The latest advancement, FDOT Method is based on utilizing the tip and top sensors data to obtain independent tip and skin resistances for all the blows during End of Initial Drive (EOID) and Beginning of Restrike (BOR).
Advancements in pile driving science and technology have historically progressed unceasingly as indicated by the published documentation. This paper deals with the progress of Dynamic Testing and various methods of analyses.
Dynamic Testing 1.0
During the past three to four decades, the advent of external gauges attached to the pile top gave rise to PDA in the US and TNO in Europe at about the same time. This system uses Case Equation method with fixed damping factor to compute the total capacity. This analysis is revised further in the office based on signal matching analysis. Both PDA and TNO methods provide user-dependent damping, quake, and skin-tip distribution values.
Dynamic Testing 2.0
The next development, Embedded Data Collector (EDC) system, consists of internal sensors embedded in the concrete piling at the tip and top, a wireless radio/controller transmitter, a receiver and laptop software to analyze the data. Developed by FDOT and UF and commercialized by Smart Structures, EDC tip and top sensors data is analyzed by the UF method to compute damping value for every blow and Unloading Point method is used to estimate the pile tip capacity.
Dynamic Testing 3.0
The latest advancement, FDOT Method is based on utilizing the tip and top sensors data to obtain independent tip and skin resistances for all the blows during End of Initial Drive (EOID) and Beginning of Restrike (BOR). Since optimum tip and skin settlements do not occur at the same blow, appropriate blows are analyzed to determine optimum tip and skin settlements and resistances during both the EOID and BOR and add appropriate skin and tip capacities to obtain total capacity. This method demonstrates the soil-structure interaction and provides several options to the stakeholders resulting in economical and accelerated construction in a safe environment. Capacity and integrity are thus assured.