PROJECTS AND
NEWS
BUILDSmart: FASTER WAY
OF DOING PILE LOAD TESTS
Gone are the days where many heavy concrete blocks were stacked to test for pile capability. The StatRapid, a new rapid load testing equipment, is an alternative to the traditional static load testing method. With the StatRapid, the construction process is faster and lighter, and uses less labour, and reduces the carbon footprint.
Each STATRAPID comprises a modular drop mass, a catch mechanism and a modular soft spring system. The mechanism of assembling and dismantling blocks is not as complex as the conventional method, and is hydraulically operated, requiring few men to carry out the operation.
The development of the STATRAPID is based on principles from the Rapid Load Testing process. Advances in technology aided the development of this self-contained machine, which is capable of its loading weights up to four metres high. Adhering to the Rapid Load Testing principles, the loading pulse generated on the pile by the STATRAPID is equivalent to that of the Static Load testing Method.
StatRapid
What it is:
A Rapid Load Testing equipment that is a quickly replacement of the mobilisation and stacking of concrete blocks of a kentledge test.
STATRAPID replace the time consuming stacking of conrete weights of the kentledge tests
Benefits:
- With the StatRapid, only 6 workers are needed for every pile load test, which can be completed in 2 days. Using concrete blocks, 18 workers are needed, and 16 days are required for completion.
- Faster method reduces interference with site logistics.
- Reduces carbon footprint
Downloads:
- BCA Buildsmart – StatRapid feature (Full magazine) [ coming soon…]
- StatRapid BuildSmart Feature
Singapore Housing Project
Gone are the days where many heavy concrete blocks were stacked to test for pile capability. The StatRapid, a new rapid load testing equipment, is an alternative to the traditional static load testing method. With the StatRapid, the construction process is faster and lighter, and uses less labour, and reduces the carbon footprint.
For the construction of almost 2000 housing units in Singapore, 3,732 piles have to be bored with the dimensions of the piles ranging
between 500 and 1,200 mm.
As requisted by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) a total of 34 piles were subjected to testing. Instead all Kentledge tests, many tests could be replaced by StatRapid tests. From the 34 piles tested, 15 were instrumented ultimate load tests, including 8 correlation test between Static Load test and StatRapid load test. For 29 other piles, working load tests were applied.
In this project, as all projects, the time schedule was tight. In order to get the installation of the working piles done in 4 months, required also fast progress in the pile testing program. As result it worked out that a significant advantage in time could be reached. The StatRapid test took only a few days to perform, where a traditional static Kentledge test took a few weeks to perform. The advantages of Statrapid for this project is straight forward: cost reduction by time reduction. No, or limited, interference with other construction activities on site leads to signifant gains in both time and costs. After construction the piles, both the engineering consulants, the main contractor and the piling contractor were satisfied with the obtained results in this project.
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