FOUNDTEST (M) SDN BHD (647755-P)

FOUNDTEST

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR

LOW STRAIN
PILE INTEGRITY TEST

FOUNDTEST (M) SDN. BHD.(647755-P)

No.5, Jalan PTP 1/1, Tel : 03-80515333

Taman Perindustrian Tasik Perdana, Fax : 03-80519955
47120 Puchong, Website : [Link]
Selangor. Email : admin@[Link]

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FOUNDTEST (M) SDN BHD (647755-P)

INDEX

1.0 Introduction 1
2.0 Pile Integrity Test Equipment 2
3.0 Pile Integrity Test Preparation 2
4.0 Testing Procedures 3
5.0 Result Interpretation 4
6.0 Final Reporting 4

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1.0 Introduction

Foundtest (M) Sdn. Bhd. was formed as an independent specialist contractor,

which is a professional engineering firm. Our professional services include the
Pile Integrity Test (PIT) as a quick and economical way to determine the integrity
of foundation piles. This kind of test can be applied on all kind of concrete and
composite piles, especially bore piles.

The integrity of a foundation pile is very important in order to ensure its

serviceability to support the load transferred from the building or structure
constructed. Phenomena such as concrete flush out, necking, voids and cracks are
very common in construction of bore piles. As for driven piles, overstressing
during pile driving also can cause crack and damage to the pile installed.
Therefore, effort must be taken to ensure each pile installed on site to be free from
any kind of defects during the installation.

Pile Integrity Test (PIT) can be the most suitable method to detect the defects in
piles that are mentioned above. The integrity of a pile that was installed can be
checked effectively in just a few minutes. During testing, a special hand held
hammer is utilized to generate a “low strain” compressive wave impact on the pile.
The wave created is measured by an accelerometer attached at a leveled section of
the test pile top. Recorded wave is graphically displayed for defect determination.
A significant reflection on the wave recorded shows changes in pile impedance
which could tell integrity problem detected on the tested pile.

Defect in bore pile which could

be detected by Pile Integrity
tester.

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2.0 Pile Integrity Test Equipments

The firm owns a set of FEI-C series pile integrity tester, which is utilized to
determine the integrity of a pile. FEI-C series include:-
- 1 accelerometer
- 1-4 cable
- 30m extension cable
- 1 handheld impact hammer
- 1 computer unit as wave logger
- Software package, LSDP β1.0

3.0 Pile Integrity Test Preparation

Prior to the pile integrity testing, the contractor shall ensure that all the piles to be
tested are accessible by the testing personnel with a safe working environment at
all time. The pile top of the pile to be tested must be exposed above the ground
level and free from any kind of debris or water. If the pile is too high above the
ground, the pile head must be cut down so as to be leveled over its cross section.
The contractor shall also provide all available details of the ground conditions,
piling records and construction details to the testing firm carrying out the testing.

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4.0 Testing Procedures

A sensitive accelerometer is attached to a cleaned, leveled pile top by using a

suitable adhesive material. The accelerometer must not have any contact with
water to avoid signal interference during testing.

Once the acceleration is in a stable position, a special rubber-tipped hammer is

used to strike the pile top to create a ‘low strain’ compressive impact wave
downward the pile. The accelerometer should remain static while picking up the
reflected wave upward.

The signals obtained were checked by experienced testing personnel before

recorded and stored in the computer and can be replayed for integrity assessment
later. The above procedure would be repeated until at least three consistent
readings were obtained for each pile. Appropriate amplification would be applied
to the average recorded signals in order to make the best prediction on the pile
characteristic.

Pile Integrity Test is performed on bore piles.

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5.0 Result Interpretation

The pile integrity test result will be known immediately at site once the signal
obtained is being digitized and graphically displayed. Experience rich testing
personnel would interpret summarize the testing result based on the plotted signal.

For a normal pile, wave reflections at pile top should be detected only after a
complete cycle of wave travelling. Early reflections detected at pile top indicate a
discontinuity at that particular level. The location of the defect in the pile can be
calculated by the measured travel time of the first wave reflection.

The details on the ground condition and pile details are also very useful in signal
interpretation. Changes in pile dimensions or pile penetrations in different layers
of soil would have a significant effect on the signal captured. All these
information were required before any conclusions being made. Defect, which is
possible to be detected by low strain pile integrity test includes cracks, voids and
necking.

6.0 Final Reporting

The testing firm shall provide a full engineering report on the pile integrity test
performed, normally within five working days upon the completion of testing.
The report shall include the following:
- Project title
- Date of testing
- Pile reference number or location
- Pile size
- Pile make up
- Pile length (below existing pile top)
- Pile integrity
- Location of damage (if any)
- Velocity plots
- Field sheet with signature of test personnel and witness(es)

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LIST OF SELECTED PROJECT REFERENCES FOR PILE DRIVING

ANALYSIS (P.I.T)

PROJECT CLIENT / CONTRACTOR

ELECTRIFIED DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT GAMUDA BERHAD
(IPOH TO PADANG BESAR)
ELECTRIFIED DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT CTSM GEOTECHNOLOGY SDN BHD
(GEMAS TO JOHOR BAHRU)
INFRASTRUKTUR PEMANCARAN DIGITAL ALAN DICK & COMPANY (MALAYSIA) SDN.
BANGUNAN DAN MENARA STESEN BHD.
PEMANCARAN BUKIT SUBOK UNTUK RADIO
TELEVISION BRUNEI

DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI, JOHOR. APG GEOTECHNIC SDN BHD

CADANGAN PEMBINAAN KOMPLEKS APG GEOTECHNIC SDN. BHD

KDN/KA 7 LOGISTIK, BUKIT AMAN, KUALA
LUMPUR.

DEWAN UNDANGAN NEGERI, JOHOR. CITY PILING AND CONSTRUCTION

PROJEK MEMBINA JALAN LINGKARAN CTSM GEOTECHNOLOGY SDN. BHD

TENGAH SEREMBAN, NEGERI SEMBILAN
(FASA 2)

DUKE – BRIDGE JALAN 27/56 CTSM GEOTECHNOLOGY SDN. BHD

PROPOSED JALAN MUAR-MELAKA- FORUM GAIN SDN. BHD..

AYER KEROH-SIMPANG AMPAT

SUPPLY BASE KIC PROJECT, TANJUNG NAM FATT CONSTRUCTION SDN. BHD.
KUPANG

MEMBINA JAMBATAN MELINTASI PERKASA SUTERA SDN. BHD.

LANDASAN KERETAPI BATAS LIKU, ARAU.

MEREKABENTUK, MEMBINA DAN SEE YONG AND SONS SDN. BHD.

MENYIAPKAN KERJA-KERJA MENAIKTARAF
SUNGAI KERAYONG SEPANJANG 1.8KM DARI
MUARA SUNGAI KERAYONG DI SUNGAI
KLANG HINGGA TITIK DISCHARGE SISTEM
PROJECT SMART, WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN
KUALA LUMPUR

PETRONAS MELAKA REFINERY PSR-2 STEAMLINE (M) SDN BHD.

REVAMP PROJECT – PILING & FOUNDATION
WORKS FOR K31203E, R30211 AND R30230
(CONTRACT NO. MSC-3080-011)

TRANS EASTERN KEDAH INTERLAND IHS UTARA MALAYSIA SDN. BHD

HIGHWAY, DARI DURIAN BURUNG KE
KUPANG, KEDAH DARUL AMAN