USE OF THE WAVE EQUATION BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Use of the wave equation analysis method offers the most complete and comprehensive control of pile driving of any method available today. It provides a means of increasing the engineer's confidence that not only is the required capacity being achieved but also that the pile is not being overstressed and that the pile-driving hammer is capable of driving the pile to the desired depth in the ground. An outline of the development of the wave equation analysis to control pile driving for the North Carolina Department of Transportation is presented. This process occurred over several years and culminated with the purchase of a pile driving analyzer in July of 1987. This paper contains three case histories demonstrating the use of this method.