When sustainability requires old pile reuse, PSI offers a way to measure what pile length is real there.
Description
PSI uses the well-known Parallel Seismic method to establish the depth of existing pile foundations where the superstructure (i.e., existing building) precludes access to the pile's head. This is usually required when renovating or expanding old buildings and bridges that intend to use the existing original structure piles.
The test requires the installation of a plastic access tube filled with water that is parallel and as close as possible to the tested pile. The tube should be carried down to a depth exceeding the assumed pile length by a margin of 8-10m. The tube must be firmly grouted in the hole in unsaturated soil to achieve good coupling with the surrounding soil.
PSI2 is compliant with the following standards: AFNOR NF P94-160-3, ASTM D8381-21.
System Components:
- PSI instrument;
- Sledgehammer equipped with a trigger switch;
- Digital depth meter (Optionally wireless);
- Hydrophone.
Operation
As the hydrophone is lowered in stages inside the access tube, the superstructure is hit with the hammer and the pulse arriving at the hydrophone is recorded in the PC that is connected to the instrument. When all the pulses thus collected are plotted versus the respective depths, they show a typical break in the slope at the depth where the pile tip is located.
Main features
- Easy to use: It is usually self-taught in less than a day. No additional expensive training is needed.
- Connects to any PC/Laptop via a standard USB port.
- Interpretation assistance and Second Opinion Services (SOS) are included.
Specifications
| Housing |
Sensor: Rugged metal case
Instrument: Rugged, Environment-proof |
| Dimensions |
210W x 140L x 40H (instrument only) |
| Weight |
6.0 kg (instrument with 50m cable)
0.8 kg (instrument only)
13.0kg (Typical shipping) |
| Temperature range |
Operating : -25°C to 50°C
Storage : -40°C to 70°C |
| Humidity |
90% (non-condensing) |
| Waterproof |
Sensor: Waterproof to 5ATM
Instrument: IP62, 90% condensation (light rain) |
| Power External |
USB cable, from computing device |
| Hydrophone |
100Hz ~ 4kHz in stainless enclosure, 25 mm diameter |
| Cables |
Heavy-duty polyurethane on reel |
| Sample rate |
50kHz (20μS resolution) |
| Resolution |
16bit A/D + 14 gain levels = 30bit dynamic range |
| Depth accuracy |
3mm resolution <0.1% error |
| Pile length |
1m-50m |
| Productivity |
10-15 min (depending on pile length) per pile |
| Memory Storage |
Unlimited |
| Reporting |
Arrival time vs. depth, Pile tip depth, Wave speed in the pile |
| Language |
Multi-lingual report generation in MS Word format |
| Computer (Minimum) |
Windows Win7/Win10/Win11, Screen resolution 1280 x 1024 min |
