Designing the load beam for the pile static load test

HanStrulo · Aug 10, 2021

Hi Everyone!

I was asked to do a structural integrity check for a load beam for a pile static load test system.

I googled the subject and I understand we have apply the load through a jack with a capacity of at least twice the design load. the jack is attached to the test pile from the bottom and the load beam from the top.
The load beam is supported by two reaction anchors and has two cross beams ( reference beams???).

could you explain the load transfer mechanism of the test so I would know how to check the load beam?

Thank you very much!

SlideRuleEra · Aug 10, 2021

The very first structural challenge I ever had (1975)...

This:

is a point load at the center of an (assumed) simple beam... upside down:

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

HTURKAK · Aug 10, 2021

You will design the test beam assuming simply supported beam ( the supports are tension rods fixed in the tension piles) and the point load ( upward direction from the jack ).

The design of tension rods and test beam is pretty straight forward..

http://cepassion.blogspot.com/2011/07/static-pile-load-test-is-most-common.html

HanStrulo · Aug 10, 2021

Thanks alot!!

ATSE · Aug 10, 2021

Stability is a big deal. So is rigging. You're not just designing for the maximum moment or shear - that could be bad.
DFI has a couple of real good publications on full scale load testing.
Take a look at some Berkel and Malcolm load test beams via web image search. Lots of stiffeners, lots of extra capacity.
I almost got cut in half during a load test many years ago. That's when I insisted I take over the design and setup.

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Designing the load beam for the pile static load test

HanStrulo

Civil/Environmental

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