Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA)

The PDA verifies the bearing capacity of all types of drilled or driven deep foundations. Tests are quick and non-destructive.
Pile Driving Analyzers acquire data from acceleration and strain sensors attached to the foundation, and process these signals as the foundation element is impacted by a pile driving hammer or other suitable drop weight. This process is called High Strain Dynamic Test, and may take the form of Dynamic Pile Monitoring or of a Dynamic Load Test.
Dynamic Pile Monitoring is performed during initial driving of piles and provides information on driving hammer performance, driving stresses, pile integrity and capacity at the time of testing. When performed on test piles it can help establish a driving criterion, and during the production phase it contributes to a safe and economical pile installation.
Dynamic Load Tests are performed on drilled shafts, continuous flight auger, cast in situ or
driven piles to determine their ultimate bearing capacity. The test consists of acquiring PDA
data and analyzing it with the CAPWAP® software. Dynamic Load Test results correlate very well with foundation capacities obtained from conventional static load tests. The test also confirms the structural integrity of the foundation element.