Example : #1 STATIC LOAD TEST
A. Standard Load Test
- The Static Axial Compression Load Test shall be 2 (two) times of the design axial compression load for that pile up to failure in accordance with ASTM D1143. The design of axial compression load of a pile is shown on the Piling Plan & Piling Schedule Drawing.
- The Static Axial Tension Load Test shall be 2 (two) times of the design axial tension load for that pile in accordance with ASTM D3689. The design of axial tension load of a pile is shown on the Piling Plan & Piling Schedule Drawing.
- The Static Lateral Load Test shall be 2 (two) times of the design lateral load for that pile in accordance with ASTM D3966. The design of lateral load of a pile is shown on the Piling Plan & Piling Schedule Drawing.
B. Preparation & Equipment for Testing
- Each load test shall carry out continuously without interruption.
- All testing shall be witnessed by CONTRACTOR & OWNER.
- Protection shall be provided to protect the test set up from rain, sun light, wind & extreme temperatures.
- Lighting shall be furnished for working at night.
- Movement of reference beam due to change temperature shall be measured & reading shall be adjusted accordingly.
- Upward movement of reaction pile shall be monitored with dial gauge.
- Reaction pile and hydraulic jack each should have a capacity minimal 4 times and 3 times the pile design load.
- The optical level reading shall be provided to monitor all reaction pile & test piles.
- For Axial Compression and Tension Load Test
The loading of equipment shall consist of:
- Hydraulic Jack; capacity 500 ton (for compression) and 200 ton (for tension)
- Manometer; capacity 0 – 68,94757 MPa
- Hand pump; capacity 0 – 68,94757 MPa
- Dial gauge; reading 0.01 mm per graduation, graduation 0-100, total travel 50 mm
- Reference Beam; steel profile C-12, length 6.0 m
There are two kind of support reaction, i.e. Kent ledge system (concrete blocks) and reaction piles. Concrete blocks shall be uniform in sizes. Both systems are acceptable. CONTRACTOR shall propose the support reaction system and full detail of load testing, scheme, including apparatus for applying load, measure movement & loading method for OWNER approval.
A steel test plate of appropriate size & thickness for the loads involved shall be set on the pile cap to obtain full bearing. The plate shall be centered on the pile and shall be set in high strength quick setting grout.
Load cells used in addition to jacks for measuring loads, shall be calibrated to accuracy 2% of the applied load, and shall be equipped with spherical bearings.
The manometer, dial gauge, load cells shall and other testing equipment be calibrated prior to the test and certified by a qualified testing lab, prior to commencement of testing.
- For Lateral Load Test
The loading of equipment shall consist of:
- Hydraulic Jack; capacity 50 ton
- Manometer; capacity 0 – 34,47 MPa
- Hand pump; capacity 0 – 34,47 MPa
- Dial gauge; reading 0.01 mm per graduation, graduation 0-100, total travel 50 mm
- Reference Beam; steel profile C-12, length 6.0 m
Support reaction may use either concrete block or steel block.
The hydraulic cylinder shall be set against the test plate at the point of load application in horizontal position and on the line of load application.
Load cells used in addition to jacks for measuring loads, shall be calibrated to accuracy 2% of the applied load, and shall be equipped with spherical bearings.
The manometer, dial gauge, load cells and other testing equipment shall be calibrated prior to the test, and certified by a qualified testing lab, prior to commencement of testing. The certification shall be submitted to OWNER prior to start of testing.
C. Loading Procedures
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Axial Compression Load Test
The Axial Compression Loading Test shall be applied in 4 (four) cycles to 200% of the design working load in accordance with ASTM D1143 as follows:
Table-1 Design working load for Axial Compression Loading Test
| Step | Cycle | Test Load in % of Design Working Load | Holding Duration |
| 1 | 0 | ||
| 2 | 25 | 1 hour if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 3 | 1 | 50 | 1 hour |
| 4 | 25 | 20 minutes | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 6 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 7 | 75 | 1 hour if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 8 | 2 | 100 | 1 hour if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours |
| 9 | 75 | 20 minutes | |
| 10 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 11 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 12 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 13 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 14 | 125 | 1 hour if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 15 | 3 | 150 | 1 hour |
| 16 | 125 | 20 minutes | |
| 17 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 18 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 19 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 20 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 21 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 22 | 150 | 20 minutes | |
| 23 | 175 | 1 hour if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 24 | 4 | 200 | 12 hours if settlement <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 24 hours |
| 25 | 175 | 20 minutes | |
| 26 | 150 | 20 minutes | |
| 27 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 28 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 29 | 0 | 1 hour |
If failure occurs before reaching 150% of the working load, decrease the load gently and slowly at a rate of not more than 20% of working load per minute until the rate of settlement is < 0.25 mm per hour. Then follow step no. 24 above up to the end of test procedure.
-
Axial Tension Load Test
The Axial Tension Loading Test shall be applied in 4 (four) cycles to 200% of the design working load in accordance with ASTM D3689 as follows:
Table-2 Design working load for Axial Tension Loading Test
| Step | Cycle | Test Load in % of Working Load | Holding Duration |
| 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2 | 25 | 1 hour if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 3 | 1 | 50 | 1 hour |
| 4 | 25 | 20 minutes | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 6 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 7 | 75 | 1 hour if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 8 | 2 | 100 | 1 hour if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours |
| 9 | 75 | 20 minutes | |
| 10 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 11 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 12 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 13 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 14 | 125 | 1 hour if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 15 | 3 | 150 | 1 hour |
| 16 | 125 | 20 minutes | |
| 17 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 18 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 19 | 0 | 1 hour | |
| 20 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 21 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 22 | 150 | 20 minutes | |
| 23 | 175 | 1 hour if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 2 hours | |
| 24 | 4 | 200 | 12 hours if s <= 0.25 mm/hour or max. 24 hours |
| 25 | 175 | 20 minutes | |
| 26 | 150 | 20 minutes | |
| 27 | 100 | 20 minutes | |
| 28 | 50 | 20 minutes | |
| 29 | 0 | 1 hour |
If pile failure occurs, continue jacking the pile until movement equals to 15% of the pile diameter.
-
Lateral Load Test
The Lateral Loading Test shall be applied in 4 (four) cycles to 200% of the design working load in accordance with ASTM D3966 as follows:
Table-3 Design working load for Lateral Loading Test
| Step | Cycle | Test Load in % of Working Load | Holding Duration | Lateral Movement Reading Schedule (on minutes no) |
| 1 | 0 | – | ||
| 2 | 25 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 3 | 1 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 |
| 4 | 25 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 5 | 0 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 6 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 7 | 75 | 15 minutes | 0-15 | |
| 8 | 2 | 100 | 20 minutes | 0-10-20 |
| 9 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 10 | 0 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 11 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 12 | 100 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 13 | 125 | 20 minutes | 0-10-15-20 | |
| 14 | 3 | 150 | 20 minutes | 0-10-15-20 |
| 15 | 75 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 16 | 0 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 17 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 18 | 100 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 19 | 150 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 20 | 170 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 21 | 180 | 20 minutes | 0-5-10-15-20 | |
| 22 | 190 | 20 minutes | 0-5-10-15-20 | |
| 23 | 4 | 200 | 60 minutes | 0-5-10-15-20-30-40-50-60 |
| 24 | 100 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 25 | 50 | 10 minutes | 0-10 | |
| 26 | 0 | 10 minutes | 0-10 |
D. Test Result Report
Soon after the completion of the test loading, Pile Load Test Report shall be prepared by CONTRACTOR and submitted to OWNER.
The report shall cover as minimum of the followings:
- Project Name and Location
- Test Pile Installation Data including:
- Pile installation equipment data
- Mode, type and size of hammer.
- Weight of ram.
- Pile material data
- Inside diameter (ID)
- Dimension and length
- Pile weight
- Design load
- Type of pile
- All testing equipment calibration certificates
- Record of readings included: date tested, reading time, test, load, dial gauge reading, temperature & weather condition, adjustment made to field data or instrumentation, notation of any unusual occurrence during testing, etc.
- Curve of Load vs. Settlement; Load vs. Time, and Time vs. Settlement
- Recommendation & verification of testing result:
- Method, formulation, graphic& summary of testing result.
- Failure of Standard Load Test on Piles
The following condition will be deemed as failure of Load Test:
- The Load Test is unable to be completed due to instability of Kent ledge or tampering the levels, scales or reference datum installed by CONTRACTOR
- Any portion of the pile is cracked, crumbles, or distorted from its original shape or alignment
- The Settlement is greater than 25 mm under the load (for Axial Compression and Tension Test)
- When the loading remove the permanent (residual) settlement exceeds 6 mm (for Axial Compression and Tension Test)