NDE to determine pile layout of a building?

[Bagman2524]

Is there any type of NDE or other method for determining the pile layout/depth for a slab on grade building?

 

[jdonville]

Bagman2524,

You could use Ground-Penetrating Radar or electromagnetic sensing to determine the layout of steel in the slab. This should help indicate where the piles are.

You can then sawcut around selected piles to conduct pulse echo tests to evaluate the length and/or shape of the deep elements. Alternatively, you could perform small-diameter corings or borings to evaluate the pile characteristcs.

Jeff

 

[Bagman2524]

thanks. I feared as much. I was hoping it wouldn't be so complex and that an ultrasound of the ground could figure it out.

 

[jdonville]

Bagman2524,

As I understand it, the pile needs to be decoupled from the slab to perform ultrasound testing. Otherwise the wave propagates through the slab and not the pile due to mass and density of the slab being similar to the pile.

Jeff