Table of Contents

PART 3
ROAD STRUCTURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

16 Introduction
17 Drilled Piles
18 Driven Piles
19 Ground Anchors
20 Earth Retaining Systems
21 Concrete Structures
22 Prestressing Systems
23 Steel Structures
24 Painting
25 Bearing Devices
26 Bridge Deck Joint Systems
27 Railings
28 Waterproofing
29 Miscellaneous Items for Structures
30 Miscellaneous Metals
31 Metal Culverts
32 Precast Concrete Culverts
33 Bridge Access Systems
34 Road Tunnels
35 Bridge and Underpass Load Testing
STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
PART 3
ROAD STRUCTURES

CHAPTER 16 - INTRODUCTION

DOCUMENT NO: AD-C-01

 Chapter 16: Introduction

Chapter 16: Introduction

Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................... 16-1
16 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 16-3

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Chapter 16: Introduction

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 Chapter 16: Introduction

16 INTRODUCTION
Part 3, Road Structures, is intended to be read in line with Part 1 and Part 2 of these Standard Construction
Specifications, to ensure consistent construction requirements throughout.
This document defines standard construction specifications for Road Structures, providing a contractual basis for the
requirements for implementing such works. These standard construction specifications shall be part of the Contract
documents for all works of road and road structures projects.
Part 3 of these Standard Construction Specifications sets forth the minimum criteria and specifications for both public
and private construction projects including bridges, tunnels, underpasses, culverts, and other road structures related
works. Additionally, these specifications provide the minimum construction requirements for other road structures to be
accepted by the Owner, which may substitute more stringent construction standards and specifications where special
conditions warrant.

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STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
PART 3
ROAD STRUCTURES

CHAPTER 17 - DRILLED PILES

DOCUMENT NO: AD-C-01

 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

Table of Contents
Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................................... 17-1
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................. 17-3
17 Drilled Piles...................................................................................................................................................... 17-5
17.1 Reference Standards and Codes ...................................................................................................................17-5
17.2 Working Drawings .......................................................................................................................................17-6
17.3 Ground Investigation....................................................................................................................................17-6
17.4 Piling Method and Programme.....................................................................................................................17-6
17.5 Ensuring Safety when Drilling Piles ............................................................................................................17-6
17.5.1 General Safety Requirements for Drilled Piles....................................................................................17-6
17.5.2 Life-saving Appliances........................................................................................................................17-7
17.6 Avoiding Disturbances and Damage when Drilling Piles ............................................................................17-7
17.6.1 Reducing Noises and Disturbances from Pile Drilling ........................................................................17-7
17.6.2 Avoiding Damage to Adjacent Structures ...........................................................................................17-7
17.6.3 Avoiding Damage to Piles...................................................................................................................17-7
17.7 Obstructions .................................................................................................................................................17-7
17.8 Pile Construction Record .............................................................................................................................17-7
17.9 Construction Tolerances...............................................................................................................................17-8
17.10 Pile Construction ..........................................................................................................................................17-9
17.10.1 Protection of Existing Structures .........................................................................................................17-9
17.10.2 Submittals for Drilled Pile Construction .............................................................................................17-9
17.10.3 Drilled Pile Construction Sequence.....................................................................................................17-9
17.10.4 Drilled Pile Construction Methods ......................................................................................................17-9
17.10.4.1 Dry Method..............................................................................................................................17-10
17.10.4.2 Wet Method .............................................................................................................................17-10
17.10.4.3 Temporary Casing Construction Method.................................................................................17-10
17.10.4.4 Permanent Casing Construction Method..................................................................................17-10
17.10.4.5 Alternate Construction Methods ..............................................................................................17-11
17.10.5 Drilling ..............................................................................................................................................17-11
17.11 Support for Pile Bores ................................................................................................................................17-12
17.11.1 Support Fluid .....................................................................................................................................17-12
17.11.2 Use of Bentonite ................................................................................................................................17-12
17.11.3 Polymer Slurry ..................................................................................................................................17-13
17.11.4 Casings ..............................................................................................................................................17-13
17.11.4.1 General Casing Requirements for Drilled Piles .......................................................................17-14
17.11.4.2 Permanent structural Casing ....................................................................................................17-14
17.11.4.3 Permanent Non-structural Casing ............................................................................................17-14
17.11.4.4 Temporary Casing....................................................................................................................17-14
17.12 Placement of Pile Concrete ........................................................................................................................17-14
17.12.1 Concrete for Drilled Piles ..................................................................................................................17-14
17.12.2 Placing Concrete under Water or Support Fluid................................................................................17-15
17.13 Steel Reinforcement ...................................................................................................................................17-15
17.14 Withdrawal of Temporary Casing ..............................................................................................................17-16
17.15 Finishing Pile Heads ..................................................................................................................................17-16
17.16 Pile Testing.................................................................................................................................................17-17
17.16.1 Measuring Devices ............................................................................................................................17-18
17.16.1.1 Measurement of Load ..............................................................................................................17-18
17.16.1.2 Measurement of Settlement......................................................................................................17-18
17.16.2 Reaction System ................................................................................................................................17-19
17.16.2.1 Compression Tests ...................................................................................................................17-19
17.16.2.2 Working Piles in a Reaction System........................................................................................17-19
17.16.2.3 Ground Anchors in a Reaction System ....................................................................................17-19
17.16.2.4 Spacing Between Piles and Reaction System Structures .........................................................17-19
17.16.2.5 Requirements for Piles and Anchors in a Reaction System .....................................................17-19
17.16.2.6 Care for Piles............................................................................................................................17-20
17.16.2.7 Loading Arrangement ..............................................................................................................17-20
17.16.2.8 Pile Caps and Structural Elements ...........................................................................................17-20
17.16.3 Equipment for Applying Load...........................................................................................................17-20
17.16.4 Special Requirements for Test Piles ..................................................................................................17-20
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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

17.16.4.1 General Requirements for Test Piles........................................................................................17-20

17.16.4.2 Personnel for Pile Testing ........................................................................................................17-20
17.16.4.3 Kentledge for Pile Testing .......................................................................................................17-20
17.16.4.4 Tension Piles and Ground Anchors for Load Testing ..............................................................17-20
17.16.4.5 Pile Testing Equipment ............................................................................................................17-21
17.16.5 Maintained Compression Load Testing for Piles ..............................................................................17-21
17.16.6 Working Piles ....................................................................................................................................17-21
17.16.7 Pile Testing Procedure.......................................................................................................................17-21
17.16.8 Abandonment of Pile Test .................................................................................................................17-22
17.16.9 Pile Testing Record ...........................................................................................................................17-23
17.16.10 Failure of Working Load Test ...........................................................................................................17-24
17.16.11 Compensating Piles ...........................................................................................................................17-24
17.16.12 Reinstatement of Piles After Testing.................................................................................................17-25
17.17 Osterberg Cell Load Testing ......................................................................................................................17-25
17.17.1 General ..............................................................................................................................................17-25
17.17.2 Materials............................................................................................................................................17-25
17.17.3 Equipment .........................................................................................................................................17-26
17.17.4 Procedure...........................................................................................................................................17-26
17.17.5 Testing and Reporting .......................................................................................................................17-26
17.18 Tension and Lateral Load Testing..............................................................................................................17-27
17.19 Integrity Testing for Piles...........................................................................................................................17-27
17.19.1 Low Strain Integrity Testing for Piles ...............................................................................................17-27
17.19.2 Cross-hole Sonic Logging .................................................................................................................17-28
17.20 High Strain Dynamic Test..........................................................................................................................17-29
17.20.1 General ..............................................................................................................................................17-29
17.20.2 Measuring Instruments ......................................................................................................................17-29
17.20.3 Hammer .............................................................................................................................................17-29
17.20.4 Preparation of the Pile Head ..............................................................................................................17-30
17.20.5 Time of Testing .................................................................................................................................17-30
17.20.6 Results ...............................................................................................................................................17-30
Index ........................................................................................................................................................................ 17-31

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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

List of Tables
Table 17-1: Designations and titles for AASHTO and ASTM standards that apply to drilled piles works...................17-5
Table 17-2: Requirements for drilled pile construction submittals................................................................................17-9
Table 17-3: Bentonite slurry properties .......................................................................................................................17-13
Table 17-4: Polymer slurry properties .........................................................................................................................17-13
Table 17-5: Casting tolerance for piles cast in dry bores using temporary casing and without a permanent lining ....17-16
Table 17-6: Casting tolerance for piles cast in dry bores within permanent lining tubes, permanent casings, or where
cut-off levels are in stable ground below the base of any casing used .....................................................17-17
Table 17-7: Casting tolerance for piles cast under water or drilling fluid* .................................................................17-17
Table 17-8: Loading cycles for test piles .....................................................................................................................17-21

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Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

17 DRILLED PILES
This chapter defines standards and requirements for the construction of drilled foundation piles, with or without bell
footings, including the placement of reinforcing steel and concrete. All such work shall comply with the contractual
requirements for the Project and the specifications outlined in this chapter.

17.1 Reference Standards and Codes

Standards and codes for Drilled Piles shall be as specified in these specifications, in the Contract documents, if any, and
the following, in their latest edition:
AASHTO LRFD American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - Load and Resistance
Factor Design, Bridge Construction Specifications;
AASHTO LRFD American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - Load and Resistance
Factor Design, Bridge Design Specifications;
AASHTO Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing;
Abu Dhabi DOT Structural Design Manual;
API American Petroleum Institute;
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials.
Table 17-1 presents AASHTO and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards that are related to
materials for drilled piles. It includes designations and titles.
Table 17-1: Designations and titles for AASHTO and ASTM standards that apply to drilled piles works

AASHTO ASTM
TITLE
DESIGNATION DESIGNATION

ASTM D4380-12 Standard Test Method for Density of Bentonitic Slurries

ASTM Standard Test Method for Marsh Funnel Viscosity of Clay

D6910/D6910M-09 Construction Slurries

ASTM Standard Test Method for Sand Content by Volume of Bentonitic

D4381/D4381M-12 Slurries

ASTM
Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Static Axial
D1143/D1143M-
Compressive Load
07e1

Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Static Axial

ASTM D3689-07
Tensile Load

ASTM D3966-07 Standard Test Methods for Piles Under Lateral Loads

Standard Test Method for Low Strain Impact Integrity Testing of Deep
ASTM D5882-07
Foundations

Standard Test Method for Integrity Testing of Concrete Deep

ASTM D6760-08
Foundations by Ultrasonic Crosshole Testing

Standard Test Method for High-Strain Dynamic Testing of Deep

ASTM D4945-12
Foundations

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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

17.2 Working Drawings

When required by the Contract documents, at least four weeks before work on piles is to begin, the Contractor shall
submit to the Engineer for review and approval, an installation plan for the construction of drilled piles. The submittal
shall include the following:
a. List of proposed equipment to be used, including cranes, drills, augers, bailing buckets, final cleaning
equipment, desanding equipment, slurry pumps, sampling equipment, tremies or concrete pumps, casings, etc.
b. Details of overall construction operation sequence and the sequence of piles construction in bents or groups.
c. Details of pile drilling methods.
d. When slurry is required, details of the method proposed to mix, circulate, and desand slurry.
e. Details of methods to clean the pile drilling.
f. Details of reinforcement placement, including support and centralization methods.
g. Details of concrete placement, curing, and protection.
h. Details of any required load tests.
i. Other information shown in the contract documents or requested by the Engineer.
The Contractor shall not start the construction of drilled piles for which working drawings are required until such
drawings have been approved by the Engineer.
Such approval will not relieve the Contractor of responsibility for results obtained by use of these drawings or any of
the Contractor's other responsibilities under the Contract documents.

17.3 Ground Investigation

The Contractor shall investigate the Project site to a depth sufficient to identify all ground formations and layers that
affect pile construction and to recognize the capacity and deformation properties of the ground. In accordance with the
Project requirements, a site investigation shall determine the Project site’s characteristic ground conditions.
If the maintenance of stability of pile bore is likely to be difficult, the Contractor shall complete a trial bore of relevant
dimensions. To determine the extent of a ground investigation, the Contractor shall consider their own experience and
available information that is relevant to the execution of comparable foundation works under similar conditions and
within the general vicinity of the Project site.
The Contractor shall backfill all boreholes sufficiently to ensure that subsequent pile construction and performance are
not affected.
A number of test piles as defined in the Contract Documents shall be constructed and load tested before permanent
construction.

17.4 Piling Method and Programme

The Contractor shall supply for approval all relevant details of the proposed method of piling and plant use. Any
method other than that specified in the Contract documents shall be subject to approval by the Engineer.
Every day, the Contractor shall inform the Engineer of the intended programme for piling for the following day and
shall give adequate notice of intentions to work outside normal hours or on holidays. The Contractor shall submit to the
Engineer a proposed sequence and timing for boring piles. Such schedules shall ensure that boring does not damage
adjacent piles.

17.5 Ensuring Safety when Drilling Piles

The Contractor shall comply with the requirements outlined in this section and the Owner’s Environmental, Health and
Safety procedures to ensure that drilling operations and drilled foundation piles are safe.

17.5.1 General Safety Requirements for Drilled Piles

A competent person who is properly qualified and experienced, on behalf of the Contractor, shall supervise all piling
operations. This person shall be capable of responding to and assessing any potential dangers, such as unexpected
ground conditions that may require different construction techniques or unusual smells that may indicate the presence of
noxious or dangerous gases.

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17.5.2 Life-saving Appliances

The Contractor shall provide sufficient, proper, and effective life-saving appliances of types and natures that have the
Engineer’s approval. Such appliances shall be conspicuous on the Project site and shall be available at all times for
possible use.
At least one site operative shall be instructed in the use of such safety equipment and shall participate in periodic drills
to ensure that any such operative can correctly observe all necessary procedures.

17.6 Avoiding Disturbances and Damage when Drilling Piles

The Contractor shall ensure that foundation pile drilling is not a nuisance and does not cause damage to adjacent
structures or piles.

17.6.1 Reducing Noises and Disturbances from Pile Drilling

When working, the Contractor shall keep noises, vibrations, and other disturbances to a minimum and shall comply
with all current environmental legislation, as applicable, particularly in urban areas. The Contractor shall understand the
nature and levels of noise produced by mechanical equipment they use and take appropriate steps, as possible, to reduce
noise levels and annoying characteristics.

17.6.2 Avoiding Damage to Adjacent Structures

If the Contractor believes that pile drilling is likely to damage mains, services, or adjacent structures, they shall submit
proposals for conducting preconstruction surveys, monitoring movements or vibrations, and minimizing or avoiding
such damage to the Engineer for review and approval.

17.6.3 Avoiding Damage to Piles

The Contractor shall ensure that pile drilling does not cause displacement or damage that could impair either
performance or durability of completed piles. The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer a proposed sequence and
timing for drilling piles, including plans and methods to avoid damaging adjacent piles.

17.7 Obstructions
When unexpected manmade materials prevent the Contractor from advancing an excavation, the Contractor shall
remove such manmade obstructions after notifying the Engineer and explaining the proposed method for removal. If the
Contractor seeks additional compensation to remove such obstructions, the Contractor must also provide a cost estimate
to the Engineer. The Contractor shall not remove any obstructions without approval from the Engineer, including
specific approval for the proposed method for removal.
The Owner does not consider naturally-occurring material, regardless of difficulty or removal method, to be an
obstruction. The Contractor shall remove all such naturally-occurring impediments at their own expense as part of the
pile drilling activity.
The Owner does not consider the removal of tools that the Contractor loses in an excavation to be an obstruction. The
Contractor shall promptly remove all such tools from the excavation at their own expense. The Contractor is responsible
for all costs for the removal of lost tool, including costs to correct hole degradation that result from removal operations
and any associated time delays.

17.8 Pile Construction Record

The Contractor shall keep records, as outlined in this section, for the installation of each pile and shall submit two
signed copies of these records to the Engineer no later than noon of the next working day after the pile was installed.
Such signed documents constitute a historical and legal record of the work.
The Contractor shall note any unexpected boring conditions in these records.
Pile construction records shall include the following data:
The Contract
Pile reference number (location)
Pile type
Nominal cross sectional dimensions or diameter
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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

Nominal diameter of underream or base

Standing groundwater level from direct observation or given site investigation data
Date and time of boring
Date of concreting
Ground level at pile position upon commencement of pile installation.
Working level on which piling base machine stands
Depth from ground level at pile position to pile toe level
Toe level
Pile head level, as constructed
Pile cut-off level
Length of temporary casing
Length of permanent casing
Soil samples taken and in situ tests carried out during pile formation or adjacent to piles
Length and details of reinforcement
Type of concrete mix (materials and composition)
Volume of concrete supplied to pile (where this can be measured)
All information regarding obstruction delays and other interruptions to the sequence of work
Integrity testing (whether this is low or high frequency)
Verticality and tolerance achieved
Treatment of pile base to minimise contamination

17.9 Construction Tolerances

The Contractor shall maintain the following tolerances when constructing drilled piles:
a. A drilled pile shall be within 75 mm of its planned position in the horizontal plane at the plan elevation for the
top of the pile.
b. A pile excavation’s vertical alignment shall not vary from its planned alignment by more than 1 in 75.
c. After placement of all the pile concrete, the top of a reinforcing steel cage shall be no more than 150 mm above
and no more than 75 mm below its planned position.
d. Casing, when used, shall have an outside diameter not less than the pile diameter shown in the Contract
documents. When casing is not used, the minimum diameter for a drilled pile with a diameter of 600 mm or
less shall exactly match the diameter shown in the Contract documents, whereas drilled piles with diameters
greater than 600 mm shall have diameters that are no smaller than 25 mm less than the diameter shown in the
Contract documents.
e. Excavation of the bearing area of bells shall have an area that is no less than the planned bearing area.
f. All other plan dimensions shown for the bells may vary, when approved by the Engineer, to accommodate
equipment used.
g. A pile’s top elevation shall be within 50 mm of its planned elevation.
h. A pile excavation’s bottom shall be normal to the axis of the pile within 60 mm per meter of pile diameter.
The Owner shall not accept drilled pile excavations that cannot be completed within the required tolerances. In such
cases, the Contractor shall submit correction methods to the Engineer for approval, which must be obtained before the
Contractor continues with the construction of drilled piles.
The Contractor shall furnish materials and work that are necessary to effect correction for out-of-tolerance drilled pile
excavations at no cost to the Owner.

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17.10 Pile Construction

Construction of drilled foundation piles shall meet all requirements outlined in this section.

17.10.1 Protection of Existing Structures

The Contractor shall take all reasonable precautions to prevent damage to existing structures and utilities. Such
measures shall include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
a. Construction methods and procedures that prevent excessive caving of the pile excavation
b. Monitoring and controlling vibrations caused by the driving of casing or sheeting, drilling of the pile,
dewatering or leakage of bentonite, or blasting (when such is permitted by the Engineer)

17.10.2 Submittals for Drilled Pile Construction

Submittals for drilled pile construction shall meet all requirements outlined in Table 17-2.
Table 17-2: Requirements for drilled pile construction submittals

Requirement Details

Pile Design Tentative pile depths shown on the Contract plans shall be confirmed or modified based on the
Confirmation Contractor’s soil investigation and geotechnical report submitted to the Engineer for review and
approval.

Shop Drawings The Contractor shall submit shop drawings to the Engineer for approval in accordance the
Contract standard specifications.

Method The Contractor shall submit a method statement to the Engineer for approval. This statement
Statement shall propose equipment and procedures for constructing piles and include details of Non-
working pile load tests. No work shall commence until the Engineer approves the method
statement and Non-working pile load testing is complete and approved.

Materials The Contractor shall submit all proposed materials to the Engineer in accordance with the
Submittals relevant sections of the Contract standard specifications. The Contractor’s submittals shall
include full details of the proposed mix design for concreting the piles, casing, rebar, spacers,
and concrete. No work shall commence until the Engineer approves the proposed materials.

Quality The Contractor shall submit a detailed quality control plan for all activities related to drilled
Control piles. Such plan shall define selected tests to be performed, test methods to be used, and property
requirements that must be met to ensure that the material and operation functions as intended. A
quality plan must take into consideration the anticipated subsurface conditions and pile
construction methods, in accordance with the slurry manufacturer's recommendations and these
specifications.

Reports The Contractor shall inform the Engineer each day of the intended piling program for the
following day and shall give adequate notice of intention to work outside normal hours or over
weekends.

17.10.3 Drilled Pile Construction Sequence

All excavations of the foundation in which drilled piles are to be constructed shall be complete before the Contractor
begins pile construction.
Unless the Contract documents indicate that drilled piles are to be installed in conjunction with embankment placement,
the Contractor shall construct them after placing the fill. Otherwise, allowance for negative drag shall be considered.
The Contractor shall investigate a pile’s group action to determine the proximity of adjacent boring.

17.10.4 Drilled Pile Construction Methods

Excavations required for piles and bell footing, through whatever materials are encountered, shall comply with the
dimensions and elevations specified in the Contract documents or as directed by the Engineer. Methods and equipment

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shall be suitable for the intended purpose and the materials encountered. Generally, the Contractor may apply either the
dry method, the wet method, the temporary casing method, or the permanent casing method, as necessary to produce
sound, durable concrete foundation piles that have no defects.
The Contractor shall use the permanent casing method only when required by the Contract documents or with the
Engineer’s direct authorization. When the Contract documents require a particular method of construction, the
Contractor shall use that method. If the Contract documents do not specify a particular method, the Contractor shall
select and use the most effective method to properly accomplish the work, as determined by site conditions. Such
methods are subject to approval by the Engineer.

17.10.4.1 Dry Method

When a site is on relatively dry land with a very deep groundwater table and site conditions are suitable to permit pile
construction, the Contractor shall use the dry construction method.
With the dry method, a pile’s sides and bottom remain stable without any caving, sloughing, or swelling and may be
visually inspected before the placement of concrete.
Steps for the dry method include drilling the pile, removing accumulated water and loose material from the excavation,
placing the reinforcing cage, and placing the pile concrete in a relatively dry excavation.

17.10.4.2 Wet Method

When a site is in an area where a dry excavation cannot be maintained for the placement of the pile concrete, the
Contractor shall use the wet construction method. This method consists of using water or mineral slurry to maintain
stability of a hole's perimeter while advancing the excavation to its final depth, placing a reinforcing cage, and
concreting the pile.
Using the wet method involves the following work:
a. Desanding and cleaning the slurry
b. Cleaning the excavation using a bailing bucket, air lift, submersible pump, or other approved device
c. Place pile concrete with a tremie or concrete pump, beginning at a pile’s bottom
d. Providing, as needed, temporary surface casings to aid pile alignment and positioning
e. Providing temporary surface casings to prevent sloughing of the top of the pile excavation, unless it can be
satisfactorily demonstrated that the surface casing is not required

17.10.4.3 Temporary Casing Construction Method

The Contractor shall use the temporary casing construction method when neither the dry or wet construction method is
appropriate.
As an alternative to using the wet excavation method, the Contractor may use vibratory or driving procedures to install
temporary casing before excavation to the lower limits of the caving material.
Before and during the withdrawal of casing, the level of fresh concrete in the casing shall be such that all the fluid
trapped behind the casing is displaced upward without contaminating the pile concrete.
To remove casing, the Contractor shall apply a rotary movement, downward pressure, and tapping with a vibratory
hammer to ease the extraction. Casing extraction shall be at a slow and uniform rate with the pull aligned with the pile
axis.

17.10.4.4 Permanent Casing Construction Method

The Contractor shall use the permanent casing construction method when required by the Contract documents. This
method involves driving or drilling a casing to a prescribed depth before excavation begins. If this method cannot attain
full penetration, the Engineer may require either excavation of material within the embedded portion of the casing or
excavation of a pilot hole ahead of the casing until the casing reaches the desired penetration. Some cases may require
over reaming to the outside diameter of the casing to advance the casing.
A casing shall be continuous between the elevations shown in the Contract documents. The Contractor shall not
substitute temporary casing for permanent casing or add temporary casing to permanent casing, except when specified
in the Contract documents or so authorized, in writing, by the Engineer.
After installing a casing and completing pile excavation, the Contractor shall place the reinforcing steel and pile
concrete within the portion of the casing that remains in place.
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17.10.4.5 Alternate Construction Methods

The Contractor may propose alternate methods to prevent caving and control ground water. Such proposals,
accompanied by supporting technical data, shall be submitted to the Engineer for approval before the commencement of
any related work.

17.10.5 Drilling
If the Engineer determines that foundation material encountered during pile drilling is unsuitable or differs from design
expectations, the Contractor may, during construction, adjust a pile’s bottom elevation from that shown in the Contract
documents.
The Contractor shall take soil samples or rock cores in accordance with the Contract documents or directions from the
Engineer to determine the characteristics of materials directly below a pile excavation. After inspecting the samples or
cores, the Engineer shall determine the final depth of a pile’s excavation.
Disposal of excavated materials that are removed from a pile excavation and any used drilling fluids shall comply with
the Contract documents or directions from the Engineer.
When the Contract documents show bell footings, the Contractor shall excavate them, using mechanical methods, to
form a bearing area of the size and shape shown.
The Contractor shall give special consideration to the following requirements:
a. Before boring, the Contractor shall check the casing position for each pile during and immediately after
placing the casing; they shall get verification for such positions from the Engineer.
b. The Contractor shall bore piles sufficiently far from other piles that have recently been cast or that contain
workable or unset concrete to avoid the induction of concrete flow from such piles or damage to any such
piles. A minimum spacing of 3.0m or three times the pile diameter shall be provided.
c. Any proposals from the Contractor for ground treatment of any nature or for temporary lowering of the water
table (by well pointing or any other method) shall be subject to approval by the Engineer. The Contractor shall,
however, retain full responsibility for any effects to existing roads, buildings, and structures in the vicinity of
the Project works that result from such ground treatment or control of water table levels.
d. Any proposals from the Contractor for underpinning, needling, and shoring structures in the vicinity of the
works shall reflect careful design. Such proposed designs shall be subject to approval by the Engineer.
e. Where boring takes place through unstable water bearing strata, the process of excavation and the depth of
casing employed shall be such that soil from outside the area of the pile is not drawn into the pile section and
cavities are not created outside the casing as it is advanced.
f. Where the use of drilling fluid is specified or approved for maintaining the stability of a bore, the Contractor
shall maintain the level of drilling fluid in the pile excavation within the cased or stable bore so that it is not
less than 1.0 meter above the level of external standing groundwater at all times.
g. If a pile excavation loses drilling fluid rapidly, the Contractor shall backfill the bore without delay and obtains
instructions from the Engineer before resuming boring activity at that location.
h. The Contractor shall take all reasonable steps to prevent the spillage of drilling fluid on the site in areas outside
the immediate vicinity of boring. Discarded drilling fluid shall be removed from a site without undue delay.
Any disposal of the drilling fluid shall comply with the regulations of the local authorities.
i. For a pile constructed in a stable cohesive soil without the use of casing or other form of support, the
Contractor shall bore piles and place concrete without so long a delay that significant impairment of the soil
strength can occur.
j. Each pile bore that does not contain standing water or drilling fluid shall be inspected directly or indirectly
before concrete placement. The Contractor shall provide equipment to enable his representative and the
Engineer such inspection. The Contractor shall verify the capacity of the excavated base for each end-bearing
pile.
k. After completing boring, when inspection of a pile bore indicates that such action is necessary, the Contractor
shall remove loose, disturbed, or softened soil from the bore. Where pile bores contain water or drilling fluid,
thorough cleaning shall precede concrete placement. To remove large debris or accumulated sediment, the
Contractor shall use appropriate approved methods that clean bores while minimizing ground disturbance
below pile bases. Water or drilling fluid shall remain at controlled levels throughout and following cleaning to
preserve bore stability.

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17.11 Support for Pile Bores

The Contractor shall bear full responsibility for selecting and executing methods to stabilize and maintain pile
excavations. Walls and bottoms of pile excavations shall have sufficient protection to prevent sidewall caving and
bottom heaving. Such protection shall ensure that soil adjacent to a pile’s bore shaft is not disturbed.

17.11.1 Support Fluid

Pile drilling processes shall use mineral slurry with both a mineral grain size that will remain in suspension and
sufficient viscosity and gel characteristics to transport excavated material to a suitable screening system. Such fluid
shall have a percentage and specific gravity that are sufficient to maintain an excavation’s stability and to allow proper
concrete placement.
During drilling, slurry levels shall remain sufficiently high to prevent a hole from caving in.
Mineral slurry shall be premixed thoroughly with clean fresh water, and adequate time shall be allotted for hydration
prior to introduction into the pile excavation.
The Contractor shall provide adequate slurry tanks when such are a specified requirement in the Contract documents.
The Owner does not permit excavated slurry pits. The Contractor shall provide adequate desanding equipment when
such is specified in the Contract documents. The Contractor shall take necessary steps, such as agitation, circulation,
and property adjustment, to prevent slurry from hardening in a pile excavation.
Using suitable apparatuses, the Contractor shall conduct control tests on the mineral slurry to determine its unit weight
(density), viscosity, and acidity (pH value). Table 17-3 and Table 17-4 show acceptable values for those physical
properties.

17.11.2 Use of Bentonite

All use of bentonite shall conform to the following requirements:
a. Bentonite, as supplied to a site and before mixing, shall comply with Specification DFCP-4 of the Oil
Companies Materials Association.
b. The Contractor shall obtain a certificate from the bentonite manufacture that shows the properties of each
consignment delivered to the Project site. The Contractor shall make this certificate available to the Engineer
on request.
c. Certified properties shall include the apparent viscosity range (in centipoises) and the gel strength range (in
newtons per square metre) for solids in water.
d. Bentonite shall be mixed thoroughly with clean fresh water to make a suspension that will maintain a pile
bore’s stability for the period necessary to place concrete and complete construction. Temperatures of water
used in mixing a bentonite suspension and of the suspension itself when supplied to the borehole shall exceed
5° C.
e. Wherever saline or chemically contaminated groundwater occurs, the Contractor shall take special precautions
to modify a bentonite suspension or to prehydrate the bentonite in fresh water to render it suitable in all
respects for pile construction.
f. The Contractor shall propose drilling fluid testing frequencies, sampling methods, and sampling procedures to
the Engineer for approval before commencing work. With the Engineer’s approval, the Contractor may
subsequently vary testing frequencies, depending on fluid consistency.
g. The Contractor shall conduct control tests on bentonite suspensions, using suitable apparatus. The Contractor
shall measure the density of a freshly mixed bentonite suspension every day to verify the quality of the
suspension being formed. A measuring device for such test shall be calibrated to read to within 5g/L. Tests to
determine density, viscosity, shear strength, and acidity (pH value) shall be applied to bentonite supplied to a
pile bore. For sites with average soil conditions for the Project, results of bentonite suspension tests shall
generally fall within the ranges shown in Table 17-3.
h. Testing shall continue until a consistent working pattern has been established, taking into account the mixing
process, any blending of freshly mixed bentonite suspension, and previously used bentonite suspension. When
test results show that bentonite for the Project has consistent behaviour, the Contractor may discontinue tests
for shear strength and acidity, but shall continue tests to determine density and viscosity in accordance with
direction from the Engineer. In the event of a change in the established working pattern, the Contractor shall
reintroduce tests for shear strength and acidity as necessary.

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Table 17-3: Bentonite slurry properties

Slurry property Unit o Test method

Range of results at 20 C

Fresh Before concreting

Density 3 <1.10 <1.15 Mud density balance

g/cm

Viscosity Sec 32 to 50 32 to 50 Marsh funnel and cup

pH 8.0 ~ 11 - pH indicator paper strips or

electrical pH meter

Sand content % - 4.0 %

Testing methods pertaining to Table 17-3 shall conform to American Petroleum Institute (API) standards, as outlined in
their standard procedure for testing drilling fluids (API–RP13B). The following equivalent test methods as per ASTM
Standards can also be followed:
ASTM D4380-12: Standard Test Method for Density of Bentonitic Slurries
ASTM D6910/D6910M-09: Standard Test Method for Marsh Funnel Viscosity of Clay Construction
Slurries.
ASTM D4381/D4381M-12: Standard Test Method for Sand Content by Volume of Bentonitic Slurries.

17.11.3 Polymer Slurry

Polymer slurries shall be used in conformance with a manufacturer's recommendations and shall conform to the quality
control plan specified in Section 17.10.2. Only synthetic slurry systems that have been approved by the Engineer may
be used. The polymer slurry shall conform to the requirements shown in Table 17-4.
Table 17-4: Polymer slurry properties

Slurry property Unit Requirements Test method

Density g/cm3 1.03 Max Mud density balance

Viscosity Sec 32 to 135 Marsh funnel and cup

pH 8.0 ~ 11.5 pH indicator paper strips or

electrical pH meter

Sand content % 1.0% Max

When doing so is approved by the Engineer, the Contractor may use polymer slurry in salt water and increase allowable
densities to up to 3.0% over the value in Table 17-4.
A polymer slurry’s sand content before final cleaning and immediately before concrete placement shall be less than or
equal to 1.0 percent, in accordance with the section 5 of the American Petroleum Institute’s standard procedure for
testing drilling fluids (API 13B-1). Slurry temperature shall be at least 4.4° C when tested.

17.11.4 Casings
Casings for drilled foundation piles shall comply with the requirements outlined in this section.

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17.11.4.1 General Casing Requirements for Drilled Piles

Casings shall be metal, smooth, clean, watertight, and of ample strength to withstand handling, driving, extraction
stresses, and the pressure of both concrete and surrounding earth materials. A casing’s inside diameter shall not be less
than the pile’s specified size.
If the Project plans specify a minimum thickness for casing, this thickness only satisfies structural design requirements.
The Contractor shall ensure that casing thicknesses satisfy the requirements of construction installation, even when such
thicknesses exceed the minimum.

17.11.4.2 Permanent structural Casing

A permanent structural casing is a part of the pile structure that provides stiffness or load carrying capacity and shall
remain in place after construction is complete.

17.11.4.3 Permanent Non-structural Casing

A permanent non-structural casing assists in the construction of the drilled pile and, like a permanent structural casing,
shall remain in place after construction is complete.

17.11.4.4 Temporary Casing

A temporary casing facilitates pile construction only, is not part of the pile structure, and shall be removed completely
after pile construction is complete, unless the Contract plans indicate otherwise.
All temporary casings shall be smooth-walled structural steel, unless the Contract plans indicate that corrugated metal
pipe is an acceptable alternative.
The casing shall be easy to remove without deforming or damaging the completed pile and without disturbing
surrounding soil.
The Contractor shall remove temporary casings while concrete remains workable. Generally, the Contractor shall begin
to remove a temporary casing when concrete placement in a pile is at or above ground level.
To remove casing, the Contractor shall apply a rotary movement, downward pressure, and tapping with a vibratory
hammer to ease the extraction. Casing extraction shall be at a slow, uniform rate with the pull aligned with the pile axis.
The Contractor shall not excessively rotate a casing to limit deformation of the reinforcing steel cage.
Maintenance of a sufficient head of concrete above the bottom of a casing shall overcome the hydrostatic pressure of
water or drilling fluid outside the casing.

17.12 Placement of Pile Concrete

The Contractor shall place concrete as soon as possible after completion of drilled pile excavation and after the
Engineer inspects and approves the excavation.
Before placing concrete, the Contractor shall take measures to ensure that silt and other materials do not accumulate at
the base of a boring. The Contractor shall clean a pile’s bottom (bearing stratum) immediately before placing concrete.

17.12.1 Concrete for Drilled Piles

When the Contract documents specify a designed concrete mix, the Contractor shall be responsible for selecting the mix
proportions to achieve the required strength and workability, but the Engineer will be responsible for specifying the
minimum cement content and any other properties required to ensure durability.
Concrete for drilled piles shall have sufficient workability to enable it to be placed and compacted by the methods used
in forming the piles.
For piles that are exposed to potentially aggressive ground or groundwater, the Contractor shall take approved measures
to ensure durability.
A mix’s cement content shall not be less than 360 kg per cubic metre. Where concrete will reside under water or drilling
mud, such mix shall not contain less than 380 kg of cement per cubic metre. Where a pile will be exposed to sea water,
a mix shall contain at least 400 kg of cement per cubic metre. No mix shall have a water-to-cement (W/C) ratio greater
than 0.4 and as described in Table 4-16 of Chapter 4, Concrete Works, of the Standard Specifications.
All concrete aggregates, cement, and water shall be sampled and tested as frequently as the Engineer deems necessary.
The Contractor shall supply all test samples at their own expense.

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The Contractor shall prepare concrete trial mixes to show that the proposed mix proportions and manufacture will
produce concrete of the required strength and quality and shall have adequate workability for compaction by the method
to be used in placement.
The Contractor shall keep a detailed record of the results of all tests on concrete and concrete materials. Each test shall
be clearly identified to associate it with the piles to which it relates.

17.12.2 Placing Concrete under Water or Support Fluid

To place concrete that will reside under water or drilling fluid, the Contractor shall use the tremie method and shall
ensure that concrete is not discharged freely into the water or drilling fluid. Where appropriate, the Engineer may
approve pumping concrete.
A sample of the drilling fluid shall be taken from the base of the boring by using an approved sampling device. If the
3
specific gravity of the suspension exceeds 1.2 g/cm , the Contractor shall not proceed with concrete placement. In this
event, the Contractor shall use a method approved by the Engineer to modify or replace the drilling fluid to meet the
specification.
Concrete shall be placed in such manner that segregation does not occur.
Throughout concrete placement, the tremie’s hopper and pipe shall be clean and watertight. A tremie’s pipe shall extend
to the base of the bore and include a sliding plug or barrier to prevent direct contact between the first charge of concrete
in the tremie and the water or drilling fluid.
At all times until placement of concrete is complete, a tremie pipe shall penetrate the concrete that was previously
placed and shall be withdrawn at a rate such that ensures a minimum concrete head of 2.0 m over the end of the tremie.
A tremie pipe’s internal diameter shall not be less than 150 mm and its maximum size aggregate shall be 20 mm.
External projections on a tremie pipe shall be minimized to enable the tremie to pass within the reinforcing cages
without causing damage. A tremie pipe’s internal face shall not have any projections.
Concrete placement shall be one continuous operation. If the Contractor suspects that any interruption to concrete
placement has caused a cold joint, they shall chip the concrete, clean the pile with compressed air to a level 50 mm
below the joint’s surface, and apply a suitable bonding agent of a type that the Engineer has approved.
Sufficient concrete should overflow the top of a pile to ensure that the pile’s shaft is clear of any contaminating soil or
slurry.
If a concrete placement operation is interrupted, the Engineer may require the Contractor to drill cores and conduct
other tests to prove that the pile contains no voids or horizontal joints. If such testing reveals voids or joints, the
Contractor shall repair them or replace the pile at no additional cost.
The Contractor shall complete a concrete yield plot for each pile poured by tremie methods and submit such yield plots
to the Engineer no later than 24 hours after pouring concrete.
The Contractor shall not perform pile excavation operations within three diameters of a newly poured pile any sooner
than 24 hours after concrete placement.

17.13 Steel Reinforcement

The Contractor’s shop drawings shall show all bracing and any extra reinforcing steel that is required to fabricate a
reinforcing cage. The Contractor shall be responsible for engineering the temporary support and bracing of reinforcing
cages to ensure that they maintain their planned configuration during assembly, transportation, and installation. Steel
reinforcement shall meet the following minimum requirements and as described in Chapter 5, Reinforcing Steel, of the
Standard Specifications:
a. At least four vertical bars of each cage, equally spaced around a cage’s circumference, shall be tied to all
reinforcement intersections with double wire ties.
b. At least 25 percent of remaining reinforcement intersections in each cage shall be tied with single wire ties.
Tied intersections shall be staggered from adjacent ties.
c. Bracing shall prevent the collapse of each cage during its assembly, transportation, and installation. At no
additional cost, the Contractor shall provide any additional reinforcement that is needed to allow a cage to be
safely lifted and lowered.
d. Hoops, links, or helical reinforcement shall fit closely around the main longitudinal bars and be bound to them
by approved wire, the ends of which shall be turned into a pile’s interior.
Successful compliance with these minimum baseline requirements for reinforcement cages shall in no way relieve the
Contractor of full responsibility for engineering the temporary supports and bracing of the cages during construction.
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Such reinforcement shall be carefully positioned and securely fastened to provide minimum clearances (as described in
this section) and to ensure that no displacement of the reinforcing steel cage occurs during concrete placement.
Each steel reinforcing cage shall be securely held in position throughout concrete placement to provide the specified
projection of reinforcement above the final cut-off level.
Reinforcing steel in a pile shall be tied and supported so that the location of the reinforcing steel will remain within
allowable tolerance. The Contractor shall tie the bars to lateral tie bars at all intersections. Concrete spacers or other
approved noncorrosive spacing devices along a pile’s bottom, along a pile’s top, and at sufficient intervals (not more
than 2.0 meters vertically) shall ensure concentric spacing for the entire cage length. Each level requires at least four
spacers. Such spacers shall be of adequate dimension to ensure an annular space between the outside of a reinforcing
cage and the side of the excavation along the entire length of a pile, as shown in the Contract plans.
The cover to all reinforcement in cast in place piles shall be not less than 100 mm unless otherwise approved by the
Engineer.
Acceptable feet made of plastic or concrete (bottom supports) shall ensure that the bottom of each cage remains at the
proper distance above the base of an excavation, unless a cage is suspended from a fixed base when the Contractor
pours concrete.
To allow concrete placement after lifting a cage, the Contractor shall remove bracing steel that constricts the interior of
a reinforcing cage.
Longitudinal steel bars shall have as few laps as possible. Joints in reinforcement shall be such that the full strength of
each bar is effective across the joint and shall be made so that there is no detrimental displacement of the reinforcement
during the construction of a pile.

17.14 Withdrawal of Temporary Casing

The Contractor shall extract temporary casings while the concrete within them remains sufficiently workable to ensure
that the concrete is not lifted. During extraction, the motion of a temporary casing shall remain in an axial direction
relative to its associated pile.
When extracting a casing, the Contractor shall maintain a sufficient quantity of concrete within it to resist pressure from
external water, drilling fluid, or soil and to ensure that the associated pile is neither reduced in section nor contaminated.
When extracting a temporary casing, the Contractor shall top off the concrete level as necessary to ensure that the base
of the casing is always below the concrete surface until the casting of the associated pile is complete.
When withdrawing a temporary casing could displace water or fluid as concrete flows into its final position against the
walls of a pile bore, causing excess heads of water or drilling fluid, the Contractor shall take adequate precautions.
Where two or more discontinuous lengths of casing (double casing) are used in the construction, the Contractor shall
obtain approval from the Engineer for their proposed method of working.
During extraction of temporary casings, where circumstances are such that newly placed unset concrete is brought into
contact with external groundwater, the Contractor shall take precautions to ensure that the internal concrete pressure at
all levels within a pile exceeds the external groundwater pressure.

17.15 Finishing Pile Heads

For piles cast in dry bores using temporary casing and without the use of a permanent lining, pile heads shall be cast to
a level above the specified cut-off so that, after trimming, a sound concrete connection with the pile can be made. A
pile’s casing level shall be within the tolerance above the cut-off level shown in Table 17-5, but shall not be above the
commencing surface level. No pile shall be cast with its head below standing water level unless the Contractor takes
approved measures to prevent the inflow of water from causing segregation of the concrete when a temporary casing is
extracted.
Table 17-5: Casting tolerance for piles cast in dry bores using temporary casing and without a permanent lining
Cut-off distance below Casting tolerance above Cut-off Level (m)
commencing surface H (m)

0.15 - 10.00 meters 0.3+H/12+C/8 meters

H = Height of the commencing surface
C = length of temporary casing below the commencing
surface

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For piles cast in dry bores within permanent lining tubes or permanent casings, or where pile cut-off levels are in stable
ground below the base of any casing used, pile heads shall be cast to a level above the specified cut-off so that, after
trimming, a sound concrete connection with the pile can be made. Casting levels shall be within the tolerance above a
pile’s cut-off level as shown in Table 17-6, but shall not be above the commencing surface level.
Table 17-6: Casting tolerance for piles cast in dry bores within permanent lining tubes, permanent casings, or
where cut-off levels are in stable ground below the base of any casing used
Cut-off distance below Casting tolerance above Cut-off Level
commencing surface H (m)

0.15 - 10.00 meters 0.3 + H / 10 meters

H = Height of the commencing surface

For piles cast under water or drilling fluid, the pile heads shall be cast to a level above the specified cut off so that, after
trimming to remove all debris and contaminated concrete, a sound concrete connection with the pile can be made. The
casing level shall be within the tolerance above the cut off level shown in Table 17-7, but shall not be above the
commencing surface level. Cut off levels may be specified below the standing groundwater level, and where this
condition applies the borehole fluid level shall not be reduced below the standing groundwater level until the concrete
has set.
Table 17-7: Casting tolerance for piles cast under water or drilling fluid*
Cut off distance below Casting tolerance above Cut-off Level (m)
commencing surface H (m)

0.15 - 10.00 0.3+H /12+C/8

Where C = length of temporary casing below the
commencing surface

* In cases where a pile is cast so that the cut-off is within a permanent lining tube, the appropriate tolerance is given by
deletion of the casing term (C/8).
Where a pile’s cut-off level is deeper than 10 meters below the commencing surface, the Contractor must alter the
tolerances given in Table 17-5, Table 17-6, Table 17-7, taking special conditions into account and based on discussion
with the Engineer, before commencing piling.
When cutting off and trimming a pile to its specified cut-off level, the Contractor shall avoid shattering or otherwise
damaging the rest of the pile. The Contractor shall cut away any cracked or defective concrete and repair the pile
repaired in a manner approved by the Engineer to provide a full and sound section at the cut-off level.

17.16 Pile Testing

The Contractor shall conduct a total number of pile tests on working piles as specified in the Contract plans or as
required by the Engineer. An independent testing organization that has been approved by the Engineer shall monitor
and analyse all load tests.
Terms and their definitions given below apply to pile testing.
Compression Pile: A pile that, by design, resists axial force that would cause it to penetrate further into the ground.
Non-working Pile: A pile installed before the commencement of the main piling works as a test pile specifically
installed to establish suitability and to confirm a pile’s dimensions and capacity.
Working Pile: Any pile installed as part of the permanent work.
Test Pile: Any pile to which a test is or will be applied.
Kentledge: A dead weight used in a static loading test.
Reaction System: An arrangement of kentledge, piles anchors, or rafts that provides a resistance against which a pile is
tested.
Maintained Load Test: A loading test in which each increment of load is held constant either for a defined period of
time or until the rate of movement (settlement or uplift) falls to a specified value. Such testing accounts for thermal
allowances.
Failure Load Test: A load test applied to a Non-working pile. Normally, a load for this test should be 200% of a pile’s
estimated working load unless specified otherwise. However, in all cases the test load shall not exceed 300% of the

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pile’s working load. This test evaluates soil parameters that designers use to determine the required lengths of working
piles.
Working Load Test: A load test that is applied to a selected working pile to confirm that it is suitable for the load at
the specified settlement. Normally, a load for this test should not exceed 150% of a pile’s service design load. This test
serves as a quality control check on working piles.
Allowable Load: A maximum load that may be safely applied to a pile. This load takes into account a pile’s section
ultimate capacity, negative skin friction, pile spacing, overall bearing capacity of the ground below, and allowable
settlement.
Working load: A load that a pile is designed to carry without exceeding the specified allowable settlement
requirement.
Integrity Testing: Low-frequency or high-frequency dynamic testing that verifies that a pile’s body is free of defects.

17.16.1 Measuring Devices

The Contractor shall submit their proposed method of measuring the movement of pile heads and load to the Engineer
for approval.

17.16.1.1 Measurement of Load

To measure a pile’s load, the Contractor shall use a load measuring device and a recently-calibrated pressure gauge
included in a pile’s hydraulic system. The Contractor shall record readings from both the load measuring and the
pressure gauge. In interpreting the test data, the values given by the load measuring device shall normally be used.
Readings from the pressure gauge provide a check for gross errors.
A load measuring device may consist of a proving ring, load measuring column, pressure cell, and other appropriate
systems. Any devices that are sensitive to eccentric loadings shall include a spherical sheathing. Load measuring
devices and jacks shall have short axial lengths to achieve the best possible stability. The Contractor shall be careful to
avoid any risk of buckling. The Contractor shall also ensure that axial loading remains constant throughout load testing.
Loads during testing shall not fall below 1% of a pile’s specified load.
To modify the load testing requirements outlined in this section in any way, the Contractor must obtain the Engineer’s
authorization in advance.
Load measuring devices shall be calibrated before and after each series of tests, whenever adjustments are made to the
device or at intervals appropriate to the type of equipment. Pressure gauges and hydraulic jacks shall be calibrated
together.
The Contractor shall supply certificates of calibration, performed by an approved testing laboratory, to the Engineer
before conducting load testing. The calibration certificate shall be recent and in all cases shall not be older than 6
months from the test date.

17.16.1.2 Measurement of Settlement

To measure settlement, the Contractor shall use a reference beam or wire that is supported independently of the pile
begins tested, reaction piles, or piles that support reaction loads. Settlements shall be measured to the nearest 0.1 mm
for reference beams and to the nearest 0.5 mm for reference wires. The Contractor shall use a precise optical level to
check movements of the reference frame against an independent datum. Reference beam supports shall be at least 3
meters from test piles, reaction piles, or piles that support reaction loads. Reference beams or wires shall be protected
from the effects of temperature changes. Construction equipment and persons not involved in settlement measurement
shall remain well clear to avoid disturbing the measuring system. Pile drilling or similar operations shall not occur in
the vicinity of the test unless the Engineer is satisfied that such activity will not affect the measuring system.
To obtain precise measurements of deflections, the Contractor shall use at least four dial gauges that are equally spaced
around the head of a test pile to collect measurements. Such measurements shall be accurate to within 0.01 mm to
ensure that the information on pile bending and axial movement is useful. Dial gauges that are firmly attached to the
reference beams shall ensure that plungers are parallel to a tested pile’s axis. Plunger points shall bear onto reference
plates by means of machined plates or glass slides that are attached to a tested pile’s head. Reference plates shall be
equidistant from the centre of a tested pile’s axis to eliminate axial components that sideways movements could
otherwise produce. The Contractor shall also monitor and document elastic deformation.
With authorization from the Engineer, the Contractor may implement other suitable and adequate methods to measure
the movement of pile heads.

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Before conducting load tests, the Contractor shall give the Engineer certificates that verify that an approved testing
laboratory has calibrated all dial gauges that will be used.

17.16.2 Reaction System

All reaction systems for drilled foundation piles shall comply with the requirements outlined in this section.

17.16.2.1 Compression Tests

To test compression loaded drilled piles, the Contractor shall use a kentledge reaction system, tension piles, ground
anchors, or otherwise specially-constructed anchorage. The Owner prefers the use of a kentledge system for load tests
on vertical piles; the Engineer shall permit the use of tension reaction piles, ground anchors, or other tension reaction
systems only when use of a kentledge system proves impractical. The Contractor shall not use a kentledge system to test
raking piles.
A kentledge system, when used, shall be supported on cribwork that is disposed around a tested pile’s head so that its
centre of gravity is on the pile’s axis. Bearing pressures under supporting cribs shall ensure stability of a kentledge
system’s stack. A tested pile’s head shall not directly carry a kentledge system unless the Engineer specifically directs
such as arrangement.
A kentledge system may include concrete blocks, steel weight, and other components, but such components must be of
uniform size so that the Contractor can easily calculate the total weight of the kentledge.

17.16.2.2 Working Piles in a Reaction System

Without authorization from the Owner, the Contractor shall not use working piles as reaction piles. When using
working piles as reaction piles, the Contractor shall measure their movement to the nearest 0.5 mm. The Contractor
shall revise the design of the working piles that intended to be used as reaction piles to ensure its adequacy to the
applied load.

17.16.2.3 Ground Anchors in a Reaction System

Ground anchors shall be pre-loaded to provide reaction greater than the specified capacity of the test assembly. Such
pre-loading shall prevent unrestrained lateral movement by maintaining sufficient contact stress throughout pile tests
between loading beams and loading beam supports. The Contractor shall obtain approval from the Engineer to pre-load
ground anchors.
Each ground anchor shall be loaded to 1.2 times its approved capacity. A ground anchor shall hold this load held for
five minutes while the Contractor measures and records tendon extension at one minute intervals. If these measurements
indicate that the ground anchor is satisfactory, the Contractor may lock it at an accepted load that exceeds the anchor’s
pre-loading force to allow for loss due to creep.
Anchor piles and ground anchors, when used, shall be at least 2.5 metres or three times the pile diameter from the test
pile, measured centre to centre, or at a greater distance if the Engineer so directs. The Contractor must ensure that such
anchors cannot be pulled out, with a safety factor of at least 2.0. Soil and rock properties that the Contractor uses to
determine this safety factor shall have approval of the Engineer.

17.16.2.4 Spacing Between Piles and Reaction System Structures

When the Contractor uses a kentledge reaction system to load vertical piles in compression, the edge of a test pile shall
be at least 1.3 metres from the nearest part of the crib that supports the kentledge system’s stack that also contacts the
ground.
Centre-to-centre spacing between vertical reaction piles, including working piles that function as reaction piles, and any
test pile shall be at least five times the diameter of a test pile, five times the diameter of the reaction piles, or three
metres, whichever is greater. The Engineer may modify the pile spacing requirement to suit site conditions at no extra
costs.
Where ground anchors provide a test reaction for loading in compression, no part of the section of the anchor that
transfers load to the ground shall be closer to a test pile than three times the test pile’s diameter. The Engineer may
modify the pile spacing requirement to suit site conditions at no extra costs.

17.16.2.5 Requirements for Piles and Anchors in a Reaction System

A reaction system shall have piles and anchors of sufficient sizes, lengths, and quantities to safely transmit the
maximum test load to the ground without excessively moving or influencing test piles.

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17.16.2.6 Care for Piles

The method employed in the installation of any reaction piles, anchors shall be such as to prevent damage to any test
pile or working pile.

17.16.2.7 Loading Arrangement

The loading arrangement shall safely transfer the maximum load required for testing to a test pile. The Contractor shall
submit full details to the Engineer for approval before doing any testing activity at the Project site.

17.16.2.8 Pile Caps and Structural Elements

The Contractor shall design and build all temporary pile caps and other structural elements that form part of a reaction
system. Before commencing work, however, the Contractor shall submit a proposal for pile caps and structural elements
to the Engineer for approval. The Contractor shall bear the cost of building and demolishing such pile caps and
structural elements.

17.16.3 Equipment for Applying Load

One or more hydraulic rams or jacks shall serve as the principle equipment to apply loads to piles. Such rams or jacks
shall be arranged in conjunction with the reaction system to deliver an axial load to the associated test pile. A complete
system shall be capable of transferring the maximum load required for each test.
Jacks shall have a total capacity that exceeds the required maximum test load by 20% or more, thereby avoiding a heavy
pumping effort when nearing maximum load and minimizing the possibility of any oil leakage through seals.
Loading equipment shall be capable of adjustment throughout a load test to ensure smooth loads increases and a
consistent load as required at different stages of load testing.

17.16.4 Special Requirements for Test Piles

Test piles shall comply with the special requirements outlined in this section.

17.16.4.1 General Requirements for Test Piles

When preparing for, conducting, and dismantling a pile test, the Contractor shall provide and maintain safe working
conditions in compliance with all requirements of acts, orders, regulations and other statutory mandates that apply to the
specific work. In addition, the Contractor shall make such other provisions as necessary to safeguard against hazards
that are involved in testing or preparation for testing. All reinforcement for piles that will be used as tensile piles during
testing shall be welded.

17.16.4.2 Personnel for Pile Testing

An experienced and competent supervisor who is conversant with the test equipment and test procedures shall actively
direct all pile tests. All personnel who operate test equipment shall have been trained in the use of such equipment.

17.16.4.3 Kentledge for Pile Testing

When using kentledge, the Contractor shall construct the foundations for the kentledge and any cribwork, beams, and
other supporting structures to prevent differential settlement, bending, or deflection that constitute hazards to safety or
that impair the efficiency pile testing. Kentledge shall be adequately bonded, tied, or otherwise held together to prevent
it from the falling apart or becoming unstable.
The kentledge reaction system shall weigh at least 1.2 times more than the maximum test load. When using the density
and volume of a kentledge system’s constituent materials to estimate weight, the Contractor shall allow an adequate
margin of error to ensure safety. The Contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that sufficient excess load
capacity is at all times available for the uninterrupted execution of any load test.

17.16.4.4 Tension Piles and Ground Anchors for Load Testing

When using tension piles or ground anchors, the Contractor shall ensure that the load is correctly transmitted to all the
tie rods and bolts. The Contractor shall not extend rods by welding unless doing so does not weaken the steel. Bond
stresses for rods in tension shall not exceed normal permissible levels for the type of steel and grade of concrete used.

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17.16.4.5 Pile Testing Equipment

In all cases, the Contractor shall ensure that, when a hydraulic jack and load measuring devices are mounted on a test
pile’s head, the whole system will be stable under all loads to be applied up to the maximum test load. To ensure safety,
testers shall be able to read dial gauges from a position that is clear of the kentledge stack or test frame.
Hydraulic jacks, pumps, hoses, pipes, couplings, and other apparatuses to be operated using hydraulic pressure shall be
able to withstand test pressures equal to of one and a half times the maximum working pressure without leaking.
Gauges on pile testing equipment shall clearly display maximum test loads or test pressures. All operators shall be made
aware of these limits.

17.16.5 Maintained Compression Load Testing for Piles

Static load tests shall follow American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) procedures, as specified in their
Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Static Axial Compressive Load (ASTM D1143/D1143M-07e1).
Loading procedures shall comply with the Quick Load Test Method, unless detailed longer-term load-settlement data
are needed, in which case load testing shall comply with the standard procedure.
Testing equipment and measuring systems shall also conform to ASTM D1143/D1143M-07e1.

17.16.6 Working Piles

The Contractor shall conduct pile tests on working piles, as directed by the Engineer, any time before a pile is built into
a structure. Such testing helps to ensure that materials, workmanship and performance comply with the quality
standards and the requirements outline in these specifications. Such tests help determine the displacement (and
recovery) of a pile under a maximum test load that is 1.5 times the working load indicated in the Contract documents.
The Owner prohibits the use of working piles as tension reaction piles for the purpose of conducting these tests unless
approved otherwise.

17.16.7 Pile Testing Procedure

The Contractor shall submit a detailed load testing proposal to the Engineer for approval, and must have this approval in
writing before conducting any load testing.
This proposal shall specify the number of working load tests to be carried out as per the Contract Documents. The
Engineer may reduce the number of tests after such testing routinely and consistently indicates that workmanship and
pile materials are of high quality and if the nature of soil conditions encountered does not vary substantially.
Conversely, the Engineer reserves the right to increase the number and frequency of tests as needed to verify the quality
of workmanship and pile.
Unless the Engineer directs otherwise, the Contractor shall adhere to the test procedure outlined in this section, with the
percentage for loading and unloading operations given in terms of the working load taken as 100%.
Table 17-8 provides an example schedule for compression testing; this example schedule is for guidance only. Actual
compression testing schedules for the Project are subject to variation, as directed by the Engineer, to meet site
conditions.
All loading and unloading operations shall take place during the day as possible. The Contractor shall take at least three
sets of readings during each loading or unloading stage, including one set of readings at the beginning of a stage, a
second set in the middle of a stage, and a third set at the end of a stage. When applying a test load progressively and
maintaining it for more than 30 minutes, the Contractor shall take readings at least once every 30 minutes thereafter,
unless the Engineer specifies otherwise.
If large discrepancies occur between different measurement systems, testing shall pause until the Contractor corrects the
cause for such discrepancies. Testing shall resume from the beginning of the test for the corrected instance.
Table 17-8: Loading cycles for test piles
Load
Time of holding load Remarks
(percentage of working load)
25% 1 hour
50% 1 hour
75% 1 hour

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Load
Time of holding load Remarks
(percentage of working load)
100% 1 hour
75% 10 minutes
50% 10 minutes
25% 10 minutes
0% 1 hour
100% 6 hours
125% 1 hour
150% 6 hours
125% 1 hour
100% 10 minutes
75% 10 minutes
50% 10 minutes
25% 10 minutes
0% 1 hour Applicable to tests on Non-working
piles only
100% 6 hours
150% 6 hours
175% 1 hour
200% 6 hours
175% 10 minutes
150% 10 minutes
125% 10 minutes
100% 10 minutes
75% 10 minutes
50% 10 minutes
25% 10 minutes
0% 1 hour

17.16.8 Abandonment of Pile Test

The Contractor shall discontinue testing under any of the following conditions:
a. A jack or gauge is faulty
b. A kentledge reaction system is unstable
c. A data setting is incorrect or improper
d. Bench marks or scales are unstable
e. Measuring instruments have been tampered with by anyone
f. Measuring instruments have not been calibrated
g. Pre-jacking of pre-loading occurred before commencement of testing
h. Settlement exceeded the limits specified for the Project

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After halting any test, the Contractor shall rectify the associated errors, consult with the Engineer, then resume testing in
accordance with the Engineer’s instructions.

17.16.9 Pile Testing Record

The Contractor shall submit a written summary of testing to the Engineer no later than 24 hours after completing a test
(unless otherwise directed). This summary shall provide the following details for each completed test within the 24-hour
period:
The loading stage, the load, the period for which a load was held, and the maximum settlement or uplift
recorded
Load-to-settlement curve
The Contractor shall provide a complete set of recorded test data, as described in this section, with interpretation of test
results, within seven days of completion testing. Interpretation of test results shall comply with directions from the
Engineer.
The Contractor shall provide the following details about tested piles, where applicable:
a. General details
Site location
The Contract identification
Proposed structure
The main Contractor
The piling Contractor
The Engineer
The Owner
Date of test
b. Pile details
Identification (number and location)
Position relative to adjacent piles
Brief description of location (for example, whether the tested pile is on a pier, abutment, cofferdam, or over
water)
Ground level at the tested pile’s location
Head level at which the test load was applied
Type of pile (whether vertical, raking, compression, or tension)
Shape and size of the tested pile’s cross-section and the cross-section’s change in position
Head details
Length in ground
Level of toe
Any permanent casing or core
Pile reference
Concrete mix grading and water-to-concrete (w/c) ratio
Aggregate type and source
Cement type
Slump
Cube test results for the tested pile and cap
Reinforcement
c. Installation details
Dates and times of boring and concreting of test pile and adjacent pile
Date and time when concrete was cast for the tested pile’s cap
Start and finish of each operation during installation of a pile and subsequent testing
Any difficulties in boring, handling, pitching, and driving a pile
Any delays in testing caused by sea, water and weather conditions
Pile diameter
All instrument readings
Concrete strength (when tested)
Date cast
Date of test
Length of reinforcement cage
Water table below ground level

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Length of casing
Description of soil for the length of pile (for bored piles and pre-drilling only)
Unusual events or data and movements of the test pile
Any other relevant information requested by the Engineer
d. Test procedure details
Weight of kentledge
Tension pile, ground anchor, or compression pile details
Plan of test arrangement, showing position and distances of kentledge support, rafts, tension, or
compression piles and relationship of the reference frame to the tested pile
Jack capacity
Calibration certificates of pressure gauges and dial gauges
Method of load measurement
Proof test by maintained loading
Relevant dates and times
e. Test results
Result data (in a table)
Result data, including load plotted against settlement, load, and settlement (in graphic form, plotting
resultant values over time)
Ground heave
f. Site investigation details
Site investigation report number
Borehole reference

17.16.10 Failure of Working Load Test

Load testing for a pile or pile group shall indicate failure if any one of the following observations is recorded:
a. A pile’s settlement under one working load exceeds 10 mm or the allowable settlement defined in the Contract
standard specifications
b. Residual settlement after removal of the test load of one working load exceeds 4 mm or the allowable
settlement defined in the Contract standard specifications
c. Instability of the kentledge prevented completion of the test
d. Failure of the pile cap, through whatever cause, prevented completion of the test
e. An involved measuring instrument was tampered with in any way
f. A pile tested cracked, crumbled, distorted from its original shape, was deflected from its original position, or
was otherwise dislocated, marred, damaged, or destroyed
The Contractor shall not be paid for any pile or pile group that fails testing. The Contractor shall bear the cost for
redesign and enlargement of pile caps or, if necessary, for replacement piles. The Owner shall pay for piles that
successfully pass testing, as specified in the Contract documents for the Project.

17.16.11 Compensating Piles

The Contractor shall replace any pile or pile group that fails under the working load test with one or more piles in
accordance with directions from the Engineer and at no extra cost to the Owner.
If, in the opinion of the Engineer, it is impractical or unadvisable to install substitute piles in place of a failed pile, the
Contractor shall propose a solution to the Engineer for consideration and approval. The Contractor shall be fully
responsible for all costs incurred and any losses incurred by the Owner for changes in the design of the structure or
delay to the Contract that arising from the Contractor’s proposal.
For each working load test that fails, the Contractor shall carry out, at no extra cost to the Owner, an additional working
load test on a pile selected by the Engineer.
If the additional working load test on the selected pile also shows that this pile is unable to satisfy the acceptance
requirements, then all the piled installed in a similar condition will be considered as failed. The capacity of piles
installed shall be suitably downgraded based on the working load test results. Any additional piles required as a result of
such reduction in pile capacity, including the cost for amending pile caps and ground beams, shall be entirely at the
Contractor’s expense. The Engineer’s decision on this matter shall be final.

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17.16.12 Reinstatement of Piles After Testing

After completing a test, the Contractor shall check all equipment and measuring devices, dismantle them, and either
store them on the Project site for future tests or remove them from the site.
The Contractor shall remove kentledge systems and their supporting structures from the piles they tested and either
store these systems on the Project site for future tests or remove them from the site.
After completing a Non-working load test, the Contractor shall cut off temporary piles and ground anchors at least one
metre below ground level or as directed by the Engineer, removed them from the Project site, and use approved material
to restore the ground.
On completing a working load test, the Contractor shall either remove temporary piles and ground anchors by cutting
them off below ground level and using approved materials to restore the ground or, with the Ownerr’s authorization,
incorporate the temporary piles and ground anchors into the permanents works.
A tested pile’s cap, if concrete, shall be broken up and removed from the Project site. If a tested pile’s cap is steel, shall
be cut off and either stored for use in future tests or removed from the site. The Contractor shall leave the tested pile in a
condition that it is ready for incorporation into the permanent works.

17.17 Osterberg Cell Load Testing

17.17.1 General
The test shall be carried out in accordance with ASTM D1143/D1143M-07e1. This work shall consist of furnishing all
materials and labour necessary for conducting an Osterberg Cell (O-cell) Load Test and reporting the results. The
Contractor will be required to supply material and labour as hereinafter specified and including prior to, during and after
the load test. The piles used for the load test program will be instrumented by specialized firm (the Osterberg Cell
supplier) or others, as approved by the Engineer. The Osterberg cell load test will be conducted by (the Osterberg Cell
supplier), or others, as approved by the Engineer, with the Contractor providing auxiliary equipment and services as
deemed required. The O-cell load test is a non-destructive test and is suitable for both dedicated test piles and working
test piles. If the test pile is constructed on working pile (intended to carry structural service loads) it shall be left in a
condition suitable for use in the finished structure.

17.17.2 Materials
The Contractor shall supply all materials required to install the Osterberg cell, conduct the load test, and remove the
load test apparatus as required.
The Contractor shall furnish one (1) or more Osterberg Cells as required for each load test, to be supplied by approved
firm. The Osterberg cell(s) to be provided shall have the required capacity and shall be equipped with all necessary
hydraulic lines, fittings, pressure source, pressure gage and telltale devices. Required materials include, but not limited
to the followings:
a. Fresh, clean, potable water from an approved source to be used as hydraulic fluid to pressurize the Osterberg
Cell.
b. Materials sufficient to construct a stable reference beam system for monitoring movements of the pile during
testing. The system shall be supported at a minimum distance of 3 pile diameters from the centre of the test
pile to minimize disturbance of the reference system. A good quality, self-levelling surveyor’s level shall be
provided to monitor the reference system.
c. Materials sufficient to construct a protected work area (including provisions such as a tent or shed for
protection from inclement weather for the load test equipment and personnel) of size and type required by the
Engineer and Osterberg Cell supplier. The protected works area shall be maintained at adequate temperature as
recommended by testing equipment supplier in order to insure proper operation of the load testing equipment.
d. Stable electric power source, as required for lights, welding, instruments, etc.
e. Materials for carrier frame, steel bearing plates and/or other devices needed to attach O-cell to rebar cage, as
required.
Materials supplied, which do not become a part of the finished structure become the responsibility of the Contractor at
the conclusion of the load test and shall be removed from the job site.

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17.17.3 Equipment
The Contractor shall supply equipment required to install the Osterberg cell, conduct the load test, and remove the load
test apparatus as required. Required equipment includes but is not limited to:
a. Welding equipment certified welding personnel and labour as required, to assemble the test equipment under
the supervision of Osterberg Cell supplier personnel, attach instrumentation to the Osterberg cell(s), and
prepare the work area.
b. Equipment and labour to construct the steel reinforcing cage and/or placement frame including any steel
bearing plates required for the test pile.
c. Equipment and operators for handling the Osterberg cell, instrumentation and placement frame or steel
reinforcing cage during the installation of the Osterberg cell and during the conduct of the test, including but
not limited to a crane or other lifting device, manual labour, and hand tools as required by Osterberg Cell
supplier. and the Engineer.
d. Equipment and labour sufficient to erect the protected work area and reference beam system, to be constructed
to the requirements of the Engineer and “Osterberg Cell supplier”.
e. Air compressor for pump operation during the load test.

17.17.4 Procedure
For the pile(s) selected for testing by the Engineer, the Contractor shall construct the piles using the approved pile
installation techniques until the piles excavation has been completed.
The Osterberg Cell, hydraulic supply lines and other instruments shall be assembled and made ready for installation
under the direction of “Osterberg Cell supplier” and the Engineer, in a suitable area, adjacent to the test pile, to be
provided by the Contractor. The Osterberg Cell assembly shall be welded to the bottom of the cage in conjunction with
the construction of the cage. The plane of the bottom plate(s) of the O-cell(s) shall be set at a right angle to the long axis
of the cage. The Contractor shall use the utmost care in handling the test assembly so as not to damage the
instrumentation during installation. The contractor shall limit the deflection of the cage to 0.6m between pick points
while lifting the cage from the horizontal position to vertical. The maximum spacing between pick points shall be 7.5m.
The contractor shall provide support bracing, strong backs, etc. to maintain the deflection within the specified tolerance.
The O-cell assembly must remain perpendicular to the long axis of the reinforcing cage throughout the lifting and
installation process.
When the test pile drilling has been completed, inspected and accepted by the Engineer, the O-cell assembly and the
reinforcing steel may be installed. A seating layer of concrete or grout shall be placed by an approved method, in the
base of the pile to provide a level base and reaction for the O-cell. The preferred method is to install the O-cell assembly
and deliver the seating layer using a pump line or tremie pipe extending through the O-cell assembly to the base of the
pile. Depending on the configuration of the test assembly, it may be necessary to deliver the seating layer of concrete
prior to installing the O-cell. In this case, the O-cell assembly shall be installed while the concrete or grout at the base is
still fluid, under the direction of “Osterberg Cell supplier” and the Engineer. The Osterberg Cell should end up at least
partially submerged and firmly seated into the base grout or concrete.
After seating the Osterberg cell, the remainder of the piles shall be concreted in a manner similar to that specified for
production piles. At least four (4) concrete test cubes sets, in addition to those specified elsewhere, shall be made from
the concrete used in the test pile, to be tested at the direction of “Osterberg Cell supplier”, at least one of these test sets
shall be tested prior to the load test and at least two sets shall be tested on the day of the load test.
During the load test, no casings may be vibrated into place in the foundation area near the load test. Drilling may not
continue within a 30-m radius of the test pile. If test apparatus shows any interference due to construction activities
outside of this perimeter, such activities shall cease immediately.
After the completion of the load test, and at the direction of the Engineer, the Contractor shall remove any equipment,
material, waste, etc. which are not to be a part of the finished structure. If the load test pile is constructed at a production
location and intended to carry service loads, the Contractor shall grout the interior of the Osterberg cell and annular
space around the outside of the Osterberg cell using grouting techniques approved by the Engineer and “Osterberg Cell
supplier”

17.17.5 Testing and Reporting

The load testing shall be performed by a qualified geotechnical engineer approved in advance by the Engineer. The
geotechnical engineer must have a demonstrated knowledge of load testing procedures, and have performed at least 10
Osterberg cell load tests within the past two years.

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The load testing shall be performed in general compliance with ASTM D 1143/D1143M-07e1 Standard Test Method
for Piles Under Static Axial Load. The magnitude of the load increments may be increased or decreased depending on
the Project requirements but should not be changed during the test.
Direct movement indicator measurements shall be made of the following:
a. O-cell expansion either directly or with telltales (minimum of 3 indicators required),
b. Upward top-of-pile displacement (minimum of 2 indicators required), and
c. Pile compression above O-cell (minimum of 2 indicators required).
Loads shall be applied at the prescribed intervals until the ultimate capacity of the pile is reached in either end bearing
or side friction, until the maximum capacity or maximum stroke of the O-cell is reached, or unless otherwise directed by
the Engineer.
At each load increment, or decrement, movement indicators shall be read at 1, 2, 4 and 8 minute intervals while the load
is held constant.
During unloading cycles the load decrement shall be such that at least 4 data points are acquired for the load versus
movement curve. Additional cycles of loading and unloading using similar procedures may be required by the Engineer
following the completion of the initial test cycle.
Digital dial gages, used to measure O-cell expansion and top-of-pile displacement should have a minimum travel of
100mm and be capable of being read to the nearest 0.025mm division. When O-cell expansion is measured directly, dial
gages capable of measuring the full stroke of the Osterberg Cell will be used (typically 150mm). Digital dial gages,
used to measure pile compression should have a minimum travel of 25mm and be capable of being read to the nearest
0.025mm division.
Unless otherwise specified by the Engineer, the Contractor will supply four (4) copies of a report of each load test, as
prepared by “Osterberg Cell supplier” or others approved by the Engineer. An initial data report containing the load-
movement curves and data tables will be provided to the Engineer within three (3) days of the completion of load
testing, to allow evaluation of the test results. A final report on the load testing shall be submitted to the Engineer within
ten (10) working days after completion of the load testing.

17.18 Tension and Lateral Load Testing

When specified, the Contractor shall conduct tension static load tests and lateral load tests, which shall comply with the
ASTM’s Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Static Axial Tensile Load (ASTM D3689-07) and
ASTM’s Standard Test Methods for Piles Under Lateral Loads (ASTM D3966-07)

17.19 Integrity Testing for Piles

Integrity testing for drilled foundation piles shall comply with the requirements outlined in this section.

17.19.1 Low Strain Integrity Testing for Piles

Integrity testing for piles provides information about physical dimensions, continuity, and the consistency of materials
used. Such tests do not obtain direct information about the performance of piles under actual loads.
Low strain integrity tests do not replace static load tests; rather, they are a source of supplementary information.
If the Engineer identifies any anomalies in the results of low strain integrity tests, the Engineer may call for further
testing to determine the cause, nature, and extent of such anomalies and to ascertain whether the pile is satisfactory for
its intended use.
The firm that has been approved by the Engineer shall conduct all low strain integrity testing in accordance with ASTM
D5882-07 and only personnel with the appropriate competence and knowledge shall interpret such tests. The Contractor
shall submit full tests results and findings to the Engineer no later than ten days after the completion of each phase of
testing. The Contractor shall provide full details of the ground conditions, pile dimensions, and construction methods to
the specialist firm when doing so is necessary to facilitate interpretation.
Integrity tests shall not occur until seven or more days have elapsed after pile casting, unless the Engineer specifies
otherwise.
A test pile’s head shall be clean, free from water, laitance, and loose concrete, and readily accessible for the testing.
The Contractor shall carry out low strain integrity testing on all in-situ concrete bored piles unless otherwise directed by
the Engineer.

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17.19.2 Cross-hole Sonic Logging

As specified in the Contract documents, the Contractor shall perform cross-hole sonic logging (CSL) tests in accordance
with ASTM D6760-08. To accommodate CSL testing, the Contractor shall furnish and install access tubes in
accordance with the following requirements:
a. Access tubes for cross-hole sonic log testing shall be steel pipe with walls at least 3.5 mm thick and inside
diameters of at least 38 mm.
b. Access tubes shall have round, regular inside diameters that lack defects and obstructions. Access tubes shall
have pipe joints that permit the free, unobstructed passage of source and receiver probes that have diameters up
to 33 mm.
c. Access tubes shall be watertight and free from corrosion. They shall have clean internal and external faces to
ensure that they bond well with concrete.
d. Each access tube shall have watertight threaded caps on its bottom and its top.
The Contractor shall install access tubes for CSL testing in all drilled piles, except as otherwise noted, to permit access
for the CSL test probes. If, in the opinion of the Engineer, the condition of the pile excavation permits pile construction
in the dry, the Engineer may specify the omission of such CSL testing.
The Contractor shall securely attach access tubes to the interior of a test pile’s reinforcement cage. One access tube
shall be furnished and installed for each 300 mm of pile diameter, rounded to the nearest whole number, as shown in the
Contract plans. Such testing shall involve at least three tubes. Access tubes shall be placed around the pile to be tested,
inside the spiral or hoop reinforcement, and at least 75 mm away from the vertical reinforcement. Spacing of access
tubes shall be uniform, as measured along the circle passing through the centres of the access tubes. If space prevents
compliance with these minimum requirements, the Contractor shall bundle the access tubes with the vertical
reinforcement. If reinforcing steel does not extend to the bottom of the test pile, the CSL tubes shall extend to the pile’s
bottom.
If a cage requires trimming and access tubes for CSL testing are attached to the cage, the Contractor shall either shift
the access tubes up the cage or cut the access tubes. When cutting tubes, the Contractor shall ensure that its ends are
adapted to receive a watertight cap, as specified.
Access tubes shall be in straight alignment and as parallel to the vertical axis of a reinforcement cage as possible.
Access tubes shall extend from the bottom of a test pile to at least 600 mm above the top of that pile. Splice joints in the
access tubes, if required to achieve full length access tubes, shall be watertight.
The Contractor shall clear access tubes of all debris and extraneous materials before installing them. When installing a
reinforcement cage and placing concrete, the Contractor shall be careful not to damage access tubes.
Before placing concrete, the Contractor shall fill the access tubes with potable water and reinstall the watertight
threaded caps on the tube’s top ends.
Before performing any CSL testing operations, as specified in these specifications, the Contractor shall remove the
concrete at the top of the pile to be tested down to sound concrete.
The Contractor shall perform CSL testing and analysis on all completed piles that the Engineer designates for testing.
The Contractor shall notify the Engineer at least 48 hours before the concrete in each pile will be sufficiently cured for
CSL testing.
CSL testing shall occur after the pile concrete has cured for at least 96 hours. Additional curing time may be necessary
if concrete for a test pile contains admixtures, such as a set-retarding admixture or water-reducing admixture.
Additional curing time under these circumstances shall not be grounds for the Owner to give the Contractor additional
compensation or extension of time. Until the Engineer inspects and approves a CSL-tested pile, the Contractor shall not
conduct any subsequent construction. CSL tested shall be complete no later than seven days after placement of a pile.
After placing concrete for a test pile but before starting CSL testing for that pile, the Contractor shall inspect the access
tubes. Each access tube that the test probe cannot pass through shall be replaced, at the Contractor's expense, with a 50
mm diameter hole cored through the concrete for the entire length of the pile. If a single tube is blocked, the Engineer
may perform CSL testing on the remaining tubes. If no anomalies are noted, the Engineer may waive the requirement to
provide the cored alternative hole. The Contractor shall provide computer log information and interpretation in their
original formats.
The Engineer shall review the CSL test results, analyses for tested piles, and the visual inspection reports for a subject
pile to determine whether it has passed such testing.

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The Engineer may approve the continuation of pile construction before approval and acceptance of the first pile, if the
Engineer's observes the following conditions:
a. Construction of the first pile is satisfactory
b. A test pile’s installation conforms to the pile installation plan
c. Daily reports provided by the Contractor are satisfactory
d. An inspector’s daily logs concerning excavation, steel reinforcing bar placement, and concrete placement are
satisfactory
If the Engineer determines that the concrete placed under support fluid for a given pile is structurally inadequate, that
pile shall be rejected. In such cases, placement of concrete under slurry shall be suspended until the Contractor submits
to the Engineer written changes to the methods of pile construction that will prevent structurally inadequate piles in the
future and the Engineer approves the submittal in writing.
The Engineer may direct the Contractor to drill a core hole in any pile of questionable quality pile (as determined from
CSL testing and analysis or by the Engineer’s direct observation) to further explore the condition of the pile.
Before beginning coring, the Contractor shall submit the method and equipment to be used to drill and remove cores
from pile concrete to the Engineer. The Contractor shall not begin coring until receiving the Engineer’s written approval
to do so. Coring methods and equipment shall ensure complete core recovery while minimising abrasion and core
erosion.
If subsequent testing at a pile indicates the presence of defects, the Contractor shall bear the testing costs and any delay
costs that result from required additional testing.
For all piles that are determined to be unacceptable, the Contractor shall submit a plan for further investigation and
remedial action to the Engineer for approval. All modifications to the dimensions of the piles, as shown in the Contract
plans, that are required by the investigation and the remedial action plan shall be supported by calculations and working
drawings. The Contractor shall not begin repair operations until receiving the Engineer's approval of the investigation
and remedial action plan.
All access tubes and cored holes shall be dewatered and filled with grout after tests are completed and a pile is accepted.
Access tubes and cored holes shall be filled using grout hoses that extend to the bottom of the tube or hole or into the
grout already placed.
Grout for filling the access tubes at the completion of the cross-hole sonic log tests shall be a grout with a maximum
water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.45 or as directed by the Engineer.

17.20 High Strain Dynamic Test

17.20.1 General
High strain dynamic tests shall be carried out in accordance with ASTM D4945-12. Dynamic pile testing involves
monitoring the response of a pile to a heavy impact applied at the pile head. The impact is often provided by a hammer
and response is normally measured in terms of force and acceleration or displacement close to the pile head.
The results directly obtained refer to dynamic loading conditions. Interpretation in terms of static loading requires soil
and pile dependent adjustments, and corroboration from experience may be required to correlate dynamic testing with
normal static load tests
Details of the equipment to be used and of the method of analysis of test results shall be provided to the Engineer before
the commencement of testing.

17.20.2 Measuring Instruments

All instruments affixed to the pile for the purpose of measuring stress and movement, and all equipment for receiving
and processing data shall be suitable for the purpose. The equipment required to be attached to the pile shall be
approximately positioned and fixed to the approval of Engineer.

17.20.3 Hammer
The hammer and all other equipment used shall be capable of delivering an impact force sufficient to mobilize the
equivalent specified test load without damaging the pile.

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17.20.4 Preparation of the Pile Head

The preparation of the pile head for the application of the dynamic test load shall involve, where appropriate, trimming
the head, cleaning and building up the pile using materials which will at the time of testing safely withstand the impact
stresses. The impact surface shall be flat and normal to the axis of the pile.

17.20.5 Time of Testing

Dynamic load tests shall be carried out at appropriate and approved times after pile installation. The time between the
completion of installation and testing for a cast-in-place concrete piles shall be after the concrete has reached 75% of its
specified 28 day strength so that the pile is not damaged under the impact stresses.

17.20.6 Results
a. Initial results shall be provided to the Engineer within 24 hours of the completion of a test. These shall include:
1. The maximum force applied to the pile head.
2. The maximum pile head velocity.
3. The maximum energy imparted to the pile.
b. Normally within 10 days of the completion of testing final report shall be given to the Engineer which
includes:
1. Date of pile installation
2. Date of test
3. Pile identification number and location
4. Length of pile below ground surface
5. Total pile length, including projection above commencing surface at time of test.
6. Length of pile from instrumentation position to tip.
7. Hammer type, drop and other relevant details.
8. Blow selected for analysis.
9. Test load achieved (i.e. total mobilized deduced static load).
10. Pile head movement at equivalent design verification load.
11. Pile head movement at equivalent design verification load plus 50% of specified working load.
12. Pile head movement at maximum applied test load.
13. Permanent residual movement of pile head after each blow.
14. Temporary compression.

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 Chapter 17: Drilled Piles

Index
adjacent structures, 7 kentledge, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25
allowable settlement, 18, 24 lateral load tests, 27
augers, 6 load measuring device, 18
bailing buckets, 6 loading, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 29
bell footing, 9 loading test, 17
Bentonite, 12, 13 mineral grain, 12
boring piles, 6 mineral slurry, 10, 12
casings, 6, 10, 14, 16, 17, 26 noises, 7
cleaning equipment, 6 obstructions, 7, 28
Concrete, 14, 15, 16, 23 Osterberg Cell, 25, 26, 27
concrete pumps, 6 permanent casing, 8, 10, 23
cranes, 6 permanent lining tubes, 17
cross-hole sonic logging, 28 pile construction, 6, 9, 12, 28, 29
Department of Transport, 17-4 Pile construction records, 7
desanding equipment, 6, 12 pile head, 29, 30
disturbances, 7 pile test, 20
drilling fluid, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 pile tests, 17, 19, 20, 21
drilling operations, 6 piling, 6, 8, 9, 17, 23
drills, 6, 7 Polymer slurries, 13
dry bores, 16, 17 precautions, 9, 12, 16
dry excavation, 10 reinforcing cage, 10, 15, 16, 26
dynamic testing, 18, 29 sampling equipment, 6
effective life-saving, 7 settlement, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24
embankment placement, 9 slurry pumps, 6
excessive caving, 9 Static load tests, 21
existing structures, 9 temporary casing, 8, 10, 14, 16, 17
ground formations, 6 tension static load tests, 27
groundwater table, 10 tolerances, 8, 17
halting, 23 tremies, 6
hammer, 10, 14, 29 unloading, 21, 27
High strain dynamic tests, 29 utilities, 9
hydraulic rams, 20 vibrations, 7, 9
Initial results, 30 Welding, 26
installation plan, 6, 29 wet excavation method, 10
jacks, 18, 20, 21 working pile, 18, 20, 25

Page 17-31
STANDARD CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
PART 3
ROAD STRUCTURES

CHAPTER 18 - DRIVEN PILES

DOCUMENT NO: AD-C-01

 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

Chapter 18: Driven Piles

Table of Contents
Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................................................18-1
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................................18-2
18 Driven Piles ......................................................................................................................................................18-3
18.1 Pile Driving Terminology ............................................................................................................................18-3
18.2 Reference Standards and Codes ...................................................................................................................18-3
18.3 Materials for Pile Driving ............................................................................................................................18-4
18.3.1 Steel Piles ............................................................................................................................................18-4
18.3.1.1 Rolled Structural Steel Piles .......................................................................................................18-4
18.3.1.2 Steel Pipe Piles ...........................................................................................................................18-4
18.3.1.3 Painting .......................................................................................................................................18-5
18.3.2 Pre-stressed Concrete Piles..................................................................................................................18-5
18.3.2.1 Forms for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles ........................................................................................18-5
18.3.2.2 Casting for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles ......................................................................................18-5
18.3.2.3 Finish for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles ........................................................................................18-5
18.3.2.4 Curing and Protection for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles ...............................................................18-5
18.3.2.5 Pre-stressing for Concrete Piles ..................................................................................................18-5
18.3.2.6 Shop Drawings for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles..........................................................................18-6
18.3.2.7 Storage and Handling for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles................................................................18-6
18.3.2.8 Protective Coating for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles.....................................................................18-6
18.4 Piles Driving.................................................................................................................................................18-6
18.4.1 Pile Driving Equipment .......................................................................................................................18-6
18.4.1.1 Hammers for Pile Driving...........................................................................................................18-7
18.4.1.2 Pile Driving Appurtenances........................................................................................................18-8
18.4.2 Preparation for Pile Driving ................................................................................................................18-9
18.4.2.1 Preparation for Site Work ...........................................................................................................18-9
18.4.2.2 Preparation for Piling................................................................................................................18-10
18.4.3 Performing Pile Driving ....................................................................................................................18-10
18.4.3.1 Driving Heaved Piles ................................................................................................................18-11
18.4.3.2 Pile Installation Sequence .........................................................................................................18-11
18.4.3.3 Practical Refusal for Pile Driving .............................................................................................18-11
18.4.3.4 Limiting Pile Driving Stresses ..................................................................................................18-11
18.4.3.5 Driving Probe Piles...................................................................................................................18-11
18.4.3.6 Accuracy of Pile Driving ..........................................................................................................18-11
18.4.4 Determination of the Nominal Resistances for Piles .........................................................................18-12
18.4.4.1 Static Load Tests.......................................................................................................................18-12
18.4.4.2 Dynamic Testing.......................................................................................................................18-12
18.4.4.3 Wave Equation Analysis...........................................................................................................18-13
18.4.4.4 Dynamic Formula .....................................................................................................................18-13
18.4.5 Splicing Piles .....................................................................................................................................18-13
18.4.5.1 Splicing Steel Piles ...................................................................................................................18-13
18.4.5.2 Splicing Concrete Piles .............................................................................................................18-13
18.4.6 Defective Piles...................................................................................................................................18-13
18.4.6.1 Pile Cut-Off ..............................................................................................................................18-14
Index ........................................................................................................................................................................18-15

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

List of Tables
Table 18-1: Designations and titles for AASHTO and ASTM standards that apply to driven piles works ...................18-4
Table 18-2: Hammer efficiencies ..................................................................................................................................18-6

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

18 DRIVEN PILES
This chapter outlines standards and requirements for driven piles for the Project. Such work consists of furnishing and
driving foundation piles of the type and dimensions designated in the Contract documents and, when required, cutting
off or building up foundation piles. The Contractor shall comply with the specifications in this chapter whenever
providing such work for the Project.
This chapter also requires the Contractor to provide test piles and perform loading tests. In accordance with the
specifications in this chapter, the Contractor shall install piling at the locations shown in the Contract documents, or as
directed by the Engineer, to the required elevations, penetrations, and nominal resistances.
Except when test piles are required, the Contractor shall furnish piles in accordance with the dimensions shown in the
Contract documents. When Non-working test pile are required, the Contractor shall use the production pile lengths
shown in the Contract documents as estimates; the Engineer shall determine actual lengths for production piles after test
piles have been driven and tested. The Engineer shall give the Contractor an order list that includes pile lengths for use
in the completed structure.
As necessary to suit the method of operation, the Contractor shall increase the lengths shown in the Engineer’s ordered
list to provide for fresh heading, without additional compensation.

18.1 Pile Driving Terminology

This section defines core terminology for pile driving the related work covered in this chapter.
Blow Count: A total of the hammer blows that are required to cause 300 mm or 25 mm of penetration.
Driving Record: Record of blow count per unit penetration for the entire driving of a pile.
Dynamic Testing: Also called high strain dynamic pile testing, dynamic testing requires impacting a pile with a
pile driving hammer or a large drop weight and measuring the force and velocity in the pile
with pile analyzer instruments.
Jetting: A technique in which pile installers use water and air to facilitate pile penetration by
displacing soil.
Nominal Resistance: A value that represents a pile’s ultimate capacity.
Pile Shoes: Steel plates that protect all types of piles for which hard driving is expected.
Pre-Drilling: A process in which the Contractor drills a hole with a continuous flight auger or a wet rotary
bit to remove some soil or loosen the strata.
Probe Pile: A pile that is driven to determine the required pile length at various locations on a site. It may
be also called an indicator pile or test pile.

18.2 Reference Standards and Codes

Standards and codes for Driven Piles shall be as specified in these specifications, in the Contract documents, if any, and
the following, in their latest edition:
AASHTO LRFD American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - Load and Resistance
Factor Design, Bridge Construction Specifications;
AASHTO LRFD American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials - Load and Resistance
Factor Design, Bridge Design Specifications;
AASHTO Standard Specifications for Transportation Materials and Methods of Sampling and Testing;
Abu Dhabi DOT Structural Design Manual;
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials.
Table 18-1 presents AASHTO and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards that are related to
materials for driven piles. It includes designations and titles.

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

Table 18-1: Designations and titles for AASHTO and ASTM standards that apply to driven piles works

AASHTO ASTM
TITLE
DESIGNATION DESIGNATION

ASTM A36/A36M-
Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel
08
ASTM Standard Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy Columbium-
A572/A572M-12 Vanadium Structural Steel
ASTM
Standard Specification for Structural Steel Shapes
A992/A992M-11
ASTM Standard Specification for Steel Castings, High Strength, for Structural
A148/A148M-08 Purposes

18.3 Materials for Pile Driving

Materials for pile driving shall comply with the standards and requirements outlined in this section.

18.3.1 Steel Piles

18.3.1.1 Rolled Structural Steel Piles
a. Properties of Rolled Structural Steel Piles
Steel used in rolled structural steel piles shall conform to the following standard specifications of the American Society
for Testing and Materials (ASTM):
Standard Specification for Carbon Structural Steel (ASTM A36/A36M)
Standard Specification for High-Strength Low-Alloy Columbium-Vanadium Structural Steel (ASTM
A572/A572M)
Standard Specification for Structural Steel Shapes (ASTM A992/A992M)
In addition to the standards listed above, the Contractor may use steel that is ordered or produced in compliance with
other standards or other published ASTM specifications that establish properties and suitability for such steel.
Cast steel shoes, if used, shall be grade 90-60 steel that conforms to the ASTM Standard Specification for Steel
Castings, High Strength, for Structural Purposes (ASTM A148/A148M). The Contractor shall consider using pile shoes
when structural steel shapes are driven through obstructions or into sloping hard rock. Refer to Article 18.4.2.2 for more
information on pile shoes.

b. Minimum Dimensions for Rolled Structural Steel Piles

Sections of such piles shall be of “H” or “W” shape and shall comply with the following requirements:
1. A pile’s flange the projection shall not exceed 14 times the minimum thickness of metal in either the flange or
the web, and flange widths shall not be less than 80% of the depth of the section.
2. A pile’s nominal depth in the direction of the web shall not be less than 200 mm.
Flanges and webs shall have minimum nominal thicknesses of at least 9.5 mm.

18.3.1.2 Steel Pipe Piles

Steel pipe piles shall consist of steel pipe that conform to the Contract plans. Steel pipes for such piles shall have an
outside diameter and a minimum nominal wall thickness as shown in the Contract documents.
Ends of closed-end pipe piles shall be closed with a flat plate, a forged or cast steel conical point, or another end closure
design that has been approved by the Engineer. End plates shall be at least 20 mm thick. The Contractor shall cut each
end plate flush with its outer pile wall. They shall bevel the end of each pipe before welding it to the end plate using a
partial penetration groove weld. Larger diameter pipes may require thicker end plates, thicker reinforcement, or both.

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

Before the Contractor places concrete into a pile, they shall use an acceptable inspection method to confirm that the
pile’s length and pile’s bottom is dry. If accumulations of water in pipes are present, the Contractor shall remove all
water before placing concrete.
Concrete for concrete-filled pipe piles shall be of class C20/20 and have a compressive strength of at least 20.0 MPa
and a slump from 150 mm to 250 mm.
For each pile, the Contractor shall place concrete in a single continuous operation.
The Contractor shall not place concrete in a pile until completing all pile driving within 4.5 metres of that pile.
Alternatively, after pouring concrete for a pile, the Contractor shall discontinue all pile driving within 4.5 metres of that
pile for at least two days and until concrete in such pile has completely set.

18.3.1.3 Painting
Unless otherwise provided, when steel piles or steel pile shells extend above the ground surface or ground water level,
they shall be protected by the paint system specified for painting steel piles as described in Section 24.5 of Chapter 24,
Painting, of the Standard Specifications.
This protection shall extend from an elevation 600 mm below the low water or ground level to the top of the exposed
steel

18.3.2 Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

Production of piles shall comply with Pre-stressed Concrete Institute (PCI) standards as outlined in their Manual for
Quality Control for Plants and Production of Structural Precast Concrete Products (MNL-116).

18.3.2.1 Forms for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

Forms for pre-stressed concrete piles shall conform to the applicable requirements of Section 1.20.8 of Chapter 1,
General Requirements, and Article 21.13.3.1of Chapter 21, Concrete Structures, of the Standard Specifications and as
provided in the PCI’s Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Structural Precast Concrete Products
(MNL-116).

18.3.2.2 Casting for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

Concrete shall be cast continuously within three days after pretensioning steel; concrete shall not, however, be cast in
forms until a quality control representative from a pile’s manufacturer has inspected and approved the placement of
reinforcement and anchorages. Each pile shall have dense concrete surfaces that are straight and smooth. During
fabrication, each pile shall have reinforcement retained in its proper position. Unless the Contractor uses self-
consolidating concrete, they shall compact the concrete by vibrating it with a vibrator head that is smaller than the
minimum distance between the pretensioning steel. A pile’s end surfaces shall be perpendicular to its longitudinal axis.

18.3.2.3 Finish for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

Each pile’s finish shall comply with the PCI’s Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Structural
Precast Concrete Products (MNL-116).
With standard finishing, a pile’s formed sides shall be reasonably smooth from casting against approved forms.
Standard finish for a pile’s top shall be a float finish with tooled edges.

18.3.2.4 Curing and Protection for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

Curing of piles shall comply with PCI MNL-116, Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Structural
Precast Concrete Products.
Piles shall be cured using moist curing or accelerated steam curing.
No pile shall be driven until it is sufficiently cured to resist handling and driving stresses without damage.

18.3.2.5 Pre-stressing for Concrete Piles

Pre-stressing of piles shall comply with PCI’s Manual for Quality Control for Plants and Production of Structural
Precast Concrete Products (MNL-116).

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

18.3.2.6 Shop Drawings for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

The Contractor shall submit the required number of shop drawings for pre-stressed concrete piles to the Engineer. Shop
drawing shall indicate pile dimensions, materials, tendon arrangements, and pre-stressing forces proposed for use, as
well as any changes to reinforcing steel from that shown in the Contract documents. Construction of the piles shall not
begin until the Engineer has approved the shop drawings.

18.3.2.7 Storage and Handling for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

When handling, storing, and transporting pre-stressed concrete piles, the Contractor shall avoid excessive bending
stresses, cracking, spalling, or other injurious result.

18.3.2.8 Protective Coating for Pre-stressed Concrete Piles

If Contracts Documents indicate that protection is required, the Contractor shall apply protective coating as specified in
these specifications. The Contractor shall be responsible for restoring and repair any damage to the coating.

18.4 Piles Driving

The Contractor shall comply with the specifications in this section when driving piles.

18.4.1 Pile Driving Equipment

The Engineer shall approve all pile driving equipment, including the pile driving hammer, hammer cushion, helmet, pile
cushion, and other appurtenances, before the Contractor conducts any pile driving. Pursuant to obtaining this approval,
the Contractor shall submit descriptions of all pile driving equipment to the Engineer at least two weeks before pile
driving is to begin. Such descriptions shall contain sufficient detail to enable the using wave equation analysis to
evaluate the proposed driving system.
If the nominal resistance is to be determined by static load test, dynamic test, quick static load test, or wave equation
analysis, the Contractor shall submit the results of a wave equation analysis to the Engineer. Such analysis shall verify
that the piles are drivable.
If the nominal resistance is to be determined by dynamic formula, a wave equation analysis is not required. A required
blow count, as determined by the dynamic formula, shall not exceed 120 blows per 300 mm.
The Contractor shall use the hammer efficiencies shown in Table 18-2 in a wave equation analysis of vertical piles,
unless better information is available.
Table 18-2: Hammer efficiencies

Hammer type Efficiency

Single-acting air/steam 67%

Double-acting air/steam 50%

Diesel 80%

Hydraulic or diesel with built-in energy measurement 95%

Hammer efficiencies shall be adjusted for batter driving.

In addition to the other requirements and specifications outlined in this chapter, the Contractor and the Engineer shall
use the following criteria to evaluate the driving equipment shall consist of both the required number of hammer blows
per 300 mm at the required nominal resistance and the pile driving stresses over the entire driving process.
A driving system, as indicated by a wave equation analysis at the required nominal resistance, shall require from 24 to
120 hammer blows per 300 mm. The Engineer shall not accept a system that requires fewer or more hammer blows per
300 mm.
In addition, pile stresses, as determined by a wave equation analysis for the entire driving operation, shall not exceed
the following values:
1. For steel piles, compressive driving stress shall not exceed 90 percent of the yield point of the pile material.
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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

2. For concrete piles, tensile stresses shall not exceed 0.25 multiplied by the square root of the concrete cube
compressive strength ( ), in MPa, plus the effective pre-stress value, as shown in Equation 18-1. Compressive
stresses, also in MPa, shall not exceed 85% of the cube compressive strength minus the effective pre-stress
value, as shown in Equation 18-2.

Tensile stress = 0.25 f c + Prestress

Equation 18-1: Tensile stress

Compressive stress = 0.85 (f c) Prestress

Equation 18-2: Compressive stress
During pile driving operations, the Contractor shall use the approved system. The Engineer shall consider changes to
the driving system only after the Contractor has submitted revised pile driving equipment data and wave equation
analysis. The Engineer shall notify the Contractor of their acceptance or rejection of proposed changes to a driving
system within seven calendar days after receiving a requested change. Time required for the submission, review, and
approval of a revised driving system shall not constitute grounds for a time extension for the Contractor’s work.
The Engineer’s approval of pile driving equipment shall not relieve the Contractor of responsibility to drive piles, free
of damage, to the required nominal resistances and to any specified minimum penetrations, as shown in the Contract
documents.

18.4.1.1 Hammers for Pile Driving

Piles shall be driven with an impact or vibratory hammer that conforms to the specifications outlined in this section.
Pile driving hammers shall be of the size needed to develop the energy required to drive the piles at a blow count that
does not exceed 120 blows per 300 mm at the required nominal resistance.

a. Drop Hammers for Pile Driving

The Contractor shall not use drop (gravity) hammers for concrete piles or for piles whose required nominal resistance
exceeds 60.0 tons.
Where the Project permits the use of drop hammers, a drop hammer’s ram shall have a weight of at least 10.0 kN and
drop heights shall not exceed 3.6 metres. A drop hammer’s ram weight shall never be less than the combined weight of
a helmet and a pile. All drop hammers shall have hammer guides and a helmet to ensure concentric impact.

b. Air Hammers for Pile Driving

If the Contractor uses a dynamic formula to establish the required blow count, the weight of the striking parts of air
hammers used shall not be less than one-third the weight of a pile and its drive cap, and an air hammer’s striking part
shall weigh at least 14.0 kN. If the Contractor uses a wave equation analysis to establish the required blow count and
driving stresses, this limitation on ram weight shall not apply.
Plant and equipment for air hammers shall have sufficient capacity to maintain, under working conditions, the pressure
specified for the hammer by its manufacturer. A hose that connects a compressor to an air hammer shall be at least the
minimum size recommended by the air hammer’s manufacturer.
Upon using an air hammer to drive a pile, the Contractor shall evaluate the hammer’s performance by measuring blows
per minute and comparing these blows to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

c. Diesel Hammers for Pile Driving

If open-end (single-acting) diesel hammers are not equipped with a device to measure impact velocity at all times
during pile driving operations, the Contractor shall obtain the stroke by measuring the speed of operation either
manually or with a device that takes the measurement automatically.
Closed-end (double-acting) diesel hammers shall have a bounce chamber pressure gauge in good working order,
mounted near ground level to enable the Engineer to read it easily. The Contractor shall provide a correlation chart of
bounce chamber pressure and potential energy.

d. Hydraulic Hammers for Pile Driving

Hydraulic hammers shall have a system for measuring ram energy. Such systems shall be in good working order and
make their results easily and immediately available to the Engineer.
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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

e. Vibratory Hammers for Pile Driving

Vibratory or other pile driving methods may be used only when specified in the Contract documents or when approved
in writing by the Engineer. Except when pile lengths have been evaluated from static load test piles, the Contractor shall
verify that vibratory hammers are driving piles to their nominal resistances. Upon driving a group of ten piles with a
vibratory hammer, the Contractor shall use an impact hammer that can measure nominal resistance to further drive the
first pile in that group. If piles reside in different soils, the Contractor shall apply the impact hammer to additional piles,
as directed by the Engineer. The Contractor shall use an impact hammer to complete driving for any pile that relies
primarily on point bearing capacity.
The Contractor shall not use vibratory hammers to drive concrete piles.

f. Additional Equipment or Hammering Methods for Pile Driving

If none of the hammers outlined in previous sections obtains the required penetration, the Engineer may require that the
Contractor provide a hammer of greater energy or to use supplemental methods, such as jetting or predrilling, as
described in Article 18.4.1.2.

18.4.1.2 Pile Driving Appurtenances

Pile driving appurtenances shall comply with the specifications outlined in this section.

a. Hammer Cushions for Pile Driving

All impact pile driving equipment shall include a hammer cushion that is sufficiently thick to prevent damage to the
hammer or pile. Drop hammers and any hammers whose design specifically avoids the need for a hammer cushion shall
be exempt from this requirement.
Where applicable, hammer cushions shall durable, manufactured material that retains uniform properties during driving.
Such cushions shall not be wood, wire rope, or asbestos. A striker plate on each hammer cushion shall ensure that the
cushion material compresses uniformly. Before using a hammer for driving, the Contractor shall replace any hammer
cushion that wear has reduced original thickness by 25% or more. For air hammers, the Contractor shall comply with
the hammer manufacturer’s recommendations for replacing worn cushions before use.

b. Helmets for Pile Driving

Piles driven with impact hammers shall include a helmet that distributes the hammer’s blows uniformly and
concentrically to the pile’s head. A helmet’s surface that contacts a pile shall be plane and smooth and shall be parallel
with the hammer base and the pile’s top. Such helmet’s shall be guided by leads, rather than free-swinging. Such
helmets shall fit pile heads in a manner that maintains concentric alignment between the hammer and a pile.
For special types of piles, appropriate driving heads, mandrels, or other devices shall be provided so that the piles may
be driven without damage.

c. Pile Cushions for Concrete Piles

A pile cushion shall protect the head of each concrete pile. To determine how thick such cushions should be to prevent
excessive driving stresses, the Contractor shall apply wave equation analysis. If the Contractor uses a dynamic formula
to determine the required driving blow count, such cushions shall be at least 100 mm thick.
While using a hammer for concrete piles, If a pile cushion begins to smoke or excessive compression occurs, the
Contractor shall replace the cushion. A pile cushion’s dimensions shall distribute hammer blows uniformly over a pile’s
entire cross-section.
Hard driving conditions may require frequent cushion replacement, perhaps before finishing even a single pile. In easy
driving conditions, however, each pile cushion may last through several piles.
Pile cushions shall be protected from the weather and kept dry before use. Pile cushion shall not be soaked in any liquid
unless the Engineer approves such action. The Contractor may ask the Engineer to approve the use of manufactured pile
cushion materials rather than wood pile cushions on a case-by-case basis.
For restrike tests, the Contractor shall use a used pile cushion that is still in good condition.

d. Leads for Pile Driving

Throughout a pile driving operations, the Contractor shall use leads that properly align each pile with a hammer to
ensure that each blow strikes with concentric impact. Such leads shall not impede hammer movement. As applicable,

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

they shall permit proper alignment of battered piles. The Contractor may use either fixed or swinging leads. Swinging
leads shall include a pile gate at their bottom ends. To maintain alignment between leads and piles, the Contractor shall
either embed each lead adequately in the ground or use a structural frame, such as a template, to constrain each pile.

e. Followers for Pile Driving

The Contractor shall use followers only when the Engineer approves such use in writing or when the Contract
documents specify such use.
When using followers for a concrete pile, the Contractor shall attach a pile cushion to the top of a concrete pile. To
ensure that followers are suitable for a concrete pile, the Contractor shall conduct a wave equation analysis to verify
blow count, driving stresses, and nominal resistance.
If the Contractor does not use a wave equation analysis to determine impedance for a steel pile, they shall use a follower
with an impedance between 50% and 200% of the steel pile’s impedance.
The Contractor shall apply a wave equation to check piles that are driven with a follower. They shall test piles with
either a static test or dynamic test on the pile, on the follower, or both. Such testing eliminates the need to drive a longer
full length test pile in each footing.
A follower and pile shall be maintained in proper alignment during driving. A follower shall be of such material and
dimensions to permit piles to be driven to the necessary blow count.
After driving a pile with a follower, the Contractor shall verify a pile’s final position by checking the position and
inclination of the follower.

f. Jetting for Pile Driving

The Contractor shall use jetting only when the Engineer approves such use in writing or when the Contract documents
specify such use.
The Contractor shall determine the number of jets and the volume and pressure of water at the jet nozzles that is
necessary to freely erode material that is adjacent to a pile.
The Contractor shall control and dispose of all jet water in a manner that is satisfactory to the Engineer or as specified
in the Contract documents. The Contractor shall be responsible for all damages to the site caused by their jetting
operations.
Unless otherwise indicated by the Engineer or the Contract documents, the Contractor shall remove jet pipes before or
when a pile’s tip is 1.5 metres above the minimum or final tip elevation. The Contractor shall then drive the pile without
jetting to the final tip elevation or to the required nominal resistance with an impact hammer. If the required nominal
resistance is not reached at the final tip elevation, the Contractor may allow a pile to set up then determine the required
nominal resistance by restriking the pile.

18.4.2 Preparation for Pile Driving

When preparing for pile driving, the Contractor shall comply with the specifications outlined in this section.

18.4.2.1 Preparation for Site Work

When conducting pile driving work on the Project site, the Contractor shall comply with the requirements outlined in
this section.

a. Excavation for Pile Driving

If practical, piles shall not be driven until after the excavation is complete. Before placing concrete for a foundation, the
Contractor shall remove any material that has been forced up between piles until surrounding ground is the correct
elevation.
Unless otherwise approved by the Engineer, piles at bridge ends shall not be driven until roadway embankments are
placed.

b. Predrilling to Facilitate Pile Driving

When the Contract documents require predrilling, the Contractor shall predrill holes of a size specified, at pile locations,
and to the depths shown in the Contract documents or as directed in writing by the Engineer.

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 Chapter 18: Driven Piles

Predrilling is usually used in the case where driving a pile will displace the upper soil enough to push adjoining piles
out of the proper position or to limit vibration in the upper layers.
Normally, predrilled holes are smaller than the diameter or diagonal of a pile’s cross-section and sufficient to allow
penetration of a pile to its specified elevation. If the Contractor encounters subsurface obstructions, they may increase a
hole’s diameter to the least dimension necessary to avoid obstructions and install piles.
If, after pile driving, void spaces remain around a pile, the Contractor shall fill them with sand or other approved
material. The Contractor cannot use spuds rather than predrilling, unless the Contract documents or the Engineer, in
writing, approves such use. Material resulting from drilling holes shall be disposed of as approved by the Engineer.

c. Additional Requirements for Pre-drilled Holes in Embankments

If required by the Contract documents, piles to be driven through compacted fill or embankment of a depth greater than
1.5 m shall be driven in holes predrilled to natural ground. A predrilled hole should have a diameter not more than the
greatest dimension of the pile cross-section plus 150 mm. After the Contractor drives a pile, they shall fill the space
around the pile to the ground surface with sand or other approved material. Material resulting from predrilling holes
shall be disposed of as approved by the Engineer.

18.4.2.2 Preparation for Piling

a. Pile Heads
For steel piling, pile heads shall be cut and maintained square to the longitudinal axis of the pile. Precast concrete pile
heads shall be flat, smooth, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a pile to prevent eccentric impacts from a
helmet. Pre-stressing strands shall be cut off below the surface of the end of the pile. For concrete piles, a pile’s head
shall be chamfered on all sides. Pre-stressed concrete piles may also be chamfered along their length.
A pile’s prepared head shall provide uniform contact and thereby reduce the potential of damage to the pile’s top.
Before assessing blow count acceptance, based on driving criterion, the Contractor shall remove any distortions from a
pile’s top.

b. Pile Shoes and End Plates

Pile shoes shall be used when specified by the Engineer or in the Contract documents to protect all types of piles when
hard driving or obstructions are expected.
Steel pile shoes shall be grade 90-60 cast steel that conforms to ASTM’s Standard Specification for Steel Castings,
High Strength, for Structural Purposes (ASTM A148/A148M).
End plates used on closed-end pipe piles shall be made of steel that complies with or exceeds ASTM’s Standard
Specification for Carbon Structural Steel (ASTM A36/A36M). A steel plate’s diameter and thickness shall be specified
by the Engineer.
A pile driving acceptance criterion should be developed that will prevent damage to the pile toe. Steel piles driven into
soft rock may not require toe protection.
When hard rock, sloping rock, or obstructions are expected, a pile toe should be protected with cast steel shoes.
Pile shoes used at the option of the Contractor shall be of a type approved by the Engineer.

18.4.3 Performing Pile Driving

Unless the Engineer approves alternatives, the Contractor shall drive piles to their required nominal resistances and to
either their minimum tip elevation or a specified alternative tip elevation.
The Contractor shall always count the hammer blows required to drive a pile, either during initial driving or when
driving a pile again with a warm hammer after a wait period, as determined by the Engineer.
For diesel hammers, the Contractor shall record strokes. For hydraulic hammers, the Contractor shall record either
energy or impact velocity.
If the Contractor uses water jets are in conjunction with pile driving, they shall determine the nominal resistance from
the results of driving after withdrawing the jets.
A pile driving procedure shall not subject piles to excessive and undue abuse and shall not result in crushing and
spalling of the concrete, injurious splitting, splintering, or excessive deformation of steel.

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18.4.3.1 Driving Heaved Piles

If piles heave, the Engineer shall take level readings referenced to a fixed datum on all piles immediately after their
installation and periodically thereafter as adjacent piles are driven to determine the range of pile heaving.
The Contractor shall drive a pile again if the driving process for adjacent piles results in either of the following
conditions:
a. Piles heave more than 12.0 mm and end bearing is dominant
b. Piles heave more than 40.0 mm and shaft friction is dominant
If pipe or shell piles that have been filled with concrete heave, the Contractor shall drive such piles again to their
original positions after the concrete has obtained sufficient strength, using a proper hammer-pile cushion system that the
Engineer deems satisfactory.

18.4.3.2 Pile Installation Sequence

The Contractor shall install piles within a pile group sequentially, either starting from the centre of a group and
proceeding outward in both directions or starting at the outside row and proceeding progressively across the group.

18.4.3.3 Practical Refusal for Pile Driving

A pile reaches a level of practical refusal when resistance to penetration makes driving a pile deeper impractical. A
practical refusal blow count for a pile depends on the site’s soil profile and the pile’s type, and may possible be limited
by the hammers used, in accordance with the hammer manufacturer’s published limitations to prevent hammer damage.
In no case shall driving continue for more than 75 mm after a pile reaches practical refusal conditions.

18.4.3.4 Limiting Pile Driving Stresses

Unless the Contract documents or the Engineer specify otherwise, stresses induced during driving shall not exceed the
limits set forth in Section 18.4.1.

18.4.3.5 Driving Probe Piles

Where required in the Contract documents, probe piles shall be furnished to the lengths specified and driven at the
locations and to the elevations, nominal resistances, or blow counts directed by the Engineer before other piles are
ordered. All piles shall be driven with approved impact hammers unless the Contract documents specifically state
otherwise. The Contractor shall use hammers of the same type and size on production piles.
Unless the Engineer approves an alternate approach, the Contractor shall excavate the ground at each probe pile to the
elevation of the bottom of the footing before driving a pile. Additional probe piles shall be driven at locations selected
by the Engineer to explore possible subsurface variations.
When the Engineer so orders, the Contractor shall drive probe piles to plan grade. If any probe pile fails to attain
required nominal resistance, the Contractor shall splice that probe pile and drive it further until it attains the required
bearing.
Any probe piles that do not attain the required hammer blow count or that fail to attain nominal resistance at the
specified depth may be allowed to set for 12 to 24 hours, as determined by the Engineer, before the Contractor drives
them again. If a probe pile still fails to attain the specified nominal resistance after it is driven again, the Engineer may
direct the Contractor to drive a portion or all of the remaining probe pile and repeating the process of setting up and
driving the pile.

18.4.3.6 Accuracy of Pile Driving

Piles shall be driven with a variation of not more than 1:50 from the vertical or not more than 1:25 from the batter
shown in the Contract documents. Piles for trestle bents, however, shall be driven so that the cap may be placed in its
proper location without adversely affecting the resistance of the piles.
After driving, a pile’s head shall be within 150 mm of plan locations for all piles capped below final grade, and shall be
within 75 mm of plan locations for bent caps supported by piles,
No pile shall be nearer than 100 mm from any edge of the cap. Any increase in pile cap dimensions or reinforcing
caused by out-of-position piles shall be at the Contractor’s expense.

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The Contractor shall make every effort to install piles at the planned location and at the planned batter, unless
deviations occur due to existing obstructions.

18.4.4 Determination of the Nominal Resistances for Piles

To determine the nominal resistances for piles, the Engineer will use the method specified in the Contract documents.
Any method used to determine resistance of piles during or after installation shall be consistent with the pile resistance
verification methodology assumed during the Project design phase, in accordance with Article 10.5.5.2.3 of the
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.
Consideration should be given to the potential for change in nominal resistance after the end of driving. Effects of soil
relaxation and setup should be considered in the determination of nominal resistance for soils that are likely to be
subject to these phenomena. Such cases may require a wait period to allow for gain due to setup, with confirmation of
the nominal resistance by a retest (static or dynamic).

18.4.4.1 Static Load Tests

If a static load test is used to determine a pile’s axial resistance, such test shall not be performed less than five days after
a test pile was driven unless the Engineer or the Contract documents direct otherwise.
Each static load test shall follow the procedures specified in ASTM’s Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations
Under Static Axial Compressive Load (ASTM D1143/D1143M), Section 17.16 of Chapter 17, Drilled Piles, of the
Standard Specifications and the loading procedure shall follow the Quick Load Test Method, unless detailed longer-
term load-settlement data are needed, in which case the standard loading procedure should be used. Testing equipment
and measuring systems shall also conform to ASTM D1143/D1143M.
The Contractor shall submit detailed documents of the proposed loading apparatus to the Engineer for approval. Such
submittals shall include calibrations for the hydraulic jack, load cell, and pressure gauge conducted within 30 days
before mobilization to the job site. When the approved method requires the use of tension (anchor) piles that will later
be used as permanent piles in the work, such tension piles shall be of the same type and size as the production piles and
shall be driven in the location of permanent piles where feasible.
While performing a static load test, the Contractor shall provide safety equipment and employ adequate safety
procedures. Adequate support for the static load test plates, jack, and ancillary devices shall be provided to prevent them
from falling in the event of a release of load due to hydraulic failure, test pile failure, or other cause.
A pile’s nominal resistance may increase (as soil sets up) or decrease (as soil relaxes) after driving ends. Therefore, the
Contractor shall perform a static load after equilibrium conditions in the soil are re-established; such testing is essential.
Based on the type of soil and ground that piles shall penetrate, the Contractor shall allow a sufficient delay between pile
driving and load testing, as follows:
a. Piles driven into clays: Delay two weeks
b. Weathered shale: Delay seven days
c. Sandy silts or sands: Delay five to seven days
The Contractor shall use the method for defining failure of the static load test that is defined in the Contract documents
or by the Engineer. Based on the static load test results, the Engineer shall provide the driving criteria for production
pile acceptance.
Tension static load tests shall be ducted in accordance with ASTM’s Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations
Under Static Axial Tensile Load (ASTM D3689). Lateral load tests shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM’s
Standard Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Lateral Load (ASTM D3966).

18.4.4.2 Dynamic Testing

Dynamic testing shall be conducted in accordance with ASTM’s Standard Test Method for High-Strain Dynamic
Testing of Piles (ASTM D4945). The Contractor shall prepare for the required instrument attachment as directed by the
Engineer.
The Contractor shall drive piles for dynamic testing as directed by the Engineer. If the Engineer so directs, the
Contractor shall reduce the driving energy transmitted to the pile by using additional cushioning or reducing the energy
output of the hammer to maintain acceptable stresses in the piles.
If dynamic measurements indicate non-axial driving, the Contractor shall immediately realign the driving system.

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If the required nominal resistance is not achieved at the end of driving, the Contractor shall restrike the dynamic test
pile following a waiting period specified in the Contract documents or as directed by the Engineer.
After the waiting period, the Contractor shall reattach the dynamic testing instruments, drive the test pile again, and
repeat the dynamic test. Before striking a test pile again, the Contractor shall allow a hammer to warm up. The
Contractor shall stop driving a test pile either upon reaching a depth of 75mm or after delivering 20 blows, whichever
occurs first.

18.4.4.3 Wave Equation Analysis

When specified in the Contract documents, the Engineer shall use a wave equation analysis to determine the driving
criterion necessary to reach a pile’s required nominal resistance. Soil and pile properties to be used in this analysis shall
be as shown in the Contract documents or as determined by the Engineer. The Contractor shall provide the information
on proposed driving equipment that the Engineer needs to perform the wave equation analysis.

18.4.4.4 Dynamic Formula

The Contract documents shall specify the particular dynamic formula to be used, if any. The Contractor shall not use a
dynamic formula if the required nominal resistance is more than 2,700 kN.
Formulas shall be considered applicable only where the head of the pile is not crushed, or otherwise damaged, and a
follower is not used.
If a dynamic formula is used to establish the driving criterion, the FHWA Gates Formula specified in this chapter
should be used. During driving, the Contractor shall use Equation 18-3 to measure nominal pile resistance.
R ndr = 1.75 Ed log 10 (10N b
Equation 18-3: Dynamic Formula
Where:
R ndr = Nominal pile resistance measured during pile driving (kips)
Ed = Developed hammer energy. This is the kinetic energy in the ram at impact for a given blow.
If ram velocity is not measured, it may be assumed equal to the potential energy of the ram at
the height of the stroke, taken as the ram weight times the stroke (ft-lbs)
Nb = Number of hammer blows for 1.0 in. of pile permanent set (blows/in.)
If the Contractor uses a dynamic formula other than those provided in this chapter, the Contractor shall calibrate the
formula based on measured static load test results to obtain an appropriate resistance factor, in accordance with article
C10.5.5.2 of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.

18.4.5 Splicing Piles

Where splices are unavoidable for steel or concrete piles, their number, locations, and details shall be subject to the
Engineer’s approval.

18.4.5.1 Splicing Steel Piles

Full-length piles shall be used where practicable. If splicing is permitted, the method of splicing shall be approved by
the Engineer. Either shielded arc or submerged arc welding should be used when splicing steel piles. Only certified
welders shall perform welding. Mechanical splices that are not welded shall be used for compression piles only.

18.4.5.2 Splicing Concrete Piles

Full-length piles shall be used where practical. Where splicing is permitted, concrete pile splice details shall conform to
the Contract documents, or as approved by the Engineer. Mechanical splices, including drive-fit splices, may also be
used.

18.4.6 Defective Piles

A pile-driving procedure shall not subject them to excessive and undue abuse or produce crushing and spalling of the
concrete, injurious splitting, splintering, or excessive deformation of steel. Manipulation of piles to force them into
proper position, considered by the Engineer to be excessive, shall not be permitted. At his own expense, the Contractor
shall take action to correct any pile that has damage resulting from internal defects or improper driving. At his own
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expense, the Contractor shall also correct any piles that have been driven out of its proper location or below the butt
elevation (as determined in the Contract documents or by the Engineer). The Contractor shall use one of the following
methods, as approved by the Engineer, to make such corrections:
If practicable, the Contractor shall withdraw a defective pile and replace it with a new one, which may need to
be longer than the defective pile being replaced.
The Contractor shall drive one or more replacement piles that are adjacent to the defective pile.
To correct a pile that has been driven below the specified butt elevation, the Contractor shall use one of the following
methods, as approved by the Engineer:
The Contractor shall splice and build up the pile in accordance with the specifications outlined in this chapter.
The Contractor shall extend a sufficient portion of the footing downward to properly embed the pile.
To correct a pile that has been driven out of its proper location, the Contractor shall use one of the following methods,
as approved by the Engineer:
The Contractor shall drive one or more replacement piles next to the pile that is out of position.
The Contractor shall extend the footing laterally to incorporate the pile that is out of position.
The Contractor shall add additional reinforcement.
The Contractor shall provide all such remedial materials and work at his own expense.

18.4.6.1 Pile Cut-Off

The Contractor shall cut all piles to a true plane at the required elevations and anchor them to the structure as shown in
the Contract documents. All cut-off lengths of piling shall remain the property of the Contractor, who shall dispose of
them properly.

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Index
blow count, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 nominal resistances, 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12
Concrete, 5, 6, 8, 13 paint system, 5
cracking, 6 pile heads, 8, 10
cut-off lengths, 14 practical refusal, 11
diesel hammers, 7, 10 predrilling, 8, 9, 10
drop hammers, 7 pre-stressed, 5, 6
Dynamic testing, 12 pretensioning steel, 5
followers, 9 protection, 5, 6, 10
hammer blows, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13 spalling, 6, 10, 13
hammer cushion, 6, 8 splices, 13
hammer efficiencies, 6 static load test, 6, 8, 12, 13
helmet, 6, 7, 8, 10 steel piles, 4, 5, 6, 13
Hydraulic hammers, 7 ultimate capacity, 3
impedance, 9 vibratory hammer, 7, 8
jetting, 8, 9 wave equation analysis, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13

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