Wireless apparatus and method for analysis of piles

• US 6,533,502 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Putcha, Sastry, Schofield, Sidney L., Broward, Charles S. III, McVay, Michael C., Alvarez, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shackelford, Heather
• Assistant Examiner(s): MITCHELL, KATHERINE W
• Application Number:
  US09/837,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20020148298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 700/108, 73/110.3, 340/853.8, 405/232, 405/229
• US Class Current: 405/232
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 13/06 for observation while placing
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0038 applying a pushing force
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0025 of elongated objects, e.g. pipes, masts, towers or railways G01M5/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0033 by determining damage, crack or wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0091 by using electromagnetic excitation or detection
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/08 Shock-testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/021 Correlating sampling sites with geographical information, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0623 using piezoelectric gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/303 generated only by free-falling weight
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00871 Communications between instruments or with remote terminals

Abstract

A system for the determination of pile parameters includes at least one structure for measuring pile data. The structure for measuring pile data is disposed within a measurement range from a pile. A wireless transmitter is communicably connected to the structure for measuring pile data, the wireless transmitter for transmitting the pile data to at least one remotely located receiver. Pile data is preferably encoded in the transmitted data signal. The remotely located receiver is communicably connected to a device for determining at least one pile parameter from the pile measurement data. A method for driving piles includes the steps of wirelessly transmitting pile data to at least one remote receiver, determining at least one pile driving process parameter from the pile data, and driving the pile using the determined pile driving parameter.

Claims

1. A system for the determination of pile parameters, comprising:

a plurality of sensors including at least one strain gauge for measuring pile data including strain in a pile, said plurality of sensors disposed within said pile;

a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit said pile data, said wireless transmitter disposed within said pile and communicably connected to said plurality of sensors, and

at least one remotely located wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted pile data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said strain gauge comprises an electrical resistance-type strain gauge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said strain gauge is positioned in said pile so as to be disposed below a ground level after said pile is driven or pushed into said ground.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein transmissions from said wireless transmitter include information which can be used to identify a location of said pile.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a broadband transmitter, further comprising a multiplexer for combining pile data from said plurality of sensors into one signal for said transmission.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a water resistant covering, said water resistant for protecting said plurality of sensors and said wireless transmitter.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed in said pile for receiving remotely transmitted wireless triggering signals, wherein receipt of said triggering signals prompts said plurality of sensors to commence measurement of said pile data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one strain gauge comprises at least a first and a second strain gauge, wherein said first and second strain gauges are disposed in spaced apart relation.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first strain gauge is positioned in said pile so as to be disposed below a ground level after said pile is driven or pushed into said ground.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first and second strain gauge comprises electrical resistance-type strain gauges.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said pile data is digitally encoded prior to transmission of said pile data by said wireless transmission.

12. An apparatus for supporting load bearing structures, comprising:

at least one pile;

a plurality of sensors including at least one strain gauge for measuring pile data including strain in said pile, said plurality of sensors disposed within said pile;

a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit said pile data, said wireless transmitter disposed within said pile and communicably connected to said plurality of sensors; and

at least one remotely located wireless receiver for receiving said transmitted pile data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said strain gauge comprises an electrical resistance-type strain gauge.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said strain gauge is positioned in said pile so as to be disposed below a ground level after said pile is driven or pushed into said ground.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein transmissions from said wireless transmitter include information which can be used to identify a location of said pile.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said wireless transmitter is a broadband transmitter, further comprising a multiplexer for combining pile data from said plurality of sensors into one signal for said transmission.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pile data is digitally encoded prior to transmission of said pile data by said wireless transmitter.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a water resistant covering for protecting said plurality of sensors and said wireless transmitter.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pile has at least one open volume within said pile, said open volume adapted for receipt of said plurality of sensors and said wireless transmitter.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said open volume includes at least one longitudinally oriented volume.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a wireless receiver disposed in said pile for receiving remotely transmitted wireless triggering signals, wherein receipt of said triggering signals prompts said plurality of sensors to commence measurement of said pile data.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one strain gauge comprises at least a first and a second strain gauge, wherein said first and second strain gauges are disposed in spaced apart relation.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said first strain gauge is positioned in said pile so as to be disposed below a ground level after said pile is driven or pushed into said ground.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said first and second strain gauge comprises electrical resistance-type strain gauges.

25. A method of forming piles with sensors mounted substantially within piles, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sensors including at least one strain gauge for measuring pile data including strain in a pile;

positioning said plurality of sensors in at least one location which will be substantially surrounded by pile material after substantially surrounding said plurality of sensors with said pile material, and substantially surrounding said plurality of sensors with said pile material.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said strain gauge is disposed in a location in said pile which will be disposed below a ground level after said pile is driven or pushed into said ground.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said positioning step further comprises positioning a wireless receiver in said least one location, said wireless receiver for receiving remotely transmitted wireless triggering signals, wherein receipt of said triggering signals prompts said plurality of sensors to commence measurement of said pile data.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said positioning step further comprises positioning a wireless transmitter in said least one location, said wireless transmitter communicably connected to said plurality of sensors.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said wireless transmitter is a broadband transmitter, wherein said providing step further comprises providing a multiplexer for combining pile data from said plurality of sensors into one signal for transmission.

30. A method for the wireless determination of pile parameters, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sensors including at least one strain gauge for measuring pile data including strain in a pile, said plurality of sensors disposed within said pile,

and a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit said pile data, said wireless transmitter disposed within said pile and communicably connected to said plurality of sensors, and

wireless transmitting said pile data to at least one remote receiver by said wireless transmitter.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

supplying said received pile data from said remote receiver to a computing device, and

determining said at least one pile parameter by said computing device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said transmitting, said supplying and said determining steps are automatic.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said determining step further comprises using said pile parameters determined in said determining step to compute at least one pile driving or pushing process parameter for use during driving or pushing piles.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said pile driving or pushing process parameter includes a force applied by a driving or pushing hammer to said pile.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein said pile supports a structure, wherein said transmitting, said supplying and said determining steps are performed after installation of said pile.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said transmitting, said supplying and said determining steps are responsive to a received wireless excitation signal.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said received excitation signal exceeds a predetermined threshold excitation level and is sufficient to initiate said transmitting, supplying and determining steps.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein said received excitation signal includes information which can be identified for selective processing by said pile.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein said transmitting, said supplying and said determining steps are performed automatically.

40. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of using at least one of said determined pile parameters to determine at least one pile driving or pushing process parameter.

41. The method of claim 30, wherein said transmitting is automatic.

42. The method of claim 30, wherein said transmissions during said transmitting step include information for determining a location of said pile, said method further comprising the step of determining said location of said pile from said transmissions.

43. A method for driving or pushing piles, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of sensors including at least one strain gauge for measuring pile data including strain in a pile, said plurality of sensors disposed within said pile, and a wireless transmitter disposed within said pile, said wireless transmitter communicably connected to said plurality of sensors;

wirelessly transmitting said pile data from within said pile to at least one remote receiver by said wireless transmitter;

determining at least one pile driving or pushing parameter from said pile data, and

driving or pushing said pile using said pile driving or pushing parameter.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said wirelessly transmitting and said determining steps are performed automatically.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said driving or pushing step is automatic.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said pile driving or pushing parameter includes a force applied by a driving or pushing hammer to said pile.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising the step of adjusting said force applied between blows of a driving or pushing hammer.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said step of adjusting force is related to at least one of said determined pile parameters.