Value of pile tests to inform detailed design in Canada

Andrew Sorrie, Andrew Cushing, Michael Lewis

In the proceedings of: GeoEdmonton 2018: 71st Canadian Geotechnical Conference; 13th joint with IAH-CNC

Session: Risk Management in Geotechnical Projects

ABSTRACT: It is generally apparent to geotechnical designers that having access to pile load test data prior to the detailed design stage reduces the quantity and magnitude of design unknowns and allows for somewhat less conservative design assumptions, resulting in a more efficient pile design. Unfortunately, for many projects, particularly lump sum public private partnerships (P3), pile load test data is not available to inform the design, acting only to validate conservative assumptions at a later stage. The barriers are typically commercial, however this misses a valuable opportunity for more efficient design, reduced construction cost and benefits by virtue of increased risk awareness, reduction, and mitigation. The combined benefits gained when pile test data is available early will typically outweigh the initial financial outlay for the test. This study will consider a number of case studies to highlight the benefits and risks of undertaking pile tests in the tender stage and/or early in the project execution phase to better inform commercial decisions.

RÉSUMÉ: Il est acquis pour les concepteurs géotechniques que l'accès aux données d'essai de charge de pieux avant la phase de conception détaillée réduit la quantité et l'ampleur des incon hypothèses de conception moins conservatrices, ce qui produit une conception plus efficiente. Malheureusement, pour de nombreux projets, en particulier les partenariats public-privé à prix forfaitaire (P3), les données d'essai de charge de pieux ne sont pas disponibles pour informer la conception, servant simplement à valider les hypothèses conservatrices après le fait. sont généralement commerciaux, mais cela laisse passer une opportunité précieuse pour une conception plus efficiente, une réduction des coûts de construction et des avantages «immatériels» supplémentaires en raison de la prise de conscience, de la réduction et de mitigation des risques. Les généralement sur en évidence les de la phase d'exécution du projet.

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Cite this article:
Andrew Sorrie; Andrew Cushing; Michael Lewis (2018) Value of pile tests to inform detailed design in Canada in GEO2018. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{geo2018Paper243,author = Andrew Sorrie; Andrew Cushing; Michael Lewis,title = Value of pile tests to inform detailed design in Canada ,year = 2018}