Piletest Newsletter

Should you trust the contractor's length estimate for PIT?

The ASTM D5882 standard for low-strain pile testing, also known as PIT, does not specify measuring pile length. Although the length value is commonly reported, it is still an assessment, not a measurement of the length. For a start, it depends on the assessment of speed waves...read more - and add your point!   Also here on LinkedIn.

Where should PIT hit the pile head? Achieving accurate results in Pile Integrity Testing (PIT) starts with precision at the surface. Knowing exactly where to strike the pile head is critical for generating clear stress waves and avoiding signal interference. Is it? This post answers that and explains how to interpret the instructions of the ASTM D5882 standard

The Significance of the Second Reflection in Pile Integrity Testing (PIT) Unlock the secrets of Pile Integrity Testing! Our latest blog explores why a "second reflection" is a precious gift for verifying pile depth. Learn which soil conditions trigger this signal and how to use our PET tools for more confident interpretations.

How site averaging of PET can come to the rescue of PIT in challenging conditions. The following points summarize key considerations when analyzing low-strain test results, particularly for deep piles in soft soil with high length-to-diameter (L/D) ratios. Diagnostic Challenges High L/D Ratio & Soft Soil Unrealistic Toe Expectation Read more on how to handle this scenario in this blog post

The energy loss in the top few meters, as seen in the screenshot below, is well known and familiar. Usually, it does not indicate a flaw in the concrete. Nevertheless, the root cause of this was never truly investigated. I know of several cases where core drilling was performed, but no significant changes in concrete quality were detected. Some theories have been brought up, including trapped air bubbles (which are compressed at larger depths), surfacing of mixed slurry, retarders, and more - but nothing was ever proven. To summarize: This is a familiar yet unexplained finding that typically does not indicate a flow.

PET - Pile Integrity Test Decision-supporting Tools While it is well known that the CSL test has DFI criteria (A, B, and C) and there is Tomography as a decision-supporting tool, the pile integrity test (PIT) is mostly about interpretation. In this blog, we try to cover the decision-supporting tools available from Piletest PET. One is online and available for all - The PileWave simulator, and another is the signal match pile profile builder available with the PET. How do these help with your PIT analysis?