Engineering Group Document E/GD/09/104/A1

M&W for Civil & Structural Works Sheet 45 of 54

5.7.19.5 Remedial Works for Excessive Deflections

In the event that a pile fails a lateral working load test, the Contractor shall
carry out remedial measures.

Working piles, which have failed the lateral load tests and have had
remedial measures applied shall then be re-tested. This re-test shall not be
taken as one of the additional tests required under Clause 5.7.19.4. All piles
for which the particular lateral load test was agreed to be representative,
shall have similar remedial measures applied.

Remedial measures may consist of:

(a) Excavation of all materials for a distance of not less than 5 metres from
pile face, around the entire pile to minimum 1m below the level of the
pile cap soffit. The width of excavation shall be the same on all sides of
the pile.

(b) Backfilling and compaction of the excavation hard against the pile in
layers. The material in backfilling shall have a minimum value of
3
modulus of deformation of 45MN/m , as determined by a plate bearing
test, following compaction to the requirements of Chapter 4: Earthworks.

The Contractor may propose alternative remedial measures such as

compensating piles subject to the acceptance of the Engineer.

5.8 INTEGRITY TESTS

5.8.1 General

The following integrity tests shall be undertaken by the Contractor as

appropriate:

(a) Proof Coring

(b) Sonic Logging
(c) Vibration Test
(d) Modified Shock Test
(e) Simple Shock Test

The testing is to be carried out by an independent testing agency, to be

proposed by the Contractor for acceptance by the Engineer.

All tests shall be carried out under the direction of an experienced and
competent supervisor conversant with the test equipment and test
procedure, and acceptable to the Engineer. All personnel operating the test
equipment shall have been trained in its use.
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The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer a full method statement

describing the testing equipment and procedures at least two weeks before
carrying out the first of any particular type of test. In the case of sonic
logging the method statement shall be submitted two weeks before the
concreting of the first pile to incorporate sonic logging tubes.

Test reports shall contain the following general information:

(a) contract number and name
(b) pile location plan
(c) pile reference number
(d) pile diameter
(e) working load
(f) date on which the pile was bored and concreted
(g) cube strengths of pile concrete
(h) date on which the pile was tested
(i) identification of supervisor
(j) identification of analyser
(k) the originals or clear copies of the photographic records
(l) an interpretation of each record
(m) a review of any anomalies in terms of influence of poor materials or
workmanship during pile construction.

5.8.2 Proof Coring

The quality of concrete in bored piles shall be checked by the Contractor.

This shall be achieved by vertical coring to at least 0.5 metre below the pile
toe using a diamond coring barrel at a suitable location of the pile. The core
so produced shall not be affected by drilling disturbance and shall reflect
the condition of concrete in the pile. It shall not be less than 100 mm in
diameter and shall be placed in suitable core boxes in the order of core
recovery.

Coring work shall be completed before the concrete in the pile has reached
an age of 28 days to allow the cores to be tested at 28 days. The Engineer
shall mark the sections of the core to be tested and the Contractor shall
arrange for transport to the testing laboratory. The remainder of cores shall
be delivered to a core store provided by the Contractor.

The quality of cores produced shall meet the following criteria:-

(a) In Concrete

(i) Concrete Strength Requirements.

(ii) Visually free from defects, such as contaminants and honeycombs,
etc.
(iii) 100% Total Core Recovery (TCR).
(iv) 100% of Rock Quality Designation (RQD).
(For this purpose, concrete is considered as being rock).
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(b) In Soil / Rock

(i) 100% Total Core Recovery

The piles, with cores not satisfying the above requirements, may be
rejected at the discretion of the Engineer.

On completion of proof coring, the core cavity within and below a pile shall
be grouted to the acceptance of the Engineer. The grout shall be of the
same compressive strength as the pile concrete, of non-shrink type. Details
of the Contractor's proposed grouting method and mixes shall be submitted
to the Engineer 14 days prior to undertaking any such operation.

5.8.3 Non-Destructive Testing

5.8.3.1 Sonic Logging Tests

'Sonic Logging' means the measurement of the time travel of a sound wave
from an emitter to a receiver through the concrete of a pile. The emitter and
the receiver shall generally be at the same level.

5.8.3.1.1 Sonic Logging Tubes

Piles selected for sonic logging tests shall be provided with sonic logging
tubes cast into it.

The tubes shall be manufactured from steel and shall extend 0.2m to 0.5m
above the pile head and 0.2 to 0.5m above the pile toe. The tube shall have
an internal diameter not exceeding 50mm, except for one tube in each pile,
where it shall be of internal diameter 100mm in order to allow for coring of
the concrete at the base of the pile.

Three tubes shall be required for piles up to 800mm in diameter and four
tubes shall be required for piles above 800mm in diameter.

5.8.3.1.2 Sonic Coring

At least 7 days after the pile has been cast, but before carrying out any
sonic logging test, a core of concrete and soil or rock from the founding
material shall be taken.

The core shall be taken from the base of the 100mm diameter sonic logging
tube using a triple tube core barrel and shall have a minimum diameter of
50mm.

The acceptance of coring shall be in accordance with Clause 5.8.2.

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The core shall be kept in a suitable wooden box with depths clearly
recorded on rigid markers, shall be photographed along with a scale and
colour chart. Thereafter, these shall be delivered to a core store designated
by the Engineer.

The scanning of the pile toe for its integrity by measuring the propagation
time of transmitted waves between the vertical tubes and the pile toe/
founding strata shall also be carried out.

5.8.3.1.3 Sonic Logging Equipment

The equipment shall be properly maintained and calibrated.

Where necessary, means shall be provided to centralise the probes within

the tubes, so that variation in the separation of the emitter and receiver
resulting from clearance between the probes and the tubes does not occur.

5.8.3.1.4 Test Procedure

The tubes shall be filled with water. The tests shall be repeated for each
pair of tubes, i.e. three runs for a pile with three tubes and six runs for a pile
with four tubes.

5.8.3.1.5 Analysis of Test Results

A report shall be prepared for each pile tested. The photographic record of
the oscilloscope displays shall be analysed in detail.

Any deviation from the record to be expected from a pile constructed

entirely of sound concrete and without defect shall be reported. The report
shall indicate the nature, location and severity of the defect and
recommendations shall be made for further testing. The implication of the
existence of the defect on the performance of the pile shall be evaluated.

5.8.3.1.6 Submission of Results

Immediately after testing, a signed copy of all the raw test data of a pile
shall be given to the Engineer. A test report shall be submitted to the
Engineer within 7 days after testing.

5.8.3.1.7 Anomalous Sonic Logging Test Results

The piles with anomalous sonic logging results shall be rejected at the
Engineer discretion unless the Contractor is able to demonstrate that the
pile integrity is acceptable through proof coring.

5.8.3.1.8 Grouting of Pile after Testing

Upon completion of sonic logging test, the access tubes and sonic coring
holes, if any, shall be grouted up in accordance with Clause 5.8.2.
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5.8.3.2 Vibration Test

'Vibration Testing' means the measurement of the mechanical admittance

of a pile as a function of frequency, by monitoring the vertical velocity of the
pile while it is being excited in the same direction by a constant force
vibrator being driven at variable frequency between 20 and 5000 Hz.

5.8.3.2.1 Preparation of Pile Heads

The Contractor shall expose sound concrete and prepare and level the pile
head for fixing the testing instruments.

5.8.3.2.2 Testing

The electrodynamics vibrator unit shall be firmly connected to the centre of

the pile.

The velocity transducer shall be connected to the head of the pile near to its
circumference.

The vibrator shall be driven at constant force output through two cycles up
to 500Hz and 1000Hz.

The signal from the velocity transducer shall be processed to provide a

measurement of the mechanical admittance of the pile as a function of
frequency for both frequency ranges. A permanent record of the
mechanical admittance shall be obtained.

5.8.3.2.3 Analysis of Test Results

A report shall be prepared for each pile tested. The record of mechanical
admittance as a function of frequency shall be examined in detail.

Within the interpretation, the following information shall be given:

(a) velocity of sound in concrete, appropriate to the strength of the pile

(b) whether the above was assumed or measured
(c) equivalent cross-sectional area of the pile
(d) calculated pile length
(e) pile head stiffness
(f) condition of the pile toe

Any deviation from the record to be expected from a pile constructed

entirely of sound concrete and without defect shall be reported. The report
shall indicate the nature, location and severity of the defect and
recommendations shall be made for further testing. The implication of the
existence of the defect on the performance of the pile shall be evaluated.
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5.8.3.2.4 Anomalous Vibration Test Results

If anomalous test results occur, the Engineer, at his discretion, may instruct
other types of tests to investigate further the integrity of the pile.

5.8.3.3 Modified Shock Test

'Modified Shock Testing', (MST), means the computation of the mechanical

admittance of a pile as a function of frequency by Fourier transform of the
signal received by a velocity transducer following a single hammer blow to
the head of the pile.

5.8.3.3.1 Preparation of Pile Heads

This shall be in accordance with Clause 5.8.3.2.1.

5.8.3.3.2 Testing

A velocity transducer shall be connected to the pile head.

The head of the pile shall be struck a sharp blow with a hammer of mass
approximately 2kg, to which is attached a triggering device connected to the
signal processing equipment.

The signal from the velocity transducer shall be processed to provide a

permanent record of the seismic response.

This response shall be transferred either in analogue or digital form as

appropriate to a microprocessor which shall perform a fast Fourier
transform on the output signal from which the relationship between
mechanical admittance and frequency can be determined.

5.8.3.3.3 Analysis of Results

A report shall be prepared for each pile tested. The record of the seismic
response and the computed relationship between mechanical admittance
and frequency shall be examined in detail.

Within the interpretation, the following information shall be given:

(a) Velocity of sound in concrete, appropriate to the strength of the pile.

(b) Whether the above was assumed or measured
(c) Equivalent cross-sectional area of the pile
(d) Calculated pile length
(e) Pile head stiffness
(f) Condition of the pile toe
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Any deviation from the record to be expected from a pile constructed

entirely of sound concrete and without defect shall be reported. The report
shall indicate the nature, location and severity of the defect and
recommendations shall be made for further testing. The implication of the
existence of the defect on the performance of the pile shall be evaluated.

5.8.3.3.4 Submission of Results

Results shall be submitted in accordance with Clause 5.8.3.1.6.

5.8.3.3.5 Anomalous Modified Shock Test Results

Results shall be dealt with as in Clause 5.8.3.2.4.

5.8.3.4 Simple Shock Test

'Simple Shock Test', (SST), means the measurement of the frequency

response of a pile to a single hammer blow.

5.8.3.4.1 Preparation of Pile Heads

This shall be accordance with Clause 5.8.3.2.1.

5.8.3.4.2 Testing

The velocity transducer shall be connected to the pile head.

The head of the pile shall be struck a sharp blow with the hammer.

The signal from the velocity transducer shall be processed to provide a

permanent record of the seismic response.

5.8.3.4.3 Analysis of Test Results

A report shall be prepared for each pile tested. The record of seismic
response shall be examined in detail.

Within the interpretation, the following information shall be given:

(a) Velocity of sound in concrete appropriate to the strength of the pile

(b) Whether the above was measured or assumed
(c) Equivalent cross-sectional area of the pile
(d) Calculated pile length

Any deviation from the record to be expected from a pile constructed

entirely of sound concrete and without defect shall be reported. The report
shall indicate the nature, location and severity of the defect and
recommendations shall be made for further testing. The implication of the
existence of the defect on the performance of the pile shall be evaluated.
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5.8.3.4.4 Submission of Results

Results shall be submitted in accordance with Clause 5.8.3.1.6.

5.8.3.4.5 Anomalous Simple Shock Test Results

Results shall be dealt with as in Clause 5.8.3.2.4.

5.8.3.5 Low Strain Impact Test

Low strain impact test shall be carried out with a testing system accepted by
the Engineer.

The equipment used for the test shall be capable of obtaining the pile head
acceleration and velocity against time for each applied impact on the pile
top. The impact could be obtained with a sledgehammer with the transducer
in contact with the pile head.

The field records of the velocity trace shall be plotted and submitted to the
Engineer immediately after the test. The detail report shall be submitted
within 7 days and should include an interpretation of the field results. One
blow per pile shall be analysed by an accepted computer program to obtain
the deduced pile EA against depth profile after a good match of the field
record is achieved.

Any deviation from the record to be expected from a pile constructed

entirely of sound concrete and without defect shall be reported. The report
shall indicate the nature, location and severity of the defect and
recommendations shall be made for further testing. The implication of the
existence of the defect on the performance of the piles shall be evaluated.