Testing Methods of Driven Piles on INDOT Demonstration Projects

Pile driving is a rather brutal method of foundation construction. A heavy mass hammers the pile until it is installed in the ground. When installed, the pile may be bent or straight, and it may be capable of carrying a high or low load. Since most of the pile is underground and out of sight, one is not too sure. The quality of the finished product has two aspects: The structural integrity of the pile and its ability to carry the applied load as a structural elements; and the load deformation relationship between the pile and the supporting foundation soils.