CROSS HOLE SONIC

LOGGING TEST
(CSL)
Aim
The PISA-CHUM sonic pile integrity logger
was developed to determine the integrity of
pile foundation or concrete element such as
cast in-situ piles, caisson, barretsand
diaphragm wall with pre-installed access tubes.
Test Equipment
PISA is an acronym for Pile Integrated Sonic Analyzer. The PISA
is basically a high-performance computerized instrument, capable of
performing both sonic and ultrasonic integrity testing.
CHUM stands for Cross-Hole Ultrasonic Monitor. The CHUM
can be used for checking integrity of deep cast insituconcrete
foundations of all kinds: Bored piles, drilled shafts, caissons and
barrettes (slurry wall elements). The system uses high-frequency
(ultrasonic) waves and installation of access tubes is required during
the casting stage.
PISA-CHUM meet or exceed the requirements of ASTM Standard
6760.
PISA - CHUM
The PISA-CHUM system
consists of :
i) A data logger with
pentiumcomputer
equipped with USB.
ii) A pair of pulleys with
depth meters.
iii) Ultrasonic pulse
transmitter and
receiver probes.
On Site Testing
1) Concrete pile installed with
water-filled PVC/Steal
pipes (min.50mm diameter)
2) Ultrasonic transmitter
3) Ultrasonic receiver
4) Depth encoders
5) Industrial standard rugged
field computer
6) A defect in the pile and its
presentation
METHODOLOGY
1) Measure the length/depth of access tubes and distances between access tubes.
2) Make sure the access tubes filled with water. Water is the coupling medium for the
testing.
3) Lower down the transmitter and receiver into the access tubes respectively.
4) Having lower down the probes to the bottom of the access tubes, the probes are pulled
upwards simultaneously while monitoring is done through the microSlatecomputer.
5) The transmitter will produces a continuous series of signals, sending the waves in all
directions while these travel paths do eventually reach the receiver.
6) The computer will automatically save all the data collected and then plot the travel
time between the tubes versus the depth.
7) The repetitions depend on the numbers of access tubes installed in the pile.
8) After that the data will be downloaded into the desktop for analysis.
OUTPUT
1) FAT
First Arrival Time (FAT) , unit=ms
Is the time of propagation of the signal between the transmitter and receiver
probes as the probes are raised simultaneously.
Velocity, V = L/FAT
L=Measured distance between the tubes at the pile top
FAT=First Arrive Time
2) Attenuation
Relative measurement of loss energy while the signal travel fromtransmitter to receiver
(unit=dB).
These two curves are plotted in one graph with 2 different scales versus depth of the tubes.
OUTPUT
N
S
E W
15P6
12/08/2005
Diameter: 1.50m
NS
25.7m
NE
25.7m
NW
25.7m
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
25.7
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
48
0.8
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
25.7
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
48
0.8
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
25.7
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
48
0.8
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
OTHER EQUIPMENTS
Sonic Integrity Logger TCP3 (by Fugro)
PISA (by Piletest.com)
CHA (by Pile Dynamics,Inc.)
TCP3 is the earlier equipment used for cross
hole sonic logging test. Has been substituted
by PISA and CHA.
TCP3
TCP3 OUTPUT
CHA OUTPUT
INTERPRETATIONS
o As long as the FAT and attenuation are roughly constant, we can conclude
the homogeneity of the concrete for the section / profile tested.
o A local increase in FAT at certain depth of the profile means there is an
obstacle / defect on the straight path between the access tubes. The sonic
waves will travel through this defect at a reduced velocity witha respective
increase in travel time. In such case, there will also be respective increase
of the attenuation.
o An increase of the attenuation without an increase in FAT is usually a
relative rareficationof travel path outside the section between access tubes.
o The interpretation of the sonic logging test is primarily based on the FAT
that give information about the homogeneity of concrete between access
tubes which also is the main objective of the test. Then it followed by
attenuation value which give secondary / additional information about the
concrete homogeneity outside the section between access tubes.
INTERPRETATIONS
o It should be recognized that sonic logging tests are intrinsically indirect and
qualitative. Hence there are no simple criteria to pass or fail on the
basis of these tests alone. The sonic logging technique, however, providers
a cost-effective screening test to identify piles which have imperfections
within their acoustic integrity that may of structural significance. Such piles
normally warrant further investigation and engineering evaluation.
o It is therefore recommend that the test results should be evaluated in
conjunction with pile construction records and site investigation reports
which can often indicate the possible causes and physical natureof the
detected acoustical irregularities.
CRITERIA OF FAT &
ATTENUATION
No universal accepted rules for interpretation. The determination of what
constitutes an anomaly is still arbitrary.
According to The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), any
increase in FAT of more than 20% indicates a significant anomaly. As for
attenuation, the three Sigma rule is adopted in the interpretation.
The Chinese Codes define an anomaly if the FAT exceeds the mean by 2
standard deviation and the attenuation exceeds the mean by 6dB.
As for reporting, we adopt the Caltransrule where any increase of 20% in
FAT and increase of more than 3 standard deviation in attenuation will be
reported.
POSSIBLE CAUSE OF DELAY
IN FAT & ATTENTUATION
Distance between the tubes
Segregation / peripheral contamination around the tubes
Honeycomb / voids between the specific profile
Debris at the bottom of the tubes
Necking & arching of pile due to soil collapse
Bentoniteslurry
CASE OF STUDY
CASE OF STUDY
Null FAT and attenuation signals were observed in one profile, FAT and
attenuation delays were observed in the other 4 profiles during testing.
A coring was done at the center of the pile up to about 18.0m and the core
sample shows contamination of concrete (low quality concrete) at about
8.8m to 9.3m below pile-top.
CASE OF STUDY
N
S
E W
Pile Name :
Date of Testing:
Diameter: 1.20m
NS
33.4m
NE
32.9m
SE
32.8m
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
32.8
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
33.4
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
32.9
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
CASE OF STUDY
Pile Name :
Date of Testing:
Diameter: 1.20m
SW
33.2m
EW
32.7m
NW
32.8m
N
S
E W
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
33.2
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
32.7
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
0m
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
22.0
24.0
26.0
28.0
30.0
32.0
32.8
0
0.0
12
0.2
24
0.4
36
0.6
Arrival time [ms]
Attenuation [db]
Thank you