1

Lecture 6
Axial Pile Load Tests
6.1 Static Pile load tests
Important as the tests verify the
design values
Instrumented pile useful to obtain
shaft friction and base resistance
Heavy loads needed
Dead weight reaction system
Anchors
Anchored piles
2
Schematic setup of Conventional kentledge (dead-weight
reaction) pile load test
Pile load test using dead weight reaction system
3
Tension piles
Pile load test using anchor loading system
4
Load and settlement
Load measurement
Load cell (preferred)
Hydraulic jack load may not be accurate
and should be carefully calibrated
Settlement measurement
Dial gauges on reference beam
Level
Reference wires
5
Load cell measurement of load on pile
Dial gauges (accuracy 0.1 mm) attached to independent
reference beam to measure pile head settlement
6
6.2 Loading methods
Important to ensure that
C.G. of the loading system, and the load
and pressure gauges are aligned axially
with the test pile
Support must be at least 3 test pile
diameter away and at least 2 m away
Maintained Load method
Load is maintained until a limiting rate of pile
settlement of 0.25 mm/hr is reached (BS8004)
Typical loading/unloading sequence and
corresponding pile settlement in next slide.
Maximum test load
Ultimate pile load test (or at least 3 times working
load); pile will not be used
Working pile load test (2 times working load)
This is the most common loading method
7
Typical loading/unloading sequence
Time-hrs
Constant rate of penetration test
BS8004 recommends
0.75 mm/minute for friction pile in clay
1.5 mm/minute for end-bearing pile in
sand/gravel
Rate of pile penetration should be
continuously monitored
Pile settlement under the same load may
not be the same as the maintained load
method
8
Load-settlement curve
Pile toe movement
Important parameters
Pile settlement
at working load (<10 mm)
at 2 times working load (<25 mm)
Residual pile settlement upon unloading
Ultimate failure load
when rapid settlement occurs under sustained or
slightly increased load (turning point of curve)
when settlement exceeds 10% pile diameter
9
6.3 Pile capacity for piles not tested
to failure
(a) Davissons (1972) method
Pile capacity is defined as the load
corresponding to pile settlement
(movement) exceeding the elastic pile
compression of pile by 4 mm (0.15 inch)
plus (pile diameter/120), see next slide
Davisson method
10
(b) Chins (1970) method
Assuming the load-settlement curve follows a
hyperbolic relationship such that the load Q is
related to the pile head settlement as
Q =/(C
1
+C
2
)
By replotting the data in the form of /Q versus
, a final straight line can be obtained such that
C
1
is the gradient of the straight line and C
2
is
the y-intercept of the straight line, see next slide.
Chin's hyperbolic plot
11
Pile capacity
The pile capacity can be derived as the inverse
of gradient C
1
Warning: Chins plot may grossly overpredict the
pile capacity!! This would occur when the load-
settlement response is still fairly linear resulting
in an incorrect hyperbolic curve. This can be
checked by replotting the Chins load-settlement
response using the hyperbolic equation.
Chins plot with
2 straight lines
(1) Inverse of 1
st
straight line is the
ultimate shaft
friction (can be
very useful)
(2) Inverse of 2
nd
straight line is the
ultimate pile
capacity (may be
unconservative!)
1
st
line
2
nd
line
12
6.4 Pile instrumentation
2 to 4 strain gauges should be installed at a given elevation toevaluate
bending of pile, if any. The average reading of all gauges is adopted.
Pile instrumentation
Pile instrumented with vibrating wire strain
gauges with output in strain, . The
average of all gauges at a given
elevation should be adopted.
Assuming the pile behaves in an elastic
manner, load at a given elevation is
determined using Elastic theory as
Load = E
p
A
p
13
Vibrating
wire strain
gauge
installation
procedures
14
15
16
Strain gauge placed inside an reinforcement cage
17
Reinforcement cage reinforced with strain gauges
Sketch of monitoring system
18
Strain gauge monitoring junction box
(a) Unit shaft friction
The load transfer for a given pile segment
is the difference in load between 2 gauges
placed at the top and bottom of the
segment
The unit shaft friction is the transferred
load divided by shaft perimeter area. I.e.
for a circular bored pile
f
s
= load/[( D)(segment length)]
19
0 5 10 15 20
Load (MN)
0
4
8
12
16
D
e
p
t
h

b
e
l
o
w

g
r
o
u
n
d

l
e
v
e
l

(
m
)
0 200 400 600
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
Firm
silty clay
(N =12)
V. dense
clayey silt
(N =130)
Weak
siltstone
(q
u
=6.5 MPa)
Fill
Marine clay
Weak
siltstone
(q
u
=3.5 MPa)
(a) (b)
(c)
1
2 3
4
1 2 3 4
Applied load
1: 5 MN
2: 10 MN
3: 15 MN
4: 20 MN
Rock socket instrumentation
As the unit shaft friction is a very
important parameter to verify, it is
advantageous to install more strain
gauges in the rock socket (say at
least every 1 m interval, more
frequent if the rock is hard).
In addition, it can be used to derive
the t-z curves.
20
2
9

m
6

m
4

m
8

m
8

m
7

m
6

m
3

m
3

m
Soft to
medium stiff
soil
Stiff
soil
Granite
(RQD = 0%)
Granite
(RQD = 25%)
VWSG
(3 at each
elevation)
Tell-tale
rod
Location of VWSG
in rock socket
(1) Every metre for
first 3 m
(2) Every half metre
for the last metre
Proposed schematic layout of instruments for preliminary pile
1m
0.5 m
(b) t-z curves
Unit shaft resistance (t)/movement (z)
curves are useful to evaluate the
amount of shaft movement required
to mobilise the shaft resistance at a
given elevation.
The assumption is that the concrete
pile shaft is compressed elastically
under the given load transfer.
21
1 MN load
transfer to
top soil of
10 m
thick
2 MN load
transfer to
1-m rock
socket
1

m

d
i
a
m
e
t
e
r

c
o
n
c
r
e
t
e

p
i
l
e
E
p
=E
concrete
=30,000 MPa =average stress/strain
=(average load/A
P
)/(segment compression/length)
5 MN (settlement =10 mm)
A
P
=D
2
/4 =0.785 m
2
Average Segment
Top load compression
10 m 4.5 MN 1.91 mm
1m
socket 3.5 MN 0.30 mm
Shaft movement in rock socket
=10 - 1.91 - 0.3 mm =7.79 mm
t-z curves
The previous slide shows a simplified
calculation that 7.79 mm rock socket
shaft movement, z, is required to
mobilise 2 MN (i.e. unit shaft friction,
t, of 318 kPa).
Using similar procedure, a series of t-
z curves can be derived to relate the
magnitude z required to mobilise t.
22
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Shaft movement (mm)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
U
n
i
t

s
h
a
f
t

f
r
i
c
t
i
o
n

(
k
P
a
)
3.5 m below ground
8.5 m below ground
11.5 m below ground
14.5 m below ground
(Unit shaft friction =t, shaft movement =z)
6.5 Possible errors of load test
Load measurement
Load cell should be calibrated regularly
Settlement measurement
Dial gauges not mounted on an independent
support
Possible interaction effect with loading
system
(The interaction effect can be assessed from
an analysis of pile-soil interaction)
23
After Poulos
Correction factor for dead weight reaction system
24
Correction
factor
for
tension
pile
system
Correction
factor
for
tension
pile
system
(end
bearing
pile)
25
Correction
factor
for
ground
anchor
system
Possible errors of load test
Interpretation of strain gauge
readings
Uncertainties in pile diameter
Irregularities in pile diameter
Sensitivity of Youngs modulus value of
pile material
26
After
Chua
(1999)
Varying
diameter
along
pile
shaft
27
Load
distribution
interpretation
error
assuming
constant
pile
diameter
Pile
load
distribution
assuming
a lower
E
pile
value
28
Pile
load
distribution
assuming
a higher
E
pile
value
Possible errors of load test
Interpretation of strain gauge
readings (continued)
Residual strain values upon unloading
Problems during construction stage:
Lifting of steel reinforcement cage
Concrete casting
Good practice: The working condition of the strain
gauges should be checked before and after
casting!
29
Possible errors of load test
Problems with tell-tale rods
Rod must have free room to move
bending during lifting of reinforcement
cage
Interpretation of t-z curves:
Long concrete bored pile may not
behave in an elastic manner.
Errors in pile diameter and Youngs
modulus of pile material
Example 6.1
30
Table 1 Pile load test results
a) Load settlement curve is shown in Fig. 2
Poser question : Determine the ultimate pile capacity
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Pile head settlement (mm)
L
o
a
d

(
k
N
)
(b) Load =strain gauge reading xYoungs modulus of
concrete (=31.6E6 kPa) xpile cross-sectional area (= x
0.6 x 0.6 m
2
)
Fig. 3 shows the load distribution along pile
Poser question -- (i) identify major load transfer
elevations and (ii) base resistance.
Comment against soil properties shown in Fig. 1
31
Fig. 3 Load di stri bution curve
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
Load (kN)
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
(c) Unit shaft friction is determined from the load transfer
between 2 strain gauges divided by the corresponding shaft
perimeter area.
Fig. 4 Unit shaft friction distribution curve
Poser question
- Evaluate the unit shaft friction values against standard
penetration resistance (and hence soil strength)
values.
- Why curves D, E, F and G are practically identical?
- What are the practical implications?
32
Fig. 4 Unit shaft distribution
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
-100 0 100 200 300 400 500
Uni t shaft fri cti on (kPa)
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
33
Fig. 5 t-z curves
0
100
200
300
400
500
0 10 20 30 40
Shaft movement z
U
n
i
t

s
h
a
f
t

f
r
i
c
t
i
o
n

t

o
r

f
s
Depth 1.9 m
Depth 6.0 m
Depth 9.5 m
Depth 11.9
m
Depth 14.4
m
6.6 Osterberg
Cell load test
Action (up) and
Reaction (down)
at cell elevation
O-cell is a
sacrificial jack
placed at desired
elevation of pile
(e.g. at pile base)
34
Since its inception in 1989, Osterberg Cell (O-cell) pile load test
method has demonstrated its advantages over conventional
compression pile load test method with improved safety, minimal
required working area, shorter operation time as well as separate
measurement of pile shaft friction and end bearing capacity
Working in two directions, upward against side-shear and
downward against end-bearing, the O-cell automatically separates
the resistance data.
Load testing with the O-cell continues until one of three situations
occurs: (a) ultimate side shear capacity is reached, (b) ultimate
end bearing capacity is reached, or (c) maximum O-cell capacity
is reached.
It is especially useful for cases involving piles with very high
bearing capacity, piles installed in remote areas or in open seas
Schematic setup of O-cell
load test
Photo of a bottom O-cell
installed in the steel cage
35
At a construction site in
Singapore, where several
hundred large diameter
cast-in-situ concrete bored
piles were installed,
conventional kentledge
dead weight reaction and
O-cell pile load tests were
performed on two adjacent
1.2-m diameter
instrumented piles with
identical pile penetration
For the O-cell test pile, one O-cell
was installed at the pile base while
another O-cell was installed below
the mid-pile elevation.
The subsoil consists of firm to
very stiff clay with average
undrained shear strength (c
u
) values
as shown.
Two O-cell tests were carried out,
one utilizing the bottom O-cell with
another utilizing the mid O-cell.
A good number of vibrating wire
strain gauges were installed in the
test pile as shown.
Fill
(Cu=75kPa)
Stiff clay
Very stiff clay
(Cu>200kPa)
Ground surface
39m
Bottom cell
Mid cell
Vibrating
wire strain
gauges
(a) Conventional
(b) O-cell
(Cu=130kPa)
test pile test pile
1.2m diameter
Schematic setup of Conventional
kentledge pile load test
36
Bottom O-cell load test
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
A
p
p
l
i
e
d

l
o
a
d

a
t

b
o
t
t
o
m

O
-
c
e
l
l

(
M
N
)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
(a) bottom O-cell
0 1 2 3
(b) pile head
Displacement (mm) at
The maximum downward
load applied is 9.2 MN, with a
corresponding measured pile
base settlement of 63 mm. The
end bearing resistance has not
been fully mobilized yet.
The maximum pile top
displacement is 2.4 mm which
is only a very small fraction of
the settlement measured at the
pile base.
Load-displacement curves from
bottom O-cell test
Bottom O-cell load test
Load distribution curve along the pile shaft at various applied loads shows that most
of the loads have been transferred to the lower stiff clay layer.
The maximum unit shaft friction mobilized is 275 kPa close to the pile base. The
shaft friction mobilized at the upper half of the pile is essentially negligible.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(a)

-300 -250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(b)
37
Mid O-cell load test
For the pile section above the mid O-cell, most of the uplift load has been transferred
to the soil just above the mid O-cell. For the lower pile section, most of the compressive
load was transferred to the soil layers close to the pile base.
Maximum negative unit shaft friction mobilized along the upper section is 165 kPa,
observed just above the mid O-cell level. Maximum positive unit shaft friction
mobilized in the lower shear section is 312 kPa, observed just above bottom cell level.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8 10
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(a)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
-200 -100 0 100 200 300 400
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
(b)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load

Comparison between bottom
and mid O-cell load tests
38
Bottom O-cell load test
A comparison can be made using the Osterberg bottom cell load of 9.63 MN and
Osterberg mid cell load of 4.93 MN.
The load transfer in the upper stiff clay layers is minimal for the case of bottom O-
cell test. The load transfer for the mid O-cell test is distributed more evenly upwards.
This subtle difference can be attributed to the elevation where the load is applied.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(a)

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8 10
Load (MN)
(1)
(2) (3) (4)
(a)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
Mid O-cell load test
Bottom O-cell load test
The mobilization of unit skin friction at the elevation of mid O-cell and bottom O-
cell supports the earlier postulation that O-cell would first mobilize the resistance of
adjacent soil layers and transfer less loads to the soils farther away from the O-cell.
In both cases, the mobilized shaft friction for the soils located within 10 m below
the ground level was rather small due to their remote position from the applied load.
Mid O-cell load test
-300 -250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(b)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
-200 -100 0 100 200 300 400
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1)
(2) (3) (4)
(b)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load

39
Conventional dead-weight
reaction load test
A pile located close to the O-cell pile was also tested using conventional
kentledge dead-weight reaction load system.
Maximum applied load of about 28 MN with about 110 mm pile head
settlement at maximum test load.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Settlement (mm)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
L
o
a
d

(
M
N
)
Conventional test
Bottom O-cell test
Mid O-cell test

40
End bearing resistance only starts to mobilize at an applied load of about 12 MN.
Even at a small load of 2.9 MN, a significant amount of unit shaft friction of about
30 kPa has been mobilized in the upper soil layers, with ultimate value of about 60
kPa. Recall that in the O-cell tests, negligible shaft skin friction has been mobilized
in these soil layers.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (5)
(a)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1)
(2) (3) (5)
(b)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

Comparison between
conventional and bottom
O-cell load tests
41
The striking difference of the load transfer along the pile shaft between
conventional load test and bottom O-cell load test.
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(a)

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (5)
(a)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

Conventional load test Bottom O-cell load test
The mobilized unit shaft frictions along the pile shaft also differ between the
two types of test, which are fundamentally attributed to the different loading
mechanisms between the 2 tests.
Conventional load test Bottom O-cell load test
-300 -250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2.3 MN
4.6 MN
7.3 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
(b)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1)
(2) (3) (5)
(b)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

42
Comparison between
conventional and mid O-cell
load tests
For mid O-cell test, most of the applied load has been transferred to the soil layers
above and adjacent to the soil layers with less load transferred to the upper soil
layers. This again differs from the conventional load test which fully mobilizes the
shear resistance of the upper soil layer before transferring theload downward to the
soils at greater depth.
Conventional load test Mid O-cell load test
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 2 4 6 8 10
Load (MN)
(1)
(2) (3) (4)
(a)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Load (MN)
(1) (2) (3) (5)
(a)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

43
For the pile section below the elevation of the mid O-cell, the maximum
positive unit shaft friction mobilized is very close in both cases. This is
logical as for the pile section below the elevation of the mid O-cell, the load
was applied from the top of the pile section in both cases.
Conventional load test Mid O-cell load test
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1)
(2) (3) (5)
(b)
(4)
2.8 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load
28.8 MN (5)

40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
D
e
p
t
h

(
m
)
-200 -100 0 100 200 300 400
Unit shaft friction (kPa)
(1)
(2) (3) (4)
(b)
2.4 MN
4.9 MN
7.4 MN
9.6 MN
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Applied load

Equivalent pile top load-
displacement curve form
Osterberg load test
Refer to separate file for details of
construction
(after Loadtest Inc.)
44
In practice, engineers find it useful to see the results of an O-cell load test in the
form of equivalent load versus displacement curve at the pile top.
Equivalent load-displacement curves derived from the bottom O-cell test and
the mid O-cell test compares favorably with that of the conventional pile load
test with deviation of less than 5%.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Settlement (mm)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
L
o
a
d

(
M
N
)
Conventional test
Bottom O-cell test
Mid O-cell test

Summary
For both bottom O-cell test and mid O-cell test, the applied load is
largely transferred to the soil layers adjacent to the O-cell at deep
elevations with little load transferred to the upper soil layers.
The load transfer mechanism of O-cell test differs significantly
from the that for the conventional load test whereby the shear
resistance of the upper soil layer is mobilized first before theload
is transferred downward to soils at greater depths.
The fundamental differences between the O-cell pile load tests and
conventional pile load test are essentially attributed to the different
location and direction of the applied load for the respective case.
Both bottom O-cell and mid O-cell tests can yield equivalent pile
top load-settlement curves close to that for conventional pile load
test.
45
6.7 Statnamic test
Static test Statnamic
test
Dynamic
test

Cost 25 times 10 times 1 time
Loading
duration
Minimum
3 days
120 to 200
ms
10 to 20
ms

Reaction
mass
required
Full test
load
5% test
load
1 to 1.5%
test load
Interpre-
tation
Very easy Easy Complex


Dynamic tests not covered here!
Principle
of
statnamic
test
MASS
P
I
L
E
46
Statnamic
load test
schematic
setup
REACTION
MASS
REACTION
MASS
PISTON
47
OA -- Reaction mass placed
AB -- Elastic behaviour
BC -- Non-linear behaviour
CD -- Velocity increases
rapidly
Maximum load
reached
DE -- load
decreases but pile
continues to move
down (inertia)
When velocity becomes zero, applied statnamic load = static load.
Pile rebounds beyond the point
48
6.8 Uplift pile load test
Uplift pile load test
Setup must be sound to ensure that during
test, the whole pile is lifted (rather than just
the concrete at the pile top)
More prone to errors due to above and
inexperience
To evaluate whether the uplift shaft friction
is the same as the compression shaft
friction
49
6.9 BCA / lES /ACES ADVISORY NOTE 1/03
ON SITE INVESTIGATION AND LOAD TESTS
Variable ground conditions are frequently
encountered in Singapore. These could have
significant influence and impact on the design
and construction of a piled foundation. This
joint BCA/IES/ACES advisory note serves to
remind the industry which has generally in
place the good practices, on site investigation
and load test requirements for projects with
building structures of 10 a-storey or more.
Site Investigation
Site investigation should be carried out to sufficient
extent and depth to establish the significant soil strata
and ground variation.
(a) The number of boreholes should be the greater of (i) 1
borehole per 300 m
2
or (ii) 1 borehole at every interval
between 10 m to 30 m, but no less than 3 boreholes in
a project site.
(b) Boreholes should go more than 5 m into hard stratum
with SPT blow counts of 100 or more than 3 times the
pile diameters beyond the intended founding level.
50
Load Tests
(a) The table below gives the number and type
of load tests to be carried out:
2 numbers or 2% of working
piles installed whichever is
greater.
(c) Non-destructive integrity test. (Note:
This is for the purpose of quality
control, and high-strain type should be
used for bored piles)
2 numbers or 1% of working
piles installed or 1 for every 50
m length of proposed building,
whichever is greater.
(b) Working load test
1 number or 0.5% of the total
piles whichever is greater.
(a) Ultimate load test on preliminary
pile (preferably instrumented)
Pile Test Schedule
Type of Load Test
(b) For adequate assessment of the pile capacity,
it is essential to conduct ultimate load test and
working load test.
(c) The load test shall be conducted in accordance
to the SS CP 4: Code of Practice for
Foundations which requires, among others, the
test load be measured by a calibrated load
gauge and also by calibrated pressure gauge.
51
6.10 REVISED SINGAPORE STANDARD
ON CODE OF PRACTICE FOR
FOUNDATIONS CP4: 2003
SPRING Singapore (Standards, Productivity
and Innovation Board) has recently released
the revised Singapore Standard on Code of
Practice for Foundations CP4:2003. As it is a
revision of CP4:1976, the revised CP4:2003
will take immediate effect. Some salient
features of this revised CP4:2003 are as
follows:
(a) Design. Factors to be considered in the
design of foundations generally are outlined
in Section 2, which includes design ground
considerations for the local soil/rock
conditions in Singapore.
(b) Permissible stress. In determining the
allowable structural capacity of bored cast-
in-place piles, the permissible stress for
concrete is subject to a limit of 7.5 MPa.
52
(c) Geotechnical Design Values. The code
suggests a range of values with limiting
values for shaft friction and base resistance
for pile design. It also mentions that the use
of higher values for design would need
verification by load tests; and cautions that
the value for base resistance will not be
applicable to bored piles with soft or
weakened toes.
(d) Static Load Tests. The code recommends
that the load test on preliminary test pile be
instrumented to measure the transfer of
load from the pile shaft and pile toe to the
soil.
(e) Dynamic Load Tests. The code
advises that the substitution of working
load test on piles using the Pile Dynamic
Analyser (PDA) test alone should not be
allowed in general. The use of PDA tests
should be correlated with static load tests
carried out at the subject site before its
reliability and accuracy can be justified.
53
6.11 Pile load test failure
Ultimate pile load test Pile meant to be tested to
failure and data used to fine tune pile design
Working pile load test If pile fails or experiences
excessive settlement under load, 2 additional piles
selected by the consultant need to be tested.
If both piles pass, it is acceptable and only
compensation pile(s) are required for the failed
pile.
If one or both pile fails, it may be necessary to
carry out many load tests to evaluate the
foundation system!! In such case, dynamic pile
load tests may be desirable.
6.12 Summary of Lectures 1 to 6
Lecture 1 Pile types and soil/rock
parameters
Lecture 2 Pile capacity
Lecture 3 Pile settlement
Lecture 4 Rock-socketed piles
Lecture 5 Negative skin friction
Lecture 6 Axial pile load test
54
Questions
For a given site with structural loading details
and site investigation results, are you able to
Establish correct soil/rock properties
Select appropriate pile types
Design the required pile number, size and penetration
in terms of capacity (including negative skin friction if
necessary) and settlement
Verify design by appropriate pile load tests
Anticipate potential pile installation problems
Cautions
You must make appropriate sound
judgment on your design results.
Applying formulae and charts is always the
easy part. Are your design results reliable,
conservative or non-conservative?
What to do if there are pile installation
problems (e.g. soft toe)?
What to do if pile load test(s) fail or the pile
performance is different from design values?
55
Final remark
There are many many situations in pile
foundations not covered in CE5107. Some
items in syllabus are also not covered due
to time constraint.
If you have picked up the right learning
habit, have a sound concept and positive
attitude, you should be able to learn most
new and other concepts by yourself.