Quality Control Method for Pile Driving

Abstract

Quality control criteria for driven piles are developed using the framework of acceptance-sampling analysis based on the statistical data of static and dynamic load tests. The static and dynamic load tests are often carried out for quality control and verification of load-carrying capacity of driven piles. The number of load tests and the acceptance criterion of measured capacities are discussed in this technical note. The relationship between the number of load tests and the criterion on acceptance of measured capacity is elucidated. It is shown that the measured capacity required to assure adequate quality control decreases with an increase in the number of load tests. Either the number of load tests or the target measured capacity or both needs to be increased in order to obtain a higher target reliability index. The number of load tests associated with the acceptance criteria of the measured capacities is recommended in this technical note for the static and dynamic pile test methods to achieve different levels of reliability.