Papworths Construction Testing Equipment

A driven pile or a drilled shaftfoundation forms the basis of the building and any deformities or cracks in them can reduce their bearing capacity and ability to support the structure. There is testing equipment that can help in detecting these cracks or voids and prevent any damage to the whole structure. Selection of the right testing technique, preferably prior to the construction of the foundation is vital to analyse foundations for the presence of defects. Piles or shafts in a construction act as support for the building and any major cracks or soil inclusionspresent in them is considered to be a defect. Location and extent of these defects can be evaluated with pile integrity testing equipment. Pile integrity testing, also known as sonic echo testing measures the effect of a strike to the top surface of a cast or driven pile. An accelerometer and geophone record the effects of the strike. Both the depth of the pile, and the position of any defects can be ev