Inco-Labs KSCC

High Strain Dynamic Test

Procedure
JMG

2026
 High Strain Dynamic Test
Procedure
JMG

HIGH STRAIN DYNAMIC LOAD TEST

I. INTRODUCTION

High Strain Dynamic Load Testing of piles is a fast and effective method of assessing foundation bearing
capacity that requires instrumentation for deep foundation with accelerometers and strain transducers
and analyzing data collected by these sensors. The procedure is based on the case method of pile testing
and is standardized by ASTM D4945-19 Standard Test Method for High Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles. It
may be performed on driven piles, drilled piles and other cast in place foundations. In addition to
bearing capacity, Dynamic Load Testing gives information on resistance distribution (pile resistance and
end bearing) and evaluates the shape and integrity of the foundation element. The foundation bearing
capacity results obtained with dynamic load tests correlate well with the results of static load tests
performed on the same foundation element.

II. FREQUENCY OF TESTING

The frequency of this test is one pile to represent the entire site including current and future pile
installation. Engineer may increase number of piles (Tests) as required. Typically testing includes 5% to
15% of the total number of the working piles.

III. PREREQUISITE

The static axial capacity of piles typically changes as time elapses after pile installation, possibly
increasing (setup) or decreasing (relaxation), depending on the soil or rock properties and the pore
water pressure and soil structure disturbance induced by installation. This behavior may affect both
driven piles and cast-in-place piles. The Engineer may specify a waiting period between pile installation
and High Strain Dynamic Load testing to investigate time effects. The waiting period may range from 3
to 30 days, or longer, based on testing (for example re-driving piles) or prior experience. Also the
concrete to be sufficiently hardened. This can be confirmed by the concrete test cube reports.

IV. Method

High-strain dynamic testing is performed by obtaining and analyzing records of pile force and
velocity under drop weight or Hammer impacts for evaluations of pile load carrying capacity,
structural integrity, and load-movement and pile-soil load transfer relationships. Allow sufficient
time for driven and cast-in place deep foundations constructed of concrete to gain adequate
structural strength prior to testing.

1. If a permanent casing is not used as a feature to construct the test pile, then a pile top
extension, consisting of a thin walled casing or equivalent, shall be used to extend the test
pile. Means to insure flat, level, (axial to test pile) and solid concrete pile top. Concrete
should be level with, and slightly above the casing. If the top of the test pile is below grade,

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then remove surrounding soil so as to completely expose a test area as described above.
Windows on at least two opposite sides of the test pile may have to be cut off in the steel
casing to reach the concrete. (Not applicable for a pre-cast pile or steel pipe pile).

2. In cases where casing is not present, smooth (by grinding) areas around the pile
circumference such that proper sensor attachment can be accomplished.

3. Sensors (at least 2 nos.) shall be attached to the exposed concrete or steel casing in a
secure manner as to prevent slippage under impact.

4. For concrete piles or concrete filled pipe piles, place a pile cushion made of plywood or
other material with similar stiffness on top of the pile. For concrete filled pipe piles, the
concrete must completely fill the pile top so that the impact is transferred through the pile
cushion to the concrete.

5. Dynamic tests performed during the initial installation of a driven pile typically monitor the
performance of the impact device, the driving stresses in the pile, the pile integrity, and
relative changes in capacity. If the test results are used for static capacity computations,
then dynamic measurements should (also) be performed during re-strikes of the deep
foundation, after waiting a period of time following the initial installation sufficient to allow
pore water pressure and soil strength changes to occur.

6. A drop weight of approximately two percent (2%) of the anticipated test pile capacity, (one
percent may be sufficient for piles with rock sockets); higher percentages are helpful when
practical and when available or specialized Diesel/Hydraulic Hammer can be used for pre-
cast piles. The impacting surface of the drop weight should have an area between 70 and
130% of the test pile top area. The shape of the ram weight should be as regular as possible
(square, round, hexagonal, etc.). A top cushion consisting of new sheets of plywood with
total thickness between (50 to 150mm) shall be used to absorb the hammer impact.

7. At least two (2) hammer impacts should be applied to the top of the pile. First drop height
should be minimal to allow the Testing Engineer to assess the testing equipment, the
impact system and the stresses on the foundation. Subsequent impacts can then be applied
by utilizing sequentially higher drop heights until either stresses in the foundation are
excessive or the pile permanent set for the applied impact exceeds 2.5mm.

8. Based on the measurements from strain or force, and acceleration, velocity, or

displacement transducers, this test method obtains the force and velocity induced in a pile
during an axial impact. The Engineer may analyze the acquired data using engineering
principles, CAPWAP and judgment to evaluate the integrity of the pile, the performance of
the impact system, and the maximum compressive and tensile stresses occurring in the pile
and after assessing the resulting dynamic soil response along the side and bottom of the
pile, the Engineer may analyze the results of a high-strain dynamic test to estimate the
ultimate axial static compression capacity.

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V. DYNAMIC TEST ILLUSTRATIONS

Typical Force and

Velocity Traces
Generated by the
Apparatus for
Obtaining Dynamic
Measurements

Typical Arrangement for High-Strain Dynamic Typical Arrangement for High-Strain

Testing on Driven Piles Dynamic Testing on Bored Piles

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Schematic Diagram of Apparatus for Typical Arrangement for Attaching

Dynamic Monitoring of Deep Foundations Transducers to Concrete Piles

Typical Arrangement for Attaching Typical Arrangement for Attaching

Transducers for Pipe Piles Transducers to H-Piles

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VI. SOFTWARE ANALYSIS

CAPWAP

CAPWAP (Case Pile Wave Analysis Program) is a software program that estimates total bearing
capacity of a pile or shaft, as well as resistance distribution along the shaft and at the toe. The
program takes as input the force and velocity data obtained with a Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA). It is
essential to post process PDA data with CAPWAP for at least one foundation element per job.
CAPWAP completes the Dynamic Load Testing procedure and simulates a Static Load Test.

CAPWAP calculates:

 Static shaft resistance, magnitude and distribution;

 Static end bearing;
 Stresses at any point along the shaft;
 Energy transferred from the ram to the foundation;

From force and velocity data measured by the Pile Driving Analyzer PDA on a foundation impacted by
a ram. Based on these results, CAPWAP simulates a static load test and predicts the instantaneous
load settlement behavior of the tested foundation. CAPWAP uses mathematical model that enhances
the analysis of drilled shafts and augered cast-in-place piles. Numerous automatic search and help
functions make CAPWAP an efficient and reliable analysis tool.

TYPICAL CAPWAP ANALYSIS

Forces and velocities measured at the top of a foundation during ram impact are related
(complementary) quantities; foundation characteristics and soil resistance parameters govern this
relationship. The basic CAPWAP procedure uses this fact and consists of the following steps:

1. Retrieve force and velocity data from the Pile Driving Analyzer.
2. Setup pile model.
3. Assume soil resistance parameters.
4. Perform analysis using one of the measured quantities as an input and calculate the
complementary quantity.
5. Compare measured with computed quantity.
6. If match is not satisfactory, adjust soil parameters such as resistance, quake and damping
and go to step 4.
7. Output soil model, satisfactory match and simulated static test.

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HELP FEATURES

CAPWAP guides the user to properly adjust the large number of variables that affect the signal
matching process. Arriving at bearing capacity results is an efficient and rewarding process thanks to:
 Automated signal matching point (AC)
 Best match for individual or groups of variables (AQ)
 Automatic resistance distribution (AF)
 Automatic toe parameters check (AT)
 Static resistance – damping exchange (RD)
 Extensive expert help system
 Background manual

THE CAPWAP PILE AND SOIL MODEL

CAPWAP is a signal matching program with an extended, Smith-type soil and continuous pile model.
CAPWAP calculations are based on one-dimensional wave propagation theory. Calculations can be
performed in English, SI or Metric Units. In its default mode, CAPWAP models the deep foundation as
a series of 1 m long uniform sections with multiple elastic properties. Pile damping, splices, non-
uniformities and multiple pile or shaft materials may also be modeled. The soil resistance is typically
lumped into individual resistance forces at 2-meter intervals with elasto-plastic static, linearly viscous
and mass related dynamic properties. Radiation damping is represented by an additional mass and
dashpot. The user has the option of using individual toe resistance parameters such as a plug mass, a
resistance gap and a true Smith damping approach.

OUTPUT

 Simulated Static Test

 Resistance Distribution
 Forces and stresses along the shaft
 Shaft and toe damping and quake
 Measured and computed forces and velocities
 Maxima of displacement and velocity
 Transferred Energy
 CASE Method results

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VII. RESULTS OF TEST

High Strain Dynamic Testing Report

The report for Dynamic Load Testing shall include the following information:

General Information
 Project Information
 Client Information
 Pile Information (Length, Diameter, Casting/Driving Date…etc)
 Hammer Information
 Comments and Recommendations about the pile(s) capacity
 Equipment Certificates and Calibration Sheets

Graphical Outputs Drawing

 Force vs. time curve
 Velocity vs. time curve
 Load vs. settlement curve
 Load distribution

Detailed Tables Outputs

 CAPWAP Summary
 Soil Model Parameters
 Extreme Table
 Dynamic Resistance Table
 General Summary
 Case Method
 Pile Profile and Pile Model
 Static Load Table