Prediction, Performance, and Uncertainty in Dynamic Pile Load Testing as Informed by Direct Measurements from an Instrumented Becker Penetration Test
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 8
Abstract
Dynamic load testing and signal matching is commonplace for pile capacity verification but can be subject to nonuniqueness and uncertainty. Whether this uncertainty may be reduced with additional measurements requires further study. The instrumented Becker penetration test (iBPT) configured as a reusable test pile provides direct measurements of the dynamic response at the pile base and shaft. The distribution of static shaft friction in tension also is measured. This paper examined the sensitivity and potential improvements of such measurements in signal matching techniques. Different solution procedures were devised to analyze the same impact events, but incorporating static and dynamic iBPT measurements to varying degrees. The results suggest that whereas predictions of total ultimate capacity from signal matching generally are robust, differentiation of shaft versus base capacity may be more uncertain. Despite the nonunique solutions, dynamic predictions of shaft capacity agree reasonably well with static measurements.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the funding and support provided by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD) of the California Department of Water Resources. The support and collaboration of Tom Shantz of Caltrans and Jim Benson of Great West Drilling also is appreciated. The assistance of UC Davis graduate students Alex Sturm and Anthony Rossiter for their help in collecting the data also is greatly appreciated.
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Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 8 • August 2020
Copyright
©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 26, 2019
Accepted: Feb 11, 2020
Published online: Jun 11, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 11, 2020
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