Static versus Dynamic Load Tests on Piles in Sand and Chalk
SourceIn Belgium, there is little available data of dynamic versus static load tests, and even less so of piles installed in chalk. This paper tries to fill that gap by (1) presenting the results of static load tests instrumented with optical strain sensors performed by the Belgian Building Research Institute, (2) comparing those results to dynamic load tests performed using the Fondytest module by the Université Catholique de Louvain, and (3) reporting pile load test results of piles installed in chalk. The tests were performed on eight driven cast-in-situ piles in Belgium. Soil conditions consisted of layers of peaty clay and sand overlying a chalk bedrock, where the bases of two of the piles were cast, with the others being cast in the intermediate sand layer. This paper presents ground conditions of the test site, pile characteristics, static and dynamic load test operating procedures and interpretation details, and load-settlement results. Results and conclusions from both static and dynamic testing methods are presented.