The integrity of pile foundations can be verified. Acoustic testing allows any anomalies to be detected. Using advanced computer analyses, combined with cone penetration test (CPT) data and the soil profile, it is possible to determine whether these anomalies affect the load-bearing capacity of the pile. To ensure an objective and reliable assessment, Vroom Funderingstechnieken commissions independent, specialist testing companies to carry out ultrasonic testing of the piles. Based on the results of these tests, the structural integrity of each individual pile is assessed and documented in a report.
Operating Principle
In acoustic testing, a strike with a plastic hammer on the pile head generates a sound wave in the pile. An accelerometer captures the reflections from the pile shaft and sends this to a processing unit, where the signal is filtered and amplified. The shock wave travels through the pile longitudinally to the pile tip and back to the pile head. The speed of this process depends on the modulus of elasticity and the density of the pile material (concrete). The travel speed of the induced shock wave ranges from 3700 to 4000 m/sec for piles formed in the ground and from 4000 to 4400 m/sec for precast concrete piles.
