Pile Integrity Testing | The BDSLT Method For Pile Integrity Testing

Structural Monitoring

Building Monitoring

Pile Integrity Testing

Pile Integrity Testing of Bridge In conjunction with other companies within the Strainstall Group, we offer the Bi-directional Static Load Test (BDLST) method for load testing of piles. This a well-known static load pile integrity testing method that uses a time and space saving approach of loading the pile resistance from the mid-pile or near-toe position instead of top-loading. Whether in a low headroom situation or within a cofferdam in the middle of a river, the Bi-Directional Static Load Test has risen to every challenge. Widely adopted in the US for bored piles, this pile integrity testing method is gaining wide acceptance in many other countries for its many benefits and advantages.

Advantages of Pile Integrity Testing

Eliminates the need for overhead beams or reaction piles
It only takes hours to prepare a shaft for the installation of the pre-manufactured
Bi-Directional pressure cell
Simple to conduct, the Bi-Directional method provides engineers with separate data on the end-bearing and frictional resistance of the shaft.
Bi-Directional Static Load Testing has been proven to be much more cost-effective than traditional load testing methods
The Bi-Directional Static Load Test is useful on battered piles and sloping or belled shafts. Each shaft can be reused to carry working loads after the test is completed. This is easily done by grouting the test system.

The effectiveness and wealth of information yielded by the BDSLT pile integrity test are the reasons why more engineers and contractors are turning to the method. Since the end-bearing and upward shear resistance are measured independently, there is no guesswork on how much load was carried by each component. Pile integrity testing is typically performed until the ultimate capacity in either shear or end-bearing is reached to determine the maximum pile capacity. The addition of strain gauges within the shaft can help to determine the distribution of the load throughout the shaft length. The speed and accuracy of testing have made the Bi Directional Static Load Test a valuable tool during value engineering and the redesign of projects.