6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

The advantages and disadvantages of dynamic load testing and

statnamic load testing
P.Middendorp & G.J.J. van Ginneken
TNO Profound
R.J. van Foeken
TNO Building and Construction Research

ABSTRACT: Pile capacity testing by high strain dynamic loading methods is widely applied because of its
economy and efficiency compared to static load testing methods (SLT). Frequently applied dynamic loading
methods are dynamic load testing (DLT) and statnamic testing (STN). The paper will deal with the very often
raised question in practice: What are the advantages and disadvantages and when to apply DLT and STN
when pile type and soil conditions are known. Special attention is given to DLT on cast in situ piles, and
complicating factors like limited knowledge of concrete material properties and pile shape. The suitability of
DLT and STN is discussed for cast in situ piles and driven pre-cast piles by the evaluation of reliability,
economy, mobilization of capacity and the chance on pile damage.

1 INTRODUCTION

Pile capacity testing by high strain dynamic

loading methods is widely applied because of its
economy and efficiency compared to static load
testing methods (SLT). The most popular dynamic
loading methods are dynamic load testing (DLT) by
an impact hammer and statnamic testing (STN) by
launching a reaction mass from the pile head.

DLT introduces a short duration shock pulse into

the pile. STN generates a relative long duration push
load onto the pile head. Extensive descriptions of
load testing methods and comparisons are published
by Holeyman (1992) and Karkee et al (1997).
However these papers do not deal with the very
often raised question from practice: What are the
advantages and disadvantages and when to apply
DLT and STN when pile type and soil conditions are
known. The answer to this question will be treated in
the next paragraphs.

Special attention is given to DLT on cast in situ

piles, because the calculation of the pile load is
based on signals from strain transducers mounted on
the pile shaft. So for DLT the pile load calculation
depends strongly on pile material and cross section
properties and factors complicating the analysis like
limited knowledge of concrete material properties
Fig. 1 statnamic test on a cast in situ pile
and pile shape are discussed.

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

2.1 Accuracy in load measurement for STN

With STN the load is accurately measured by a

calibrated load cell placed on the pile head. The
measured load is not dependent on the pile
properties. The load measurement error is less than
0.1% of the maximum range of the load cell.

Fig. 3. Statnamic piston with built in load

cell and laser displacement sensor placed on
a cast in situ pile
Fig. 2. Dynamic load test on a cast in situ pile.

2.2 Material properties and accuracy in load

Finally the suitability of both DLT and STN will measurement for DLT
be evaluated by taking into account the following
points:
With dynamic load testing strain transducers are
- accuracy of the load measurements mounted on the shaft near the pile head.
- reliability
- economy
- mobilization of capacity
- chance on pile damage

2 THE APPLICATION OF DLT AND STN ON

CAST IN SITU PILES

For cast in situ piles both DLT and STN are

performed a certain period after pile production, to
allow the piles to reach the required compressive
strength to withstand the test loads. For DLT strain
and acceleration transducers are mounted on the pile
shaft near the pile head. The load displacement
behavior is calculated by signal matching. For STN
the load displacement behavior is calculated in most
cases by the Unloading Point Method (UPM),
however signal matching techniques are also
applied.
Fig. 4. Strain transducer mounted on the shaft of
a cast in situ pile.

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

2L/c

time

measuring
L level

depth

Fig.5. Calculation of stress wave velocity c from toe reflection

The load (F) on the pile head is calculated by pile. An error in the measured load will result in an
multiplying the measured strain (ε) with the modulus error for the pile capacity prediction.
of elasticity (E) of the concrete and the pile cross
section (A). The stress wave velocity is calculated from the
time (T) it takes for a stress wave to travel over the
F=E.A.ε (1) pile length (L) from the pile head to the pile toe and
back to the pile head (Fig. 5). For this method it is
The accurate determination of the properties E required that the reflection coming from the pile toe
and A for bored piles is difficult in many cases. is clearly visible in the signals. In Fig. 6 the force
and velocity times impedance signals of two
To calculate the force from the measured strain in dynamic load test are presented. The first case shows
a pile during DLT we need to know the cross section a clear toe reflection and the stress wave velocity
and the modulus of elasticity of the concrete at the can be calculated accurately. If the toe reflection is
measuring level. For piles with homogeneous not visible one has to estimate the toe reflection
material the stress wave velocity (c) is used to time. However an error in the estimated toe
calculate the E-modulus with reflection time (T) and stress wave velocity (c) will
result in a considerable error in the calculation of the
E = c2. ρ (2) E-modulus. For example a 5% error in the stress
wave velocity will result in a 10% error for the E-
c = 2L/T (3) modulus and corresponding load in the pile. Another
option in this case is to rely on an estimate for the E-
Knowing or estimating the stress wave velocity c modulus from the pile material properties.
we can calculate the pile load at the measuring level
with the formula
Making an estimate on the E-modulus is difficult
F= c2.ρ.A. (4) because it is not a constant value but depends on the
age and the quality of the concrete (Franklin,
So the derived stress wave velocity has a strong 1971)(Fig. 7), the loading rate (Sparks et all, 1973 ),
influence on the value of the load measured in the and even the temperature of the concrete (Abbasi
1990). For example, for static load testing the

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

Dynamic Load Test Dynamic Load Test

[MN] [MN]
1.8 2.0
1.5 Pile Length = 16.00 m 1.8 Pile Length = 17.00 m
1.3 Wave Velocity = 3500 m/s
1.5
1.0 1.3
0.8
well visible no visible toe
1.0
toe reflection reflection
0.5 0.8
0.3 0.5
0.0 0.3
-0.3 0.0
-0.5 -0.3

-0.8 0.0 6.0 12.0 18.0 24.0 30.0 36.0 42.0 48.0 54.0 60.0 -0.5
0.0 6.0 12.0 18.0 24.0 30.0 36.0 42.0 48.0 54.0 60.0
Time [ms] _____ Force ----- Velocity x Impedance
_____ Force ----- Velocity x Impedance Time [ms]

Fig. 6 Well visible and no visible toe reflection.

modulus of elasticity for concrete is in the range of the pile and the shaft area that has been in contact
28 GPa to 32 GPa while for dynamic load testing it with the soil might be the location where the strain
is in the range of 32 GPa to 52 GPa transducers are mounted. The concrete quality
difference over the pile length is caused by the
pouring procedure and the difference in concrete
Another complicating factor in determing the pressure during construction. The quality of the

Fig. 7 Relations between dynamic modulus of elasticity and age for concretes made
with various aggregates
stress wave velocity c for cast in situ piles is the fact concrete near the toe will in general be better than
that the concrete is not homogeneous. The concrete the quality of the concrete near the pile head. This
quality will vary over the cross section and over the also means that the stress wave velocity will vary
pile axis. The concrete in contact with the soil will with the pile length. So the stress wave velocity
be of lesser quality than the concrete in the center of calculated with c=2L/T is a mean value for the

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

whole pile. The modulus of elasticity calculated 2.4 Reliability for testing on cast in situ piles
from the toe reflection represents a mean value for
the pile and there can be a considerable difference
Because of the many unknowns that have to be
with the modulus of elasticity at measuring level.
solved to perform a proper DLT signal matching
analysis on cast in situ piles, there is considerable
chance of errors in pile capacity predictions.
2.3 Influence of pile cross section variations on
DLT capacity prediction The load measurement for STN is similar as for
static load testing and unknown pile properties of
cast in situ piles will not influence the load
To predict capacity from DLT results, signal
measurement results. During STN the load duration
matching techniques are the most frequent applied
is long enough that all pile parts move in the same
methods, (TNOWAVE, CAPWAP). Based on a
velocity range. Under these conditions the pile can
wave equation computer program calculated signals
be considered to act as one mass with a pile rigidity
are matched with measured signals by adjusting the
behavior similar to static load testing (Middendorp
computer soil model and pile model in an iterative
1995 ) For this reason pile behavior during STN is
way. When signals match it is assumed that the
closer to static load testing than DLT.
computer soil model represents the real soil behavior
and the static pile capacity is calculated from it.

2.5 Economy
For DLT on cast in situ piles a drop hammer with
a guiding system has to be mobilized. The required
ram mass is as rule of thumb 2% of the maximum
load that has to be applied. A crane is required to
move the drop hammer over the building site. The
pile head has to be prepared to prevent damage from
impact loading. An epoxy or grout cement is used to
smooth the pile head surface to prevent stress
concentrations during impact loading. The location
of the transducers has to be at least 2 pile diameters
from the pile head. When the pile head is located at
ground level this requires an extension of the pile
head for a similar length or the excavation of the pile
head. For small capacity piles multiple piles can be
tested in one day. For loads above 10MN the testing
rate is normally in the range of two piles per day.

For STN a loading device with a reaction mass

catching system has to be mobilized. The required
reaction mass is as rule of thumb 5% of the
maximum load that has to be applied. Local
available material can be used as reaction mass to
Fig 8. Cast in situ pile with bulb. reduce transport costs. A crane or a crawler system
is required to move the STN device over the
Pile discontinuities like neckings, bulbs, and building site. For loads up to 4MN a STN device
material changes introduce stress wave reflections, with a hydraulic catch mechanism can be applied.
which can influence the calculated signals strongly. For higher loads STN requires a gravel catch system.
Reflections from bulbs yield an almost similar wave Testing can take between 0.5 and 2 days per pile
equation result as a local stiff soil layer and a depending on the pile capacity. However for piles
necking similarly results as a local soft layer. When with a capacity less than 4 MN, a loading device
pile discontinuities are not properly taken into with hydraulic catch mechanism can be applied and
account, either a proper match cannot be obtained or the number of piles tested in one day are in the same
the capacity prediction will not be reliable. Soil range as with DLT. STN can be even more efficient
properties can be confused with pile discontinuities. when the loading device and hydraulic catch
mechanism are placed on crawlers. An epoxy or
grout cement is used to smoothen the pile head

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

surface to prevent stress concentrations during push reaction mass, and the resulting push load starts
loading. from the center of the pile.

2.6 Chance of pile damage

3 THE APPLICATION OF DLT AND STN ON
PRECAST DRIVEN PILES
With DLT the load on the pile head is introduced
by an impacting ram. When the ram is not properly For pre-cast driven piles both DLT and STN are
guided and hits the pile in an eccentric way, bending performed after a setup period after pile installation.
stresses will occur and result in excessive This allows the soil to recover from driving induced
disturbances like pore water pressure. In most cases
the soil will regain strength during the setup period.

For DLT strain and acceleration transducers are

mounted on the pile shaft near the pile head. The
load displacement behavior is calculated by signal
matching.

For STN the load displacement behavior is

calculated in most cases by the Unloading Point
Method, however signal matching techniques are
also applied.

3.1 Accuracy
With DLT on pre-cast driven piles, the load in the
pile is measured by strain transducers mounted on
the pile shaft. Pre-cast piles are considered to be of
homogenous material and with the method described
in section 2.2 and based on the determination of the
stress wave the E-modulus can be determined
accurately. The toe reflection will be visible at
several stages of driving and the stress wave velocity
can be determined easily. Only when the pile head is
heavily reinforced will the E-modulus at the pile
head be different from the E-modulus calculated by
Fig 9. Dynamic load test on a pre-cast pile the stress wave velocity.

compression and/or tension stresses which can With STN the load is accurately measured by a
damage the pile. calibrated load cell placed on the pile head. The
Most cast in situ piles need considerably more measured load is not dependent on the pile
displacement to mobilize the ultimate capacity than properties. The load measurement error is less than
driven piles. This softer response will easily 0.1% of the maximum range of the load cell.
generate tension waves. Cast in situ piles are not
designed to withstand high tension stresses. As soon
as allowable tension stress levels are reached the
impact energy has to be reduced to prevent pile 3.2 Reliability
damage. As a result, DLT has to be stopped at a The capacity of driven piles is mobilized at
stage where full capacity has not yet been mobilized. relative small displacements.

Both DLT and STN are performed after a set up

With STN the duration of the loading is long period. For DLT the pile load displacement behavior
enough to keep the pile is under constant is calculated by a signal matching technique
compression and tension stresses will not occur. To (CAPWAP, TNOWAVE) in most cases.
prevent bending stresses the piston of the statnamic
device is installed exactly on or near the center of For STN the pile load displacement behavior is
the pile head cross section. The launching of the determined by a direct method, the Unloading Point

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

Method (UPM) and in some cases by signal theoretically be two times higher than the maximum
matching. compression stress at the pile head. This is caused
by the superposition of compression stress waves at
the pile toe. So, if during DLT the compression
3.3 Economy stresses at the pile head are higher than half the
DLT has the advantage that the pile driving compressive strength of the pile material, collapse of
hammer used for pile installation can also be used the pile material at the pile toe will occur. In this
for re-driving the piles after a set-up period. case piles can only be tested up to half the
However, when the pile driving hammer has to be compressive strength of the pile material, which may
used for constant production, an additional pile not correspond with the capacity of the pile.
driving hammer or drop hammer has to be
mobilized. When the mobilization of the full pile
capacity is requested, the production hammer might For STN the pile is kept under constant
not be sufficient to mobilize pile capacity after the compression and tension waves are suppressed.
set up period and an additional heavier hammer has Superposition of compression waves at the pile will
to be mobilized. For STN the same economical not occur. As with SLT piles can be tested near to
conditions are applicable as mentioned in paragraph the compressive strength of the shaft.
2.5 (Ginneken, van G.J.J., 2000)

Table 1. Preferences for DLT or STN with respect to 4 CONCLUSIONS

economy for driven piles
Driven piles For bored concrete piles, auger piles and caissons
Soil set up DLT STN Preferred the dynamic load testing method has some
method disadvantages and is less suitable and statnamic load
low to ***** ***** DLT/STN testing is the preferred method. The most important
medium reasons for the preference of statnamic load testing
medium to ** ***** STN in the case of cast in situ piles are:
high
1. Accuracy in load measurement
STN is not dependent on pile material and cross
section properties
3.4 Mobilization of capacity 2. No influence of cross sectional variations
Set up phenomena can increase the soil resistance STN results are not influenced by cross sectional
considerably. The pile driving hammer used for pile variations over the pile length
installation might not be able to mobilize the full 3. No tension during compressive testing
pile capacity in such a case. STN long duration loading will keep pile under
Another reason that capacity can not be mobilized constant compressive pressure
with DLT is that the load cannot be increased 4. Concentric loading
because compression or tension stresses becoming Easy placement of STN loading device in center
too high. of the pile
5. Pile and soil response closer to static
With STN the pile moves as one unit, similar to
To mobilize the pile capacity a STN device will static load tests. Stress wave phenomena can be
be sent to the building site with at least a neglected resulting in a simple method of analysis
corresponding loading capacity. Only when the piles
are over-designed will the full bearing capacity not For driven piles both DLT and STN methods can
be mobilized. be applied reliably and each has its advantages and
disadvantages. A big economic advantage for DLT
can be the use of the production rig for testing. A big
3.5 Chance of pile damage advantage for STN is the fact that maximum
For DLT there are some cases with a chance of available energy can be used to mobilize capacity
pile damage. In the case of low friction and a soft and that that testing does not have to be stopped
toe response tension waves will be generated during when tensional stresses become too high like with
DLT. When the maximum allowable tension stresses DLT.
are reached the load on the pile cannot be increased
because this will generate higher tension stresses and
the pile will experience damage. In the case of a pile 5 REFERENCES
with a hard toe response, for example pile toe on
rock, the compressive stresses at the pile toe can

www.profound.nl
 6th International Conference on the Application of Stress Wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2000

Abbasi, A.F., Al-Tayyib,1990. Effect of hot

weather on pulse velocity and modulus of elasticity
of concrete. Materials and Structures, 1990, 23,
pp334-340

Ginneken, van G.J.J., 2000, Introduction

Statnamic Load Testing in Europe, Case Studies in
the Netherlands. Proceedings of the Sixth
International Conference on the Application of
Stress-wave Theory to Piles, Sao Paulo.

Holeyman, A.E., 1992. Keynote Lecture:

Technology of Pile Dynamic Testing. Proceedings
of the Fourth International Conference on the
Application of Stress-wave Theory to Piles, The
Hague, F.B.J. Barends, Editor, A.A. Balkema
Publishers, pp195-215.

Franklin, R.E., King, T.M.J. 1971, Relations

between compressive and indirect-tensile strength of
concrete, Road Research Laboratory, RRL Report
LR 412

Madan B. Karkee, Takashi Horiguchi, Hideaki

Kishida. Static and Dynamic Tests for Evaluation of
the Vertical Load Bearing Capacity of Piles. , 22nd
DFI Annual Member's Conference, Toronto,
Canada, 1997, pp199-214

Sparks, P.R., Menzies, J.B., 1973. The effect of

rate of loading upon the static and fatique strength of
plain concrete in compression. Magazine of
Concrete Research, Vol 25/ 1973, No. 83, pp 73-80.

www.profound.nl