Proper pile inspection includes documenting information at each stage of pile driving such as blow counts, hammer performance, obstructions, splices, and final tip and cutoff elevations. The pile inspector serves as the client's representative to record this essential data, keep others informed, and ensure the project complies with approved documents. For pile capacity verification and integrity assessment, the pile driving log must be complete, accurate, and include hammer performance documentation.
Proper pile inspection includes documenting information at each stage of pile driving such as blow counts, hammer performance, obstructions, splices, and final tip and cutoff elevations. The pile inspector serves as the client's representative to record this essential data, keep others informed, and ensure the project complies with approved documents. For pile capacity verification and integrity assessment, the pile driving log must be complete, accurate, and include hammer performance documentation.
Proper pile inspection includes documenting information at each stage of pile driving such as blow counts, hammer performance, obstructions, splices, and final tip and cutoff elevations. The pile inspector serves as the client's representative to record this essential data, keep others informed, and ensure the project complies with approved documents. For pile capacity verification and integrity assessment, the pile driving log must be complete, accurate, and include hammer performance documentation.
Proper pile inspection includes documenting information at each stage of pile driving such as blow counts, hammer performance, obstructions, splices, and final tip and cutoff elevations. The pile inspector serves as the client's representative to record this essential data, keep others informed, and ensure the project complies with approved documents. For pile capacity verification and integrity assessment, the pile driving log must be complete, accurate, and include hammer performance documentation.
Driving Inspection Techniques Pat Hannigan GRL Engineers, Inc. What does proper pile inspection and monitoring include for each pile? Blow Count vs Depth Obstruction Depths
All Start and Stop Times & Dates Obstruction Removal Procedures
Hammer Performance Observations Pile Orientation vs Plan Orientation
Fuel Setting or Stroke Changes Installed Location vs Plan Location
Hammer Cushion Material & Thickness Pile Alignment vs Alignment Tolerances
Initial and Final Pile Cushion Thickness Final Tip Elevation
accordance with the approved documents The Pile Inspector’s Role
● Identify and Understand Pay Items/Quantities
● Perform Pile Tip, Penetration and Length
Driven calculations
● Understand the Specifications
Pre-Driving Observations Check Equipment Tension Cracks Review Plan and Specification Requirements What is the Capacity ? The Pile Driving Log The pile driving log provides:
Similar capacity Pile capacity verification and integrity check not readily available for other Pile integrity assessment deep foundation types However, to provide this information the pile driving log must be:
Complete
Accurate
Have Hammer Performance Documentation
However, to provide this information the pile driving log must be:
Complete Accurate
Have Hammer Performance Documentation
And the Blow Count and Penetration Depth is ? However, to provide this information the pile driving log must be:
Complete
Accurate
Have Hammer Performance Observation
The Good The Bad
Missing blow counts ?
Final blow count ?
Hammer Stroke ? And The Ugly
Hammer Stroke ?
Final blow count ?
Need Blows / Inch However, to provide this information the pile driving log must be:
Complete
Accurate
Have Hammer Performance Documentation
a b Air Compressor Discharge Pressure What is that Stroke ? Saximeter Formula h (ft) = 4.01 [60 / bpm]2 - 0.3 Where: h = hammer stroke bpm = blows per minute h (ft) = 0.0402 [T]2 - 0.3 Where: h = hammer stroke T = time in seconds for 10 hammer blows Open End Diesel Stroke Height
Check Condition after Every 100 Hours of Driving Time New Pile Cushion K = AE / L
Used Pile Cushion
K = A2E / ½ L Sample Acceptance Determination Flow Chart Yes Is There a Minimum Tip No Elevation Specified in the Plans ? Yes Have You Reached the Have You Reached the No Specified Minimum Tip? No Minimum Penetration Requirements? Have You Met the Driving Criteria Yes Specified by the Have You Reached Geotechnical Engineer With No Practical Refusal per Blow Counts Increasing for 2 ft.? the specifications No (20 Blows/1”)? Yes Have You Reached Yes Stop Yes Practical Refusal as No Is the Pile within Stop- Contact Accept per specifications 2 ft. of the Pile Project Engineer Pile (20 Blows/1”)? Cutoff Elevation?
Stop for Set-check per Keep
Yes No Driving specifications Contact Resident Engineer Post-Driving Observations ● Document pile centroid within location tolerances: - 6” radius for footings, 3” from footing edge - 3” perpendicular to bent, 6” along centerline
● Document pile alignment within tolerance:
- 2% (1” horizontal in 48” vertical)
● Document pile cutoff within tolerance:
+/- 2” of plan Internal Pipe Pile Inspection Reference Naterial - FHWA Pile Manual
Ch 22 Pile Driving Equipment
– 55 pgs
Ch 23 Pile Inspection – 54 pgs
Available From – NHI ( hardcopy ) - PDCA ( cdrom ) ANY QUESTIONS ? Pile Splicing Two Locking Bars Driven in by Impact H Concrete Placement
