Patent ID: 6311567
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: E02D,G01L,G01M,G01N

Abstract:
A method for testing the static load-bearing capacity of a pile, wherein:i) a test load is supplied to the top of the pile by way of a jack braced against a reaction member, thereby causing a resultant displacement of the pile;ii) the magnitude of the load is determined by measuring means and communicated to an electronic computer;iii) the resultant displacement of the pile is measured by at least one displacement sensor and communicated to said electronic computer; characterized in that:iv) the electronic computer issues control signals to the jack in response to the measured magnitude of the test load so as to keep the test load substantially constant;v) the electronic computer operates in response to displacement values measured by the at least one displacement sensor to determine when a definite settlement rate for the pile has been attained and then issues control signals to the jack so as to apply a new test load of different magnitude to the top of the pile in accordance with a predetermined test regime of test loads, the regime being composed of a given plurality of different test loads sufficient to fully test the static load-bearing capacity of the pile; andvi) steps ii) to v) are repeated until the test regime is completed.