Bored Piles and Caissons

The O-cell® is used in production (proof tests) and non-production (preliminary test) piles either attached to the pile/shaft’s reinforcing steel cage or placed using a steel beam carrier frame. Multiple O-cells can be used and placed on the same plane to increase the available test capacity.

The results from the O-cell load test are the reason more engineers and contractors are turning to the O-cell. Since the end bearing and the upward shear resistance are measured independently, there is no guesswork in how much load was carried by each component.

There are several advantages to using the O-cell method of load testing a bored pile or drilled shaft, specifically when faced with some of the following site conditions; off-shore, a confined area, high loads, rock sockets or piles with deep cutoffs.

Bored piles of 120m depth and up to 3m diameter have been tested.

As the load is applied to the O-cell, it begins working in two directions; upward against upper skinf friction and downward against base resistance and lower side shear (if applicable).

Preliminary pile testing is typically performed until the ultimate capacity in either friction upwards or friction downwards plus end bearing is reached, so the maximum unit loads can accurately be obtained. The addition of strain gauges within the shaft/pile can help in determining the distribution of load throughout the shaft length. An O-cell load test also provides information about creep limit loads in shear and end bearing.

As required, LOADTEST can provide, or assist with preparing a complete report documenting the O-cell test data and results. We routinely provide the equivalent top-down load movement curve.

Bored Piles and Caissons

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