GRL Completes Two Bi-Directional Static Load Tests in 24 Hours Sponsored

GRL Engineers, Inc. recently completed two bi-directional static load tests (BDSLT) within a 24 hour period.

The two bi-directional tests were located 6,650 miles apart with one test in the US on a 6-foot (1.8 m) diameter drilled shaft and the second test in the Middle East on a 5-foot (1.5 m) diameter drilled shaft. Both tests utilized three 1,100 ton GRL-Cells in a single layer jack assembly. In this configuration, both bi-directional static load tests were capable of applying a maximum test load of 6,600 tons. The tests utilized PDI’s Static Load Tester datalogger system to read and store all of the BDSLT electronic instrumentation readings including digital levels, pressure transducer, vibrating-wire displacement transducers, and vibrating-wire strainmeters. Both drilled shaft tests also utilized PDI’s Thermal Wire Cables and Thermal Integrity Profiling system to assess the concrete quality and to delineate the as-built drilled shaft geometry for use in load-transfer evaluation and construction of the equivalent top-loading curve.

 Bi-Directional Test Benefits include:

• High capacity static load test method for drilled shafts, bored piles, barrettes, and ACIP/CFA piles.
• Separates soil/rock resistance and movement data for shaft and toe.
• Determines magnitude of the mobilized shaft and toe resistances.
• Embedded strain gauges within the foundation determine the soil/rock resistance distribution along the foundation length for optimizing the foundation design.
• Not restricted by structural or geotechnical limit of load frame, reaction beams, or reaction piles.

Source: GRL Engineers