The PIR-Q is an Automated Monitoring Equipment that assists in the correct installation of augered cast in place (ACIP) / continuous flight auger (CFA) and drilled displacement piles by displaying target versus actual poured concrete volume in real time.

The equipment may be installed in any crane, including those operating with low headroom. As the crane proceeds from pile to pile, the operator easily monitors the installation of every pile on the job.

The key parameters for a precise installation are pumped grout volume and auger depth. The PIR-Q accurately records and displays both in real time. The equipment consists of a main unit installed in the crane cabin, a depth measurement device*, a Foxboro magnetic flow meter, a pressure transducer that gives an indication of the auger torque and an auger rotation measurement.

The PIR-Q is totally operated through the touch screen display of the main unit. Its large readouts provide useful, easy to see information to the crane operator.

Results may be printed in the form of an installation log, on a small field printer, immediately after each pile is completed. Once data is downloaded to a computer the PIR-PLOT Software performs further analysis and outputs installation and productivity reports, along with graphs of key parameters versus depth.

The Pile Installation Recorder conforms with the Federal Highway Administration Geotechnical Engineering Circular (GEC) #8 – and with the Deep Foundations Institute Augered Cast-In-Place Piles Manual.

he SPT Analyzer measures the energy transferred into an instrumented SPT rod during a Standard Penetration Test (SPT). This permits the adjustment of the measured N-value to the normalized N60 for standard 60% energy transfer into the rods in accordance with ASTM D4633. Compensating for widely variable efficiencies from different SPT rigs and hammer types improves the reliability of soil strength estimates used in geotechnical designs.

Piezoresistive Accelerometer
This instrument includes a subassembly of an SPT rod that is instrumented with two strain gage bridges and two piezoresistive accelerometers. These sensors obtain the force and velocity signals necessary for the calculation of transferred energy and transfer them to the SPT Analyzer.

The latest model of SPT Analyzer has a touch screen visible in all lighting conditions and responsive to gestures like pinch and zoom. Data analysis and reporting have been substantially updated for ease of use and faster output.

The SPT Analyzer is compliant with EN ISO 22476-3:2005. ASTM D1586 recommends normalizing results from any SPT test using energy measurements. When these tests are performed to determine the liquefaction potential of sands, D6066 not only recommends but mandates the normalization. ASTM D4633 states that the only acceptable method of determining energy for normalization of N values is by force and velocity measurements.

The E-Saximeter registers all relevant pile driving parameters. It calculates the hammer operating rate in blows per minute and helps the piling inspector create a pile driving log. For single acting, open-end diesel hammers the E-Sax also displays the hammer potential energy and ram stroke. This measurement is important since excessive stroke can cause pile damage.

The E-Sax is a handheld instrument. In its basic configuration, the pile inspector observes the driving process and pushes a button for every depth increment as driving progresses. Several accessories further enhance the functionality of this time-tested sound recognition device including:

Proximity switches installed on the driving hammer and a wireless transmission system (transmitter attached to the driving hammer and E-Sax internal transceiver) enable the E-Saximeter to compute the hammer kinetic energy. Kinetic energy may be input to the GRLWEAP pile driving simulation software to fine-tune the driving criteria.
A depth measurement reel with wireless transmission capabilities eliminates the need for manual depth increment input, automating the entire creation of the driving log.
The Saximeter-Q is the latest addition to the saximeter family with new features like automatic driving logs, hammer database, and customized reports.

“Energy monitoring was specified in the (Woodrow Wilson Bridge) contract Special Provisions. The main benefit of the monitoring is for the Virginia Department of Transportation to have more accurate driving logs than are typically created by hand. When correlated with the PDA results, it allows driving criteria to be in terms of hammer energy instead of blows per foot at a certain stroke.”

– Ryan G. Gorman, P.E., Project Manager, Corman Construction, Inc.

The saximeter (SAX-Q) a rugged, dependable digital blow count device used for pile driving monitoring. The SAX-Q saves data into a predetermined and customized data format for every blow in proprietary Detailed Drive Log (DDL), which cannot be edited once defined.

During driving the SAX-Q detects a hammer impact by either a built in sound recognition circuit or by manually tapping a button on the device screen. As the hammer impacts the pile, the SAX-Q determines the time elapsed between consecutive blows, Δt, and converts this to equivalent Blows Per Minute, BPM, while also converting Δt to the stroke of an open-end diesel ram. The collected data is used to determine average values per penetration increment, for display and saving.

The SAX-Q main unit allows entering basic project, pile, and hammer information, and can be customized with additional pile driving information. The software includes a built-in hammer database, with information from most hammer manufacturers for a streamlined and simplified experience. If additional computation is needed, the device can save the collected data in tab-separated text files, for further processing using any Spreadsheet application (Microsoft® Excel or equivalent).

Using the SaxPlan program, the user can create Plans for their projects. These Plans are divided into “Footings”, each one containing an unlimited number of piles. The SaxPlan program generates a file containing all the Plan information. This file is then exported to the devices that will be used for testing the piles on a given job. Several files can be exported to a given device. Optionally, the Plan can be sent to a secure Cloud server.

Upon entering pile data, the user will select the Plan and Footing, producing an illustration of all piles. The user can then select the individual pile and the type of test to be performed. Once completed, the data will be saved in the DDL file, which will be uploaded to the Cloud or copied to a USB memory device. The saved and un-editable data is then added to the SaxPlan database.

The SaxPlan program will then be able to generate detailed drawings of the Footings, showing the piles and their respective driving and restrike information.

The Pile Integrity Tester (PIT) may be used on most concrete or wood foundations. The PIT may also be used to test piles integral in the structure, such as those supporting existing bridges or towers, and may assess their length.

The PIT performs wave equation-based non-destructive foundation investigations known as Low Strain Impact Integrity Tests or Low Strain Dynamic Tests. These test may be performed by the Pulse (or Sonic) Echo or Transient Response Methods. With the PIT, any form of the test is performed fast, potentially making it possible to test every pile on a job site.

The PIT test consists of attaching one or two accelerometers to the foundation and using a hand-held hammer to impact it. The PIT collects the acceleration data and displays curves that reveal any significant changes in cross section that may exist along the shaft. The PIT-W software post-processes the data and generates reports, while the PIT-S software simulates a PIT test and performs simplified signal matching to assess the shape of the foundation.
The Pile Integrity Tester is available in several configurations to match the needs of each user. Find out which model is right for you here.

PIT-QV and PIT-QFV have a large screen and read data from traditional (cabled) accelerometers and/or instrumented hammers.

All models of the Pile Integrity Tester are battery powered, operated through a high visibility touch screen, and include a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) feature and a license of PIT-W Standard Software. All comply with ASTM D5882 (Low Strain), ASTM D8381 (Parallel Seismic), and many other codes and specifications.

The Cross Hole Analyzer determines the quality and consistency of the concrete of drilled shafts, slurry walls, bored piles, cast-in-situ piles and other types of concrete foundations via CSL testing. PDI’s Cross Hole Analyzer (CHAMP-Q) is ideal for testing four probes (six profiles) in just one pull, saving time and money. CHAMP-Q has color coded wires for easy identification of probe receiving/transmitting. The CHAMP-Q meets or exceeds the specifications of ASTM D6760 and several other crosshole sonic logging codes and standards.

Test the entire shaft with CHAMP-Q
Once a shaft is prepared with PVC or steel tubes during construction, transceivers are lowered into the access tubes and probe one will transmit a high frequency signal that travels through the concrete and is detected by the other probes which are acting as receivers. This action is repeated with the other probes being automatically configured as transmitters sequentially allowing up to six profiles to be scanned with a single pull. As these sensors are raised and/or lowered along the length of the foundation, the CHAMP-Q displays and records the strength of the received signal, as well as the time from signal emission to signal arrival as a function of depth.

In CSL testing, scanning various tube combinations for the entire shaft allows evaluation of concrete quality and defect location along the length and by quadrant. With the CHAMP-Q, the user can pull four cables at once, each color coded for easy identification, and via a newly designed, space efficient tri-pod.

The CHAMP-Q Main Unit is portable, light and rugged featuring:

Fast and accurate field measurements
Large sun light readable color LCD touch screen that is highly visible in all lighting conditions.
Optimized data entry for real time analysis onsite (waterfall diagram)
Replaceable battery and USB ports for quick and easy data transfer
CHAMP’s CHA-W Data Processing Software provides powerful tools for data analysis such as:

Ability to simultaneously review six data profiles
History mapping of already collected data
First Arrival Time (FAT) detection
Easy defect identification
Two methods of signal strength evaluation (energy or amplitude)
CHA-W reporting tools comprise of user customized graphs and tables:

Sonic Map – Signal strength versus time and depth in traditional waterfall diagram
First Arrival Time – Signal travel time from transmitter to receiver, versus depth
Wave-speed Plot – Wave-speed (an indicator of concrete strength) versus depth
Wave–speed Table – Wave-speeds, means and standard deviations
Energy or Amplitude Plot – Signal strength versus depth
Defect location graphically (horizontal redline) and in table format