STATNAMIC and static load testing of a model pile group in sand

This paper describes work done at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, Virgina, to investigate the application of Statnamic load testing to pile groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the load-settlement and load transfer behavior of a nine pile group of model pipe piles in sand loaded using both static and Statnamic methods. The piles were installed with a drop hammer and arranged in a square array. The piles were instrumented with strain gages at several locations along the length of the piles for load transfer analysis. The pile group was tested using a modified Texas Quick Test (static), using a constant rate of penetration (CRP) test, and then using Statnamic. A comparison of load test results indicated no discernible difference in load transfer patterns under static and Statnamic loads. Application of Middendorp's Unloading Point Method to the Statnamic data resulted in a good correlation with the static load-settlement curve.