Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
C O V E R S TO RY
DESCRIPTION OF THE
DYNAMIC TEST METHOD
Figure 2: Typical force and velocity trace measured for an offshore steel pipe pile
One of the more commonly used
dynamic test equipment is from Pile the pile. At the pile tip, the wave is A typical force and velocity trace for
Dynamics Inc.1, USA. The hardware reflected back to the top. As it reaches the an offshore steel pipe pile installation is
consists of strain and accelerometer top, the gauges measure the strains and shown in Figure 2. By examining the
gauges connected to a Pile Driving accelerations due to the returning wave. force and velocity trace, a trained
Analyser® (PDA). The PDA essentially is Knowing the stiffness of the pile, the engineer will be able to make a diagnosis
a computer loaded with software to force can be calculated from the strain of the characteristics of the pile-soil-
capture the strains and accelerations measurements. Further, the accelerations hammer system and detect any
measured near the pile top, which then can be integrated over time to yield the abnormalities in the pile driving.
computes a closed-form solution of the velocity. The force and velocity Explanation of the characteristics of the
pile-soil-hammer system in real time. An measurements are the principal data force and velocity trace is given in the
illustration of a typical test set-up is used in the PDA to compute the subsequent sections.
shown in Figure 1. unknown soil resistance. In most
Each blow of the hammer creates a applications, the hammer is not ANALYTICAL FORMULATION OF
stress wave on the pile top, which travels instrumented and only the pile-soil THE DYNAMIC TEST METHOD
down the pile. The gauges mounted on system is considered and analysed. A summary of the historical
the pile just below the hammer measure If the dynamic test is performed development of the dynamic test method
the strains and accelerations as the wave during driving, the soil resistance so can be found in the thesis by Wong2.
C O V E R S TO RY
Current dynamic test method is based on element model of the pile-soil-hammer simply observing the force and velocity
a one-dimensional wave propagation system and solving it in the time domain. trace of each hammer blow.
theory. For a stress wave traveling down The wave input can be either the
a pile due to a hammer impact on the pile measured force or velocity. By suitably BASIC CHARACTERISTICS
top, the compression force and velocity adjusting the soil model, the computed OF THE FORCE AND VELOCITY
are related by the simple equation; force or velocity trace can be made to TRACE
match the actual measured value. Once Equations (2) – (8) form the fundamental
F = Zv ...................................................... (1) this is achieved, the soil model is said to tool for the dynamic test method. By
represent the actual soil condition. The applying equations (2) – (8) on special
where F = compression force, resulting soil model then provides the cases of pile-soil boundary conditions,
Z=EA/c, called the impedance, and v is required information on the soil the characteristics of the force and
the velocity. E is the Young’s modulus, A resistance and its distribution along the velocity trace can be revealed clearly.
is the cross-section area, and c is the wave pile length. The pile model usually is a Four special cases are shown in Figure 4
speed. For a given material, E, A and c are known input, except where it is required for illustration. In Figure 4(a), the pile is a
constants. As the wave travels down the to determine unknown “defects” in piles, “free rod”. The reflected force from the
pile, any change in the pile impedance, such as in testing integrity of cast-in- pile tip will be a negative pulse.
such as changes in section area, splices, place concrete piles. In this case, the pile The reflected velocity from the tip
or defects, will cause the wave to be model can also be iterated accordingly to however, will be a positive pulse.
reflected. The governing equations for produce the appropriate wave matching. Conversely, for a pile on end bearing as
the force and velocity transmitted and An illustration of a typical pile-soil- shown in Figure 4(b), the reflected force
reflected at points of impedance change hammer system is shown in Figure 3. and velocity from the pile tip will be
are given by; During actual pile driving, there will not positive and negative, respectively.
be adequate time to perform the above For a more realistic condition where
Ft = 2Fi/(1+β) .......................................... (2) analysis for each blow as the solution is an the pile is embedded with distributed soil
iterative process and requires user input resistance as shown in Figure 4(c), the
Fr = Fi/(1-β)/(1+β) .................................. (3) force trace will consist of an initial pulse
due to the hammer blow, which decreases
vt = vi2β/(1+β) ........................................ (4) gradually due to the reflected wave from
the distributed soil resistance. At the time
vr = vi(β-1)/(1+β) .................................... (5) 2L/c, where L is the length of the pile, a
small upward pulse may be observed due
where the subscripts i, t and r stand for to the returning wave from the pile tip.
incident, transmitted and reflected The velocity trace similarly will consist of
respectively. β is the ratio of impedance an initial pulse due to the hammer blow,
before and after the section considered, which decreases quickly due to the
ie. β = Z1/Z2. reflected wave from the soil resistance. At
In addition to changes in the pile time 2L/c, a small downward pulse may
impedance, the soil resistance along the be observed due to the returning wave
pile will also affect the wave from the pile tip. For the case where there
propagation. Part of the incident wave is a discontinuity at distance x from the
will be reflected due to the soil resistance. pile top as shown in Figure 4(d), a
The governing equations for the force downward force pulse will be observed at
Figure 3: Typical pile-soil-hammer finite element
and velocity transmitted and reflected model time 2x/c due to the reflected wave from
due to soil resistance are given by; the discontinuity. At the same time 2x/c,
to confirm an acceptable match. A the velocity trace will show an upward
Ft = -R/2 .................................................. (6) simplified closed-form solution therefore pulse due to the same reflected wave. In
is used during driving to estimate the soil general, a downward force pulse and an
Fr = R/2 .................................................... (7) resistance and pile stresses. The values upward velocity pulse before time 2L/c
obtained are only an estimate and should will indicate abnormalities such as a
vt = vr = -R/(2Z) ..................................... (8) be confirmed later with a detailed analysis crack, a splice, or “necking”. Armed with
of each blow using the above technique. this understanding, it is possible to detect
where R is the soil resistance. For pile monitoring, the real time visual the condition of piles by simply observing
examination of the force and velocity the force and velocity trace during pile
The force or velocity trace at the pile trace, such as that shown in Figure 2, will driving. This is the basis of the dynamic
top due to a hammer blow therefore, can be made instantaneously by the test pile monitoring. Figure 4 can be used as a
be analytically computed by applying the engineer. A trained engineer will be able guide to assess piles in other various
above equations to a discrete finite to detect anomalies in the pile driving by situations.
C O V E R S TO RY
C O V E R S TO RY
pile driveability analysis to determine the SRD may be assumed to be 50% of the
appropriate hammer/s to be used. The external.
pile driveability analysis is based on the From the driveability analysis results
same wave equation model as used in the based on the upper bound SRD values,
dynamic pile test, except that the input the appropriate size of hammer can be
wave is analytically generated from the selected, by limiting the blow count to
selected hammer instead of being 300 blow/ft for example [7]. Actual pile
measured. Further, there is no need to driving, however, is expected to show
perform the wave matching exercise as lower blow counts compared to the
the soil model is assumed and not predicted blow counts based on upper
iteratively determined. The analysis gives bound SRD values. This is expected and
the estimated blow counts at various should not be a cause for concern.
penetration depths. One commonly used It is still a common practice for
software for performing the driveability offshore piles to be provided with extra
analysis is GRLWEAP™ [5]. length for “overdrive”. This is probably
The accuracy of the driveability inherited from the onshore practice,
analysis is largely dependent on the where piles are often driven not to
proper soil model used. The three most specified length but to reach pile set. The
important parameters used in the soil set criterion determines the capacity in
model are the resistance values (SRD) this case. However, offshore pile capacity
Figure 6: Dynamic pile test for a cast-in-place
concrete pile
and the damping and quake values. For design is normally based on the “static”
normal soil conditions, SRD is usually a approach [7]. Therefore, the “overdrive”
penetration during re-strike. By doing so, fraction of the static ultimate soil length serves no purpose in this design
the pile loses its 24 hours set-up capacity resistance. Some engineers determine the approach, especially when the
and no additional information is gained. SRD by taking a percentage of the static “overdrive” length is typically less than
A typical steel pipe pile installation in soil resistance while others prefer to use 5% of the penetration depth. Without the
offshore Terengganu is shown in Figure 7. some form of remoulded strength values. above understanding, an engineer may
For the purpose of hammer selection, a feel concerned when the actual blow
conservative SRD is normally used, i.e. a counts are less than predicted based on
save upper bound strength value. This upper bound SRD values. This may lead
will ensure that the hammer selected will the engineer to conclude erroneously that
be adequate to drive the piles. For the pile did not have adequate capacity
cohesive soil, SRD based on 30% of static and required the “overdrive”. The
ultimate value is normally considered an provision of “overdrive” length is no
upper bound for continuous driving. longer the right approach. Any
This is consistent with the findings requirement for “overdrive” should have
reported by Wong [2]. Actual or expected been incorporated in the base design. If
values are usually much lower. Sam and the “overdrive” length were not used,
Cheung [6] has reported that the actual then it would be a cost adder to transport
SRD value may be as low as 16% of static it back to shore. Leaving the decision
ultimate value. offshore to decide whether to drive the
Typical offshore piles are open ended “overdrive” length usually result in a
steel pipes. During continuous driving, decision to drive. If this is taken, then it
the pipe pile will penetrate in an might as well be incorporated in the base
“unplugged” manner. The SRD will act design and eliminate the need to decide
on the external and internal surfaces of on a probably known decision.
the pipe, and end bearing on the annulus When the “static” approach is used for
area of the steel. The internal soil column the pile design, the installation criterion
exerts a lower SRD than the external should be to drive to the designed depth.
Figure 7: Typical steel pipe pile installation surface. Sam and Cheung [6] has reported It is not practical, or even possible, to
for offshore platforms
that the internal column exerts about half apply the blow count criterion, as SRD
the external value and further it is does not appear at all in the pile
APPLICATION OF WAVE effective only for the lower half of the penetration depth design equation.
EQUATION FOR PILE pile. Wong [2] has also indicated that the
DRIVEABILITY ANALYSIS internal SRD is about 50% of the external CONCLUSION
In the planning for offshore pile and effective only for the bottom 50-75% The background to the dynamic pile
installation, it is necessary to perform a of the penetration. Therefore, the internal testing and wave equation driveability
C O V E R S TO RY
analysis has been presented. The the Degree of Doctor of “Installation of a 479 feet water
interpretation of the test data was also Philosophy, National depth platform in South China
explained. Application of the wave University of Singapore, 1988. Sea”, Proc. 3rd International
equation for driveability analysis has also Offshore and Polar Engineering
[3] American Society for Testing
been described. Associated geotechnical Conference, Singapore. Chung,
and Materials, “ASTM D4945:
J.S., Natvig, B.J., Das, B.M. and
issues with regards to the proper use of Standard Test Method for High-
Li, Y.C. (ed.), International
the method have also been illustrated. ■ Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles”,
Society of Offshore and Polar
PA, USA.
Engineers, Jun 1993, pp. 288-
[4] Pile Dynamics Inc., 293.
CAPWAP®: Case Pile Wave
[7] American Petroleum Institute,
REFERENCES Analysis Program, Users
Recommended Practice for
Manual, PDI, USA, 2000.
Planning, Designing and
[1] Pile Dynamics Inc., Pile
[5] Pile Dynamics Inc., Constructing Fixed Offshore
Driving Analyzer®: PDA-W,
GRLWEAP™ Wave Equation Platforms – Working Stress
Users Manual, PDI, USA, 1999.
Analysis of Pile Driving, Users Design, API RP 2A-WSD, API
[2] Wong, K.Y., “A Rational Wave Manual, PDI, USA, 2003. Publishing Services,
Equation Model for Pile Driving Washington DC, 21st Edition,
Analysis”, Thesis submitted for [6] Sam, M.T. and Cheung, L.Y.,
Dec 2000.