Dynamic Pile Testing Sdn Bhd (DPT)

has been in the forefront of providing quality foundation testing and instrumentation monitoring
services in Malaysia. Established in 1994, DPT continues to grow its range of quality testing services
and solutions. In addition to PDA, PIT and Crosshole Sonic Logging Tests, settlement and slope
monitoring, DPT now offers Instrumented Load Test, Bi-Directional Static Load Test and Bi-Directional
Static Load Test with Distributed Fibre Optics Strain Sensors (DFOSS). Besides Malaysia, DPT has
successfully completed projects in Middle East and Asia Pacific regions.

CAPWAP (Case Pile Wave Analysis Program) is the software that models force and velocity data
measured by the PDA to determine soil responses.

The output result provides:

 Total pile bearing capacity
 Resistance distribution
 Dynamic soil response
 Simulated static load test graph

Pile capacity predictions obtained by CAPWAP have been extensively compared with static load tests,
with excellent agreement between the two.
 HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC PILE TESTING (PDA TEST)
PDA Testing utilizes the Pile Driving Analyzer@ (PDA) and is based on the theory of Stress Wave
Propagation on Piles (CASE Method). Force (strain) and velocity (acceleration) measurements taken
near the top of a pile during impact provide the necessary information to determine:
 Activated bearing capacity
 Hammer performance
 Maximum driving stresses
 Pile integrity
PDA Testing can be used on all types of piles, such as concrete piles, bored piles, steel piles and so
on. For large diameter bored piles, 4 pairs of strain transducers and accelerometers are used. Many
piles can be tested in a day resulting in lower cost.
Results such as pile integrity can be evaluated on site and would allow the engineer to accept or
reject the pile immediately. Actual driving stresses and hammer performance data obtained during pile
monitoring can reduce pile damage. Piles no longer need to be overdriven, resulting in lower
foundation cost.

BENEFITS:
 Tests deep foundation integrity & capacity quickly, reliably and economically
 Most widely employed system for Dynamic Load Testing and Pile Monitoring in the world
 Conforms to ASTM D4945

The GRLWEAP software simulates pile driving prior to actual pile installation using the WAVE
Equation numerical analysis technique. It is the most reliable predictor of pile driving stresses,
hammer performance, and set per blow versus bearing capacity of a driven pile. With GRLWEAP, you
can easily investigate if any hammer can safely drive a certain pile to the desired length and set.
For PDA testing on Bored piles, GRLWEAP analysis is routinely utilized to determine the hammer
weight and drop height to be used.

LOW STRAIN PILE INTEGRITY TESTING (PIT TESTING)

The Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) is used on bored piles, driven concrete shafts, concrete filled piles or
drilled shafts. It detects potentially dangerous defects such as major cracks, necking, soil inclusions or
voids.
PIT Testing is performed with a hand-held hammer, a sensitive accelerometer and the PIT Tester. A
compressive wave is generated by tapping the pile head with the hammer. When the downward
 compression wave encounters a change in cross section or in concrete quality, it generates an
upward tension wave that is obtained at the pile top.
The velocity recorded along with the subsequent reflections from the pile top or pile discontinuities are
graphically displayed. The effectiveness of the system is limited to pile lengths not exceeding 30 to 60
pile diameters.
PIT Testing does not require advance planning or access tubes. This makes it the most affordable
option when the pile integrity is in question.

BENEFITS:
 No advance planning
 Quick and Economical
 Can verify every pile on site
 Conforms to ASTM D5882

(Maintained Load Test, Lateral Load Test, Tension Load Test)

DPT provides load cells, LVDTs and data loggers to measure pile head settlement during Maintained
Load Test (MLT). These tests conform to ASTM D1143 (Axial Load Test); ASTM D3689 (Tension Load
Test) and ASTM D3966 (Lateral Load Test).
To obtain the unit shaft friction and end bearing, we also provide Vibrating Wire Strain Gauges
(VWSG) to measure strain at fixed locations and compute the effective transfer of forces to the
various depths of the pile.
Alternatively, DPT provides Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensing (DFOSS) technology to obtain the
continuous strain profile of the instrumented test pile. This state of the art technology is much superior
to the conventional point sensing using VWSG.

Bi-directional Static Load Test (BDSLT) is a reliable MLT option for large diameter piles that is widely
used in the market. The key difference between a conventional top-loaded maintained load test and a
BDSLT is the location of the jack.
In BDSLT, a sacrificial hydraulic jack is positioned at an equilibrium resistant point (determined based
on the results of soil investigation). The load is applied onto the pile in two directions, that is, upward
and downward. With BDSLT, the rock socket or the lower section of pile is able to be mobilised fully,
which normally will not be achieved with a top-loaded test.

BENEFITS:
 High test load capacity
 Improved safety, as no risk of the collapse of the reaction system
 Minimal space and access requirement
 Ease of installation, saves time and cost
 Pile extension to ground level is not necessary (ideal for pile with deep cut off level)
 Unique conical shape allows the concrete to flow freely and smoothly. Able to flush debris up
and prevent concrete contamination below jack.
 Conforms to ASTM D9169/D8169M

DISTRIBUTED FIBER OPTIC SENSING TECHNOLOGY

The distributed fiber optic sensing technology (DFOS) measures the strain and temperature change
based on the changes in the backscattering of light in fiber optic sensors. The DFOS technology
based on the Brillouin scattering, measures the frequency shift spectrum at any location along a fiber
optic cable, where the laser light is launched into.
At present, this Brillouin scattering technology can be categorized into two main types, the Brillouin
Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA) and the Brillouin Optical Time Domain Reflectometry
(BOTDR).
In BODTA, the optical stimulation leads to a greater intensity of the scattering mechanism and hence
an improved signal to noise ratio coincides.
Measurement using BOTDA requires access of the two ends of a fiber optic cables. For BOTDR, the
detection of a relatively lower intensity scattered light required longer time and long pulse which will
affect the spatial resolution.
However, BOTDR has an advantage that it is able to access to only one fiber end, i.e. possible to take
measurement if fiber if broken at certain location.
DFOS is offering new possibilities in geotechnical and structural health monitoring. Installing a single
DFOS cable in soil or structure allows the acquisition of a great amount of accurate relative strain
measurements.