How to verify grouting of a pile
How to verify grouting of a pile
(OP)
The situation: We have a pile(s) with a large cavity around the mid - section. we plan to dig down to the cavity, fill it, then pressure grout around the pile.
Question: how can you verify that the grouting has worked, i.e. the uplift capacity of the pile has been restored?
Question: how can you verify that the grouting has worked, i.e. the uplift capacity of the pile has been restored?





RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
Since you are exposing the breach, then you can visually verify the grouting.
Use a jacket with air/grout vent on the opposite side.
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
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RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
The auger cast pile has a steel tube surrounding the concrete. The tube was driven into the soil in sections then the soil was augered out before another section was welded on. We think the auger went down further than the tip of the tube and caused more soil to be removed from the outside of the tube. When the next section of tube was welded on and driven the cavity remained and was not filled with concrete when the pile was cast.
So, now there is a significant amount of pile not incontact with the soil which reduces the uplift capacity.
After we have filled the cavity with sand and grouted around the pile how can we verify that the soil/pile interface has been restored?
Since there is a steel tube we were thinking a resistivity test or a PDA/CAPWAP analysis before and after grouting. But will these work or cause significant displacement? Is there a more conventional test which can be carried out.
Hope that makes more sence?
Thanks in advance.
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
Your pile is not a typical augercast pile. I doubt that you have the same soil-pile interaction characteristics as a typical augercast pile, so hopefully augercast friction estimates were not used in the design. The skin friction on a steel pipe pile, filled or not will be lower than a typical augercast pile.
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
You have 2 issues. Firstly, the area where there is now a cavity which you want to restore to the same skin friction resistance (on a steel pipe) as there would have been if there was no cavity. Secondly you need to backfill your excavation and compact well so this area is of similar condition as the natural soil.
I suggest backfilling the whole excavation, including the void with a lean mix concrete.
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
It is not a driven pile. It is either a bored pile or some type of micropile.
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
RE: How to verify grouting of a pile
This being said, I don't understand the use of the steel pipes. if you look for friction, concrete should be prefered to steel !
I wonder how your piles are designed : driven or drilled ? Given all the question marks about these piles, I suppose a load test would tell you where you are at this point !