INTEGRITY MONITORED CONCRETE PILINGS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pile comprising:
- pile strands;
concrete located around the strands which forms a concrete piling core;
first and second strain gauges cast into the piling core near and at a piling tip, the first strain gauge located a distance d from the tip, the second strain gauge is placed co-linear and at a known and controlled distance X up from the piling tip;
a transmitter connected to the pile adapted to transmit independent strain gauge measurements from the strain gauges; and
a controller, which is adapted to receive signals from the first and second strain gauges and compares them to static pre-load stress levels in the piling established prior to and/or during driving, and compares dynamic force measurements against expected ranges to assess pile tip integrity.
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Abstract
A pile having first and second strain gauges installed in the piling core near and at the piling tip is provided. The second strain gauge is placed co-linear and at a known and controlled distance up the pile from the first strain gauge. Independent strain gauge measurements are made and transmitted to a controller, which receives signals from the strain gauges and compares them to static pre-stress levels that are initially established after casting and prior to pile installation. The dynamic force measurements are checked against expected ranges to assess pile tip integrity as well as other parameters.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pile comprising:
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pile strands; concrete located around the strands which forms a concrete piling core; first and second strain gauges cast into the piling core near and at a piling tip, the first strain gauge located a distance d from the tip, the second strain gauge is placed co-linear and at a known and controlled distance X up from the piling tip; a transmitter connected to the pile adapted to transmit independent strain gauge measurements from the strain gauges; and a controller, which is adapted to receive signals from the first and second strain gauges and compares them to static pre-load stress levels in the piling established prior to and/or during driving, and compares dynamic force measurements against expected ranges to assess pile tip integrity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of monitoring a piling during driving, comprising:
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providing a pile including pile strands, concrete located around the strands which forms a concrete piling core, first and second strain gauges cast into the piling core near and at a piling tip, the first strain gauge located a distance d from the tip, the second strain gauge is placed co-linear and at a known and controlled distance X up from the piling tip that is less than 50% of a piling length, a transmitter connected to the pile adapted to transmit independent strain gauge measurements from the strain gauges, and a controller, which is adapted to receive signals from the first and second strain gauges; providing data to the controller for X, d, the piling length, and at least one of gauge calibration data and a unique piling identification; measuring a pre-load static stress at the first and second strain gauges; transmitting stress data from the first and second strain gauges to the controller for a pile driving blow; using the controller to compare a dynamic tip stress from the first strain gauge to the pre-load static stress and to a dynamic stress from the second strain gauge for determining a differential tip static stress and a differential dynamic stress, and checking the differential tip static stress and the differential dynamic stress against known limits to assess pile tip integrity; and providing a signal if the limits are exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification