:. Date:. Pile Diam: ..
4. Inspected by... Date:.
Type of drill fluid: .. .. Reinforcement cage information
Drill QC test results: .. Proper # main bars & size:
Base cleanout method: .. Size of lateral bar & spacing: .
Date/time of final cleanout: Side standoffs: .
Base elevation: . External diam of cage: ..
Estimated base diam: .. Type of coupler: .
Shaft plumbness: . Ties & connections: ..
Pile position deviation:. Type of spacer:
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1. Project: :. Pageof..
2. Contractor:.. Pile Ref No:
3. Logged by:. Date:. Pile Diam:.
4. Inspected by... Date:.
5. Method of concreting:.. Concrete mix supplier:..
Placement method: Freefall/tremie/pumped Tremie pipe size:
Deairing method: Relief valve/tremie plug/tremie cap Depth to water inside: . m. OD casing at start: .
Shaft top Elev: Rebar Cage top Elev at start: . At finish: ..
Shaft bottom Elev: ..
Top of rock Elev: ..
Cut-off level: .
Truck Concrete Arrival Start Finish Tremie Depth to Notes/observations
No. Volume time time time depth concrete (depth of casing & tremie pipe,
etc).
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Concrete Volume-depth Graph (indicate Elev of toe of tremie pipe & toe of casing)
Total Vol delivered: VD= .. Cross-sect area of rebars & access pipe, AR= . m2
Vol in lines: VL= .. Rock socket length, RSL= ...m2
Wastage: VW= . Est. rock socket vol from graph, VRS= .. m2
Vol placed: VP=VD-VL-VW= Actual rock socket vol, VRS
Theoretical Vol: VT=
Over pour: OP=VP-VT= ..
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3 Drilled hole Check types/methods of drilled hole Casing is commonly used for squeezing soft
stabilization stabilization plus their applications & & collapsible strata or subsoil with artesian
limitations to the specific site & subsoil pressure. Bentonite for sand strata with
conditions. Required QC tests & records. boiling problems. Water or Polymer for
most residual soil, etc.
4 Drilled hole Monitor suitability & procedure of Base & borehole cleansing should be
cleansing flushing fluid until clean before grouting. repeated if grouting is not carried out
Refer spec. within hrs.
4 Placement of Check conditions of joints, couplers, Ensure the requirements of joint, couplers
reinforcement pipe or centralizers & conditions of & centralizers are observed & concentric
rebar bundle/cage reinforcement (tolerances) during position of reinforcement in the hole.
placement into the hole. Strength of
joint/coupler should be tested especially
for tension pile.
5 Grouting operation Check grout mix and the QC Ensure the grout requirements for W/C
requirements. Monitor grouting ratio, bleeding, flow & cube strength have
operation & records. Observe any met what are specified. Grouting should be
abnormalities, ground movements, etc. continuous & uninterrupted.
Grout should be mixed by high speed mixer
(>1000 rpm).
6 Pile testing Evaluate installation records & identify Derive criteria of selection of piles for tests.
piles that may have defective Types of pile defects & the most adverse
construction. Select suitable pile test conditions shall be tested to ensure
methods & test standards representative. Make sure all requirements
of test standards are complied with.
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4.2 Important Construction Issues & Requirements for Micropiles are as follows:
a) Classification of Micropiles
Micropiles, also called minipiles, pinpiles or root piles, are small diameter
(100mm to 300mm) piles, drilled, flushed by compressed air or water with
or without bentonite/polymer, reinforced by rebars (single or bundle) or
steel pipe & grouted cast insitu replacement piles.
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Cuttings of small holes of micropiles can be flushed out from the ground
by compressed air or pressured drilling fluid. Cuttings of bored piles are
usually & efficiently removed from the holes by soil/rock augers or
buckets though sometimes the cuttings/rocks of bored piles can be grind
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c) Method statement
Strict control on the density & quality of drilling fluid shall be observed, if
used. Requirements for bentonite slurry: density=1.03 to 1.15; pH value=7 to
11; Marsh Funnel flow time=32 to 60 seconds. Frequency of QC tests: at
least once daily or one set of tests per 5 piles.
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Piles that shall be selected for static load test shall be at least 1 to 2% or
minimum 2 numbers per site. If some of the static load tests are to be
replaced by high strain dynamic pile tests or PDA test, at least 5% of piles
shall be tested. PDA tests shall be strictly according to ASTM D4945-12 and
shall be planned, conducted, recorded and interpreted by DFI or FQA
accredited test engineer with expert or advanced level certification.
Structural integrity assessment by PDA, static load test (Prof Chin method)
and or low strain integrity tests (ASTM D5882) shall be carried out after
detail examination of construction records. Normally about 5% to 10%
piles shall be selected for structural integrity tests.
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Strong Mild to no
AASHTO
Corrosion Corrosion ASTM BS 1377.3
Test Units Test
Potential / Potential / Non- Standard (1990)
Method
Aggressive Aggressive
PH - < 4.5, >10 5.5 < pH < 10 G51 T 289 - 91 Clause 9
ohm - Greater than
Resistivity < 2,000 G57 T 290 91 Clause 10
cm 5,000
Sulfates ppm(1) > 200 Less than 200 D516 T 290 91 Clause 5
Chlorides ppm > 100 Less than 100 D512 T 291 91 Clause 3
Stray
- Present - - - -
current
h) There are many drilling techniques and methods for micropiles. Each
method has its applications and limitations or its suitability depending
mainly on subsoil conditions and size/depth of the micropiles.
Cased or Drillhole
Drill Rig Open Cuttings
Drilling Method Auger- Diameters Drill Bit Types Comments
Type Hole? Removal
Cast? (mm)
Continuous Flight
Yes No Mechanical
Solid-Stem
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Sectional Solid-Stem
Yes No Mechanical Hydraulic rotary auger
Augers
Rock, Soil, methods for drilling
100 300
Drag, etc. competent soils or
Sectional Hollow-Stem Mechanical weathered rock
Yes Yes
Augers (air support)
Pneumatic rotary
Button, Roller, Compressed methods for drilling
Air Track Single-Stem Air Rotary Yes No 100 300
Drag, etc. Air non-caving competent
soils or rock
Drilling can be cased or uncased wash rotary drilling with water (with or
without bentonite/polymer), rotary pneumatic percussive drilling with or
without casing, augering, percussion, etc., depending on subsoil
conditions and drilling tools, etc. Rotary action can be by power-driven
rotary table turning Kelly bar or tophead drive pneumatic/hydraulic motor
turning drill rod/casing or chuck drive rig or special rig /machine.
Requirements for rotary (rpm) /torque & pull-down capacity for hard rock,
soft rock, soils? Drilled hole stabilization methods? Flushing medium
(water, air, mud, foam & combinations with additives to meet specific
ground & flow rates, etc.) & circulation methods? Applications & limitation
of each method to the specific site and design conditions for the project
shall be assessed.
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Economy, pile size & capacity: Machine & tool cost are high for drillholes
exceeding 250mm for rotary percussive methods, especially for deep
holes that have localized collapsible strata
Special tools for difficult site & subsoil conditions such as water bearing
sandy strata, collapsible strata, subsoil with excess pore water pressure, fill
ground with hard construction debris/boulders, etc. What are the
problems and how to address the problems?
j) Reinforcement
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k) Grouting
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For weathered & fractured rocks, it is important to know locations & size of
fractures & permeability plus its reaction to grouting. This can be
determined by Packer/Lugeon tests using double packer. Lu>3L/m/MPa
implies that pregrouting is necessary & useful. What are the factors &
information required in proper design of rock socket strength (fub) for
micropiles?
Pressure and post grouting are expensive & difficult to do at site though it
can get very high bond stress fub in fractured rock socket with low RQD
(only if properly done). What should be the design approach to address
these issues? Understand how the bond fub that can be mobilized?
Factors? How to ensure rock socket is clean or not filled with debris or
disturbed by drilling? How the grout properties & pressure can fill the rock
discontinuities/fractures? Rock properties & grout shrinkage problems?
l) Pile Testing
Pile testing is the main part of QC/QA for piling works (bored piles &
micropiles). The performance of piles with respect to structural integrity
and capacity (ultimate friction fsu & end bearing fbu) is very sensitive to
how they are constructed, especially bored piles & micropiles.
There are two types of post installation pile tests namely INTEGRITY tests or
non-destructive tests to evaluate the soundness or integrity of the
constructed bored piles & LOAD tests to determine the load capacity of
the bored piles.
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Common integrity tests are cross-hole sonic logging test (ASTM D6760) and
sonic echo/hammer test (ASTM D5822). Some pile load test methods such as
PDA and MLT also can be used to check pile integrity conditions. Excavation
(for shallow depths <3m) and coring are also can be used to check structural
conditions of bored piles.
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couplings. They can be of mild steel pipe or galvanised iron (G.I.) pipe.
Four (4) nos. of tubes are required for each selected pile of diameter less
than 1.3 m while six (6) nos. are required for each selected pile of
diameter greater than 1.3 m.
The tubes shall be cleaned with a nongreasy product before use in order
to prevent oil films from causing adherence problems between the tube
and the concrete. This could cause a variation that might be incorrectly
interpreted as a significant defect in the pile.
The tubes shall be fixed to the vertical bars with equal spacing on the
inside perimeter of the links. The tubes shall be watertight with the
bottom of the tube sealed and suitably weighed to prevent floating. The
upper ends of the tubes must be closed and extended to at least
500 mm above the concrete surface to prevent debris or concrete from
falling into the tube. The tubes shall be secured to the internal face of
the reinforcement cage at equal distance from each other on the
circumference.
In all cases, the steel tubes shall rest on the founding level of the pile so
that the full length of the pile can be tested. The type of tube and
condition of sealing shall be checked and approved by the RE before
installation.
The tube shall be filled with water to provide the necessary acoustic
coupling, and then plugged or capped before concreting. After
conducting the tests, all tubes shall be grouted and the water in the tubes
displaced. The grout shall be dense cement grout with an approved
expanding agent.
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Load Tests
Preliminary test piles or instrumented test piles aimed to confirm and verify
the pile design should be tested to ultimate load, usually 2.5 or 3 times the
pile design working load whenever possible (SS CP 4:2003). Working piles
should be tested to proof loads, usually to 2 times the design working load
although in certain conditions proof load of 1.5 times may be used.
For large projects, some of the load tests (MLT/SLT) may be substituted by
PDA tests.
o Static Load Tests: CRP, MLT (ASTM D1143 for compression, D3689 for
tension, D3966 for lateral). Static maintained load test (MLT) should
be carried out according to JKR/SPJ/2010-S10 and acceptance
criteria:
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Refer Para 4.2 (o) for record requirements for micropile installation.
MLT or SLT is the most reliable test. A must to verify the estimated capacity
& settlement
Common errors/problems
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For bored pile installation, all site supervisors of piling works should be
familiar and well-versed with all the construction requirements specified.
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We have compiled these Q & A from the problems we were asked about
most frequently, so that you can find the answers you are looking for.
Answers to the questions will be discussed during the end of the
presentation.
Ans:
Site supervisors including RE & technician/IOWS/COW are appointed by the
Client/project owner or project manager to take care of their interest. The role pile
supervisors is to take care the Clients interest to ensure the piling works are properly
carried out according to the CP, design drawings and specifications. The required
fundamental responsibility of site supervisor is to inspect and to make sure the piling
work is properly carried out with due care, diligence & skill, i.e. the piling works are
completed smoothly without much problems (within the time frame & budget or not
much costs/time overruns through proper project management & Contract administration)
and according to the approved pile design & specification (to ensure quality &
performance & also meet the requirements stipulated by CP through proper technical
supervision).
In order to discharge the required fundamental responsibility of supervision of piling
works to ensure quality & performance, the site supervisor must have the basic academic
training plus some site training and experience to acquire the practical aspects of piling
works process and the required QC to ensure workmanship & performance.
Basically, if you cannot read & understand the technical basis of pile design drawings,
specifications & SI report, you are basically and actually not qualified to supervise the
piling works concerned. A competent qualified piling supervisor not only can read and
understand the basis of important aspects of pile design drawings and specifications, but
also has the capability to distinguish and to recognize the proper construction
method/procedure plus mitigations against various risks and uncertainties of subsoil
conditions encountered. This means the site supervisors should be capable of distinguish,
identify and recognize what are the defective constructions/piling works, which are
defined as piling works that are not carried out according to good engineering practice or
not according to specifications and design drawings.
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To understand these details and their engineering purposes and basis requires structural &
geotechnical engineering knowledge and training. What are the relevant subjects of
structural & geotechnical engineering involved? Availability of resources (experienced
contractors, materials and machine) and practical aspects of cost-effectiveness
(economics) are equally vital to be learned.
How to read and understand pile specification?
What is meant by good engineering practice? What is meant by defective construction for
piling works? To be discussed more detail during the Q & A session.
b) What is meant by defective design for piling works? What are the
common causes and typical cost-effective mitigations vs. defective
design?
Ans:
Basically, defective design means the design has not met the requirements stipulated by CP or
local authority. Common causes for defective design are:
Inadequate and/or unreliable GI/SI. Inadequate GI/SI means the scope of GI/SI does
not meet the minimum requirements stipulated by CP or local authority. Unreliable
GI/SI means the GI/SI works are not properly carried by accredited SI Contractor or
using improper equipment or improper test procedure or not supervised by qualified
personnel.
Inadequacy in scope of design verification, where safety, serviceability and
durability aspects are not adequately carried out in accordance with the requirements
stipulated by CP and local authority, etc.
Inadequacy in scope of design validation to ensure the requirements with respect to
performance, serviceability and durability stipulated by CP and local authority, etc.
c) What is meant by defective construction for piling works? What are the
common causes and typical cost-effective mitigations vs. defective
construction?
d) How to conduct redriving test & false set in granular & cohesive
subsoil? How to check & conduct pile heave/uplift for big pile group in
saturated subsoil? How to measure ground vibration & movement for
large displacement pile in saturated cohesive subsoils? How to check
pile position/deviation, pile verticality & rake to ensure compliance
with specifications?
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h) What are the common defective constructions and problems in (a) soft
ground, (b) boulder abundant residual subsoils, (c) ex-mining areas of
limestone formation with floaters/boulders, cavities & erratic rock
profile, (d) uncontrolled fill ground, (e) off-shore of marine environment
such as jetty project and (f) residual subsoil with inclined/laminated
weathered shale for:
driven RC piles
driven spun piles
jacked RC piles
jacked spun piles
bored piles
micropiles?
What are the common causes/mechanism of the problems? Effective
mitigations?
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What are the important information & data that shall be checked and
verified with the Contractor before acceptance/approval to method
statement can be given by the RE?
m) For static load test or maintained load test for piles, what are the
important inspection/measurements/document/clarifications that
should be checked and verified with the Contractor before approval
to proceed is given?
n) For high strain dynamic pile test/PDA test for driven RC piles or spun
piles, what are the important inspection/measurements/document
/clarifications that should be checked and verified with the Contractor
before approval to proceed is given?
o) For statnamic pile test for driven RC piles or spun piles or bored piles,
what are the important inspection/measurements/document
/clarifications that should be checked and verified with the Contractor
before approval to proceed is given?
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p) For bidirectional or O-cell pile test for spun piles or bored piles, what
are the important inspection/measurements/document /clarifications
that should be checked and verified with the Contractor before
approval to proceed is given?
q) For driven RC or spun piles, what are the basic criteria of selection of
piles for load tests?
r) For jacked RC or spun piles, what are the basic criteria of selection of
piles for load tests?
s) For bored piles, what are the basic criteria of selection of piles for load
tests?
t) For micropiles, what are the basic criteria of selection of piles for load
tests?
v) For driven Spun piles that are suspected of structural integrity problems
through driving records or PDA tests with low BTA ratio, what are the
relevant tests that should be carried out to verify the conditions?
Typical remediations?
w) What are the typical subsoil conditions and construction methods that
are prone to have structural integrity problems for bored piles? What
are the reliable test methods to verify the conditions? Effective
mitigations vs. the problems?
x) What are the typical subsoil conditions and construction methods that
are prone to have structural integrity problems for micropiles? What
are the reliable test methods to verify the conditions? Effective
mitigations vs. the problems?
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cc) What should be the scope of GI/SI methods to obtain the necessary
subsoil properties & information required to address the problems of
bored pile design & construction for normal high-rise building projects?
What are the important CP requirements need to be met?
gg) What are the major factors that will affect ultimate unit friction fsu &
ultimate end bearing fbu for bored piles?
How to estimate unit ultimate skin friction fsu & end bearing fbu for bored
piles in clay, sand, intermediate geomaterial (IMG) & rock? What
factors that can influence fsu & fbu significantly? Why fbu is commonly
ignored in the estimation of end bearing in practice? When end
bearing can be considered substantially and partly? Basis?
hh) What are the usual permissible limits/tolerances for bored pile
position, verticality and rake for displacement piles? How to inspect
and check/verify/test these limits at site? In case some of the piles are
found out of alignment or position exceeding the tolerable limits, what
are the acceptable methods of remediation or rectification? Who
should bear the additional costs involved according to JKR
Specification for Piling Works (JKR/SPJ/2010-S10)?
ii) What are the main & critical information sought from GI/SI aimed for
bored pile design & construction?
jj) What are the basic 3 types of bored pile construction? Applications &
limitations plus advantages of each method of construction? What are
the common types of unstable strata in bored pile construction & how
to address the problems involved?
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kk) What are the basic requirements for boring operation related to boring
machine & drilling tools for bored pile construction in soft to
hard/dense soil & rock (soft to hard rocks)? When can boiling
phenomenon happen & how to address boiling problem? When can
the problem of excessive outflow of drilling fluid happen and how to
address the problem? When can the excessive inflow of groundwater
and/or soil to the bores happen & how to address such problem?
ll) What are the common construction methods for rock socket for bored
piles? How to estimate ultimate friction for rock socket? What are the
factors that shall be considered when adopting the ultimate rock bond
strength?
nn) What is meant by base cleaning in bored pile construction? What are
the common methods for base cleaning & the principles involved?
Their applications, advantages and limitations? What are the common
tests that should be carried out to ensure the base is clean?
pp) What are the desired properties of concrete mix for tremie
concreting in bored pile construction? What are the important QC tests
on tremie concrete that should be checked and carried out at least
once daily?
qq) What are the common construction defects in tremie concreting for
bored piles and what are the possible consequences to bored pile
performance?
rr) How slump of insitu concrete for bored pile can affect the performance
(integrity & capacity) of bored piles critically? How slump should be
monitored during the whole process of concreting especially for the
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concreting for big & long bored piles that takes more than 1.5 hours to
complete?
ss) BS EN 1536 recommends that the concrete-depth for all bored piles
should be recorded. What are main purposes for this record?
tt) What are the requirements, extent & scope of site supervision,
inspection & recording for bored pile installation as required by BS 8004
and BS EN 1536:2000?
uu) What are the common structural integrity problems in bored pile
construction? Methods of mitigations against these problems? Methods
to identify and assess/determine the extent/existence of these
problems?
vv) What are the common methods used to estimate/check lateral load
capacity & deflection of bored piles? When & how external lateral
loads (ground movement) can be imposed on piles? How to improve
lateral load capacity of bored piles in loose or weak/soft soils near the
ground level?
ww) What is meant by bidirectional load test? What are the main
differences between the conventional maintained load tests and
bidirectional load tests? Can the bidirectional load tests be considered
static load tests? What are the advantages & disadvantages of
bidirectional load tests when compared with the conventional
maintained load tests?
xx) What are meant by high-strain dynamic load test/PDA and statnamic
load test? What are the main differences between these 2 tests? What
are the advantages & disadvantages of PDA & statnamic load tests
when compared with the conventional maintained load tests?
yy) What are the important acceptance criteria for load tests on bored
piles? What are the load test acceptance criteria according to
JKR/SPJ/2010/S-10? Basis of the acceptance criteria?
zz) What are the typical conditions/situations that bored piles are practical
and cost-effective? When bored can be very competitive when
compared with other piling systems?
aaa) What are the main purposes of pile testing for bored piles? How to
ensure the results of pile testing are representative and meaningful?
What are the common test methods/types & their applications,
advantages & limitations for tests to check structural integrity and
capacity?
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ccc) Generally, can the piling Contractor be entitled to claim for the
additional cost of repair/rectification of the adjacent
buildings/structures/utilities due to piling works according to JKR
Specification for Piling Works (JKR/SPJ/2010-S10)?
ddd) What are the common bored pile construction disputes and
contractual claims related to:
Boring operation
Subsoil conditions
Rock socket construction methods & depth
Drilled shaft stabilization methods
Base cleansing methods
Concreting
Placement of reinforcement cage
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