HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC LOAD TESTING PROCEDURE
First Claim
1. A method for using low-overhead equipment to conduct dynamic load testing a test pipe pile for a deep pile foundation being constructed underneath an elevated, existing building, comprising the steps of:
- a) driving the test pipe pile using low-overhead equipment, the test pipe pile comprising a starter pile segment and an uppermost pile segment having a top end, the starter pile segment being disposed at one end and the uppermost pile segment being disposed at the opposite end, the starter pile segment creates disturbed soil surrounding the starter pile segment as the starter pile segment is driven;
b) injecting grout under pressure into the test pipe pile during the driving thereof so that grout exits through a grout port to mix with the disturbed soil to encase the test pipe pile in a grout-soil mixture;
c) leaving a portion of the uppermost pile segment of the test pipe pile above grade;
d) attaching at least one of a plurality of sensors to the uppermost pile segment, the at least one of a plurality of sensors being disposed above grade and spaced a distance from the top end of the uppermost pile segment;
e) disposing a strike plate over the top end of the of the uppermost pile segment;
f) positioning a drop weight suspended from low-overhead equipment over the strike plate and underneath the elevated, existing building;
g) dropping the drop weight to transfer impact force to the strike plate and the test pipe pile;
h) sending information to a PDA device, the information being characteristics of the test pipe pile derived from the sensors and resulting from the impact force;
i) determining the acceptability of the test pipe pile for the deep pile foundation;
j) connecting a pile cap to the top end of the uppermost pile segment; and
k) securing the pile cap to the existing building.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for using low-overhead equipment to perform a dynamic load test on pipe piles of a deep pile foundation for an existing building. The existing building is lifted to a predetermined elevation above grade and cribbing stacks are positioned to support the existing building at the predetermined elevation above grade. The cribbing stacks are spaced from each other enabling low-overhead equipment to maneuver underneath the elevated building to drill drive pipe piles and to position a drop weight used for dynamic load testing the driven pipe piles. Grout is pumped under pressure into the pipe piles continuously during the drill driving of the pipe piles so that grout exits through a grout port to mix with disturbed soil about the pipe pile to encase the pipe pile in a grout-soil mixture. Sensors are attached to the pipe pile being tested. The sensors provide information regarding the pipe pile impacted by the drop weight. Bearing capacity and other pipe pile characteristics that indicate whether the pipe pile tested is acceptable are determined from the information provided by the sensors.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for using low-overhead equipment to conduct dynamic load testing a test pipe pile for a deep pile foundation being constructed underneath an elevated, existing building, comprising the steps of:
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a) driving the test pipe pile using low-overhead equipment, the test pipe pile comprising a starter pile segment and an uppermost pile segment having a top end, the starter pile segment being disposed at one end and the uppermost pile segment being disposed at the opposite end, the starter pile segment creates disturbed soil surrounding the starter pile segment as the starter pile segment is driven; b) injecting grout under pressure into the test pipe pile during the driving thereof so that grout exits through a grout port to mix with the disturbed soil to encase the test pipe pile in a grout-soil mixture; c) leaving a portion of the uppermost pile segment of the test pipe pile above grade; d) attaching at least one of a plurality of sensors to the uppermost pile segment, the at least one of a plurality of sensors being disposed above grade and spaced a distance from the top end of the uppermost pile segment; e) disposing a strike plate over the top end of the of the uppermost pile segment; f) positioning a drop weight suspended from low-overhead equipment over the strike plate and underneath the elevated, existing building; g) dropping the drop weight to transfer impact force to the strike plate and the test pipe pile; h) sending information to a PDA device, the information being characteristics of the test pipe pile derived from the sensors and resulting from the impact force; i) determining the acceptability of the test pipe pile for the deep pile foundation; j) connecting a pile cap to the top end of the uppermost pile segment; and k) securing the pile cap to the existing building. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for preparing an uppermost pile segment of a pipe pile to receive sensors for dynamic load testing the pipe pile to which the uppermost pile segment is connected after it is driven using low-overhead equipment underneath an elevated, existing building, comprising the steps of:
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a) before the uppermost pile segment of the pipe pile is driven, drilling a plurality of sensor bores in the uppermost pile segment spaced from a top end of the uppermost pile segment and disposed to be above grade when the pipe pile is driven; b) tapping at least one of the sensor bores to receive a removable bolt; c) inserting the removable bolt into the at least one of the sensor bores; d) driving the pipe pile using low-overhead equipment, the pipe pile comprising a starter pile segment and the uppermost pile segment, the starter pile segment creates disturbed soil surrounding the starter pile segment as the starter pile segment is driven; e) injecting grout under pressure into the pipe pile during the driving thereof so that grout exits through a grout port to mix with the disturbed soil to encase the pipe pile in a grout-soil mixture; f) leaving a portion of the uppermost pile segment of the pipe pile and the plurality of sensor bores above grade; g) allowing the grout-soil mixture and grout within the pipe pile to cure; and h) removing the removable bolt from the sensor bore so that the sensor bore may receive a sensor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for using low-overhead equipment to conduct dynamic load testing of a test pipe pile for a deep pile foundation being constructed underneath an elevated, existing building, comprising the steps of:
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a) before an uppermost pile segment of the test pipe pile is driven, drilling a plurality of sensor bores in the uppermost pile segment spaced from a top end of the uppermost pile segment and disposed to be above grade when the test pipe pile is driven; b) tapping at least one of the sensor bores to receive a removable bolt; c) inserting the removable bolt into the at least one of the sensor bores; d) applying a coating to the removable bolt, the coating for facilitating the removal of the removable bolt before attaching a sensor; e) driving the test pipe pile using low-overhead equipment, the test pipe pile comprising a starter pile segment and the uppermost pile segment having a top end, the starter pile segment is disposed at one end and the uppermost pile segment is disposed the opposite end, the starter pile segment creates disturbed soil surrounding the starter pile segment as the starter pile segment is driven; f) injecting grout under pressure into the test pipe pile during the driving thereof so that grout exits through a grout port to mix with the disturbed soil to encase the test pipe pile in a grout-soil mixture; g) leaving a portion of the uppermost pile segment of the test pipe pile above grade; h) allowing the grout-soil mixture and grout within the test pipe pile to cure; i) removing the removable bolt from the sensor bore so that the sensor bore may receive the sensor; j) attaching at least one of a plurality of sensors to the uppermost pile segment, the at least one of a plurality of sensors being disposed above grade and spaced a distance from the top end of the uppermost pile segment; k) disposing a strike plate over the top end of the of the uppermost pile segment; l) positioning a drop weight suspended from low-overhead equipment over the strike plate and underneath the elevated, existing building; m) dropping the drop weight to transfer impact force to the strike plate and the test pipe pile; n) sending information to a PDA device, the information being characteristics of the test pipe pile derived from the sensors and resulting from the impact force; o) determining the acceptability of the test pipe pile for the deep pile foundation; p) connecting a pile cap to the top end of the uppermost pile segment; and q) securing the pile cap to the existing building. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification