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Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

(OP)
Here is the situation:

A 3-story residential structure has been built adjacent to the bank of a river. The plans called for upwards of 80 corkscrew pilings to be driven into the ground to stabilize the foundation. There is a delivery invoice that exists which proves that the pilings were delivered to the property prior to starting construction. However, no documentation exists to 100% prove that these pilings were actually installed. The structure is 10 years old and only minor settling has occurred in this time.

Today, the property is in the process of being sold to a new owner and the question has been asked as to whether or not a non-invasive test exists that could determine if the pilings were truly installed beneath the structure. Can anyone help with this question?

Thanks for any direction you can give and please let me know if I can clarify any information further.

Marc

RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

Dig a whole under the foundation and look. If 80 were installed you can figure our an approximate spacing and know how big of a hole you need! Be careful digging!

Edit: This was meant as sarcastic, but is the only way I know to verify

RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

ground penetrating radar?

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

Ultimately all you need to know is if the foundation will carry the loads. One accepted way is to run load tests, In that case if the test passes the required capacity with some safety factor, then why be concerned with the type of pile down there?

Some have run a dynamic test to estimate the length of pile penetration based on a shock wave and the velocity of that shock wave in the pile and seeing a return echo at the surfce.

RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

I got the impression the issue is not the type of pile, but if any pile were installed, implying no pile.

OP?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

(OP)
msquared48 - yes, my intent is to detect whether or not the pilings were installed in the first place.

RE: Non-Invasive Detection of Corkscrew Pilings Beneath Structure

I'll second GPR. There is something called Crosshole Sonic Logging but I wouldn't think it'd give you results through a large volume of soil.

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