Patent ID: 8443677

Claim:
A method of providing a plurality of piles for bearing a working load, comprising: locating a plurality of piles in position in a strata for bearing a working load, wherein at least two of the piles incorporate a corresponding at least two load cells, wherein each load cell of the at least two load cells comprises: a top portion located below a top section of a pile; and a bottom portion located proximate the top portion, wherein injection of a pressurized fluid between the top portion and the bottom portion causes a force tending to push the top portion and the bottom portion apart, and causes the top portion to push up on the top section of the pile, wherein at least a portion of the cross-section of the top portion and at least a portion of the cross-section of the bottom portion is open before casting the pile so as to allow the passage of materials from above the top portion to below the bottom portion, wherein if separation of top portion and bottom portion occurs, the top portion and bottom portion maintain relative lateral position during separation; applying a corresponding at least two applied loads to the at least two piles via the corresponding at least two load cells; measuring a corresponding at least two measured effects of the at least two applied loads on the at least two piles; and determining whether the plurality of piles meets at least one design criterion for bearing the working load based on the at least two applied loads and the at least two measured effects of the at least two applied loads on the at least two piles.