STATNAMIC load testing augmented with embedded instrumentation has been
successfully used to obtain structural and geotechnical design information on
large diameter spun cast concrete cylinder piles on many large marine
construction projects. The paper focuses on one particularly interesting large
marine project involving a new bridge to St. George Island, Florida where
instrumentation and STATNAMIC load testing was used in conjunction with static
load testing on high capacity piles. The information presented includes
embedded instrumentation measurements taken during pile fabrication (posttensioning),
during pile driving, during static load testing, and STATNAMIC load
testing. As much of this data is the first of its kind on concrete cylinder piles, it is
exciting to present the foundation industry with this additional insight as to the
behavior of this pile type and the accuracy of the methods used to test them.
Author: Mike Muchard, Applied Foundation Testing, Inc.
Publisher: DFI