


Piles are an important part of civil engineering and are used to safely transfer loads into the ground. Integrity testing is essential to ensure the quality and load-bearing capacity of these foundations. It helps to identify any defects or irregularities in the pile and thus avoid long-term stability problems.
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Why is pile integrity testing important?
Piles are exposed to various influencing factors during their production, which can affect their quality. Defects such as cavities, cracks or material inclusions can significantly reduce the load-bearing capacity and durability of the pile. Integrity tests allow such defects to be detected at an early stage and, if necessary, suitable measures can be taken to repair or reinforce them.
What methods of pile integrity testing are there?
There are various methods for examining the quality of bored piles. The most common methods are
Ultrasonic method (Cross-Hole Sonic Logging, CSL): Ultrasonic waves are sent through pipes installed in the pile to identify irregularities.
Pulse-echo method: This method uses sound waves to detect reflections from cavities or cracks.
Statistical load tests: The load-bearing capacity of a pile is tested by applying a specific load.
Thermography: This technique measures temperature differences in the pile in order to detect possible material defects or cavities.
Shock wave method: A hammer impact generates a shock wave that propagates downwards through the pile and is reflected at the pile tip. Irregularities, constrictions and air pockets can be detected by measuring the transit time.
Each of these methods has specific advantages and disadvantages and is used depending on the project requirements.
Are all piles tested or just a random sample?
In practice, not all piles are always checked for integrity. A random check is often carried out, especially for large construction projects with a large number of piles. The piles to be tested are selected on the basis of various criteria such as soil conditions, pile load and empirical values from previous construction projects. However, in the case of critical structures or special soil conditions, a complete inspection of all piles may be necessary.
Requirements for the test conditions
Certain conditions must be met for the shock wave test to be successful:
Ideally, the test should be carried out at least 10 days after the piles have been installed.
The pile head must be exposed, clean and as flat as possible.
Up to 200 piles can be examined per day, making the method efficient and economical.
The pile integrity testing is an essential part of quality assurance in the construction industry. It ensures that the foundations of a structure can withstand the required loads and have no hidden defects. Through the targeted use of modern testing methods, such as the shock wave method, risks can be minimized and long-term damage avoided, which increases both the safety and cost-effectiveness of a construction project.
Pile breaking with an innovative solution
It is particularly important to cut the piles professionally without damaging them. With the innovative Brextor® method, piles can be processed precisely and without structural damage. This technology not only enables the gentle processing of individual piles, but also of bored pile walls, regardless of their construction. Brextor® also guarantees high construction quality, reduced construction costs and a shorter processing time – all while taking environmental and occupational safety aspects into account.
Brextor® offers the following advantages:
🏗 Increased construction quality
Perfect pile breaking without cracks in the pile body or spalling on the pile outer skin, no bent or torn reinforcements and a height accuracy of +/- 1cm.
💵 Reduced construction costs
The demolition material consists of 80% gravel 0-30mm and can therefore be reused directly on the construction site. In addition, Brextor® requires less working space than conventional mining methods. This means that not only expenses for transportation and disposal incl. fees are saved, but the purchase and supply of replacement material is also eliminated. Furthermore, the preparatory work eliminates the need for a separating diamand cut at the final extraction level and the cleaning effort is massively lower than with conventional extraction methods.
⏱ Shortened processing time
For example, a pile with a diameter of 1 m and a height of 1 m can be processed within 40 minutes. A daily output of up to 16 piles is possible. In addition, Brextor® provides reliable performance and therefore increased planning security.
♻️ Environmentally friendly
With Brextor®, the demolition material (80% gravel 0-30mm) can be reused directly on the construction site. Brextor® also requires less working space. This saves excavation and replacement material. By reusing the demolition material directly on the construction site and saving on excavation and replacement material, transportation can be saved. In addition, landfills are less polluted.
👷 Increased health & safety at work
No heavy physical labor is required for pile processing, which massively reduces the risk of health hazards such as HAVS syndrome. Brextor® also avoids working in danger zones.
Find out more about Brextor® here:
Contact us for more information and find out how you can benefit from this revolutionary pile breaking method.
Call us on +41 41 495 05 20 or send an e-mail to info@brc.swiss. We look forward to working with you and taking your projects to the next level.