Using Dynamic Pile Testing To Evaluate Quality and Verify Capacity of Driven Piles

Pile testing using a pile driving analyzer is a nondestructive method of evaluating the support capacity provided by the soil to a pile. The New York State Department of Transportation’s (NYSDOT) approach to incorporating this testing procedure into a project is discussed from design into construction. Specification and contractural responsibilities are addressed, as are typical applications of the test method. By judiciously using dynamic pile testing, NYSDOT is able to cost-effectively link the design process to construction. Informed decisions are possible regarding the field performance of driven piles with respect to pile-soil support capacity, hammer operation, driving stress, damage to piles during driving, and verification of assumptions made for wave equation analysis of piles.