Designation: D5882 − 16

Standard Test Method for

Low Strain Impact Integrity Testing of Deep Foundations1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5882; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-

1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
the integrity of individual vertical or inclined piles by measur- NOTE 1—he quality of the result produced by this test method is
ing and analyzing the velocity (required) and force (optional) dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
response of the pile induced by an (hand held hammer or other suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
similar type) impact device usually applied axially and perpen- and objective testing/sampling/ inspection/etc. Users of this test method
dicularly to the pile head surface. This test method is applicable are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself
to long structural elements that function in a manner similar to assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice
any deep foundation units (such as driven piles, augeured piles, D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
or drilled shafts), regardless of their method of installation
provided that they are receptive to low strain impact testing. 2. Referenced Documents
1.2 This standard provides minimum requirements for low 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
strain impact testing of piles. Plans, specifications, and/or D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
provisions prepared by a qualified engineer, and approved by Fluids
the agency requiring the test(s), may provide additional re- D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
quirements and procedures as needed to satisfy the objectives Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
of a particular test program. Used in Engineering Design and Construction
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
1.3 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes Data
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes D6760 Test Method for Integrity Testing of Concrete Deep
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered Foundations by Ultrasonic Crosshole Testing
as requirements of the standard. D7949 Test Methods for Thermal Integrity Profiling of
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as Concrete Deep Foundations
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard. 3. Terminology
1.5 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the 3.1 Definitions—Except as defined in 3.2, the terminology
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in used in this test method conforms with Terminology D653.
Practice D6026. 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.6 The method used to specify how data are collected, 3.2.1 pile integrity, n—the qualitative evaluation of the
calculated, or recorded in this standard is not directly related to physical dimensions, continuity of a pile, and consistency of
the accuracy to which the data can be applied in design or other the pile material.
uses, or both. How one applies the results obtained using this 3.2.2 pile impedance, n—the dynamic Young’s modulus of
standard is beyond its scope. the pile material multiplied by the applicable cross sectional
1.7 This standard may involve hazardous materials, area of the pile and divided by the strain wave speed.
operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to 3.2.3 pulse echo method, n—test in which measurements of
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its the pile head velocity and force (force measurement optional)
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to are evaluated as a function of time.

1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
2
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.11 on Deep Foundations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2016. Published July 2016. Originally approved contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D5882 – 07(2013). DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D5882-16. the ASTM website.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 D5882 − 16
3.2.4 transient response method, n—test in which the ratio equivalent in performance to the specified accelerometers.
of velocity transform to force transform (force measurement Calibrate the transducer to an accuracy of 5 % throughout the
required) are evaluated as a function of frequency. applicable measurement range. If damage is suspected during
use, recalibrate or replace the accelerometer.
4. Significance and Use 5.2.2 Force Measurement (optional)—The impact device
4.1 Low strain impact integrity testing provides acceleration shall be capable of measuring the impact force as a function of
or velocity and force (optional) data on slender structural time. The hammer may have a force load cell between the tip
elements (that is, structural columns, driven concrete piles, cast and hammer body. Alternatively, the hammer may have an
in place concrete piles, concrete filled steel pipe piles, timber accelerometer attached and the measured acceleration may be
piles, etc.). The method works best on solid concrete sections, converted to force using the hammer mass. The force calibra-
and has limited application to unfilled steel pipe piles, H piles, tion shall be within 5 %. The hammer must be tuned such that
or steel sheet piles. These data assist evaluation of the pile the fourrier transform of the measured force shall have a
cross-sectional area and length, the pile integrity and smooth spectrum, without any local peaks.
continuity, as well as consistency of the pile material, although 5.2.3 Placement of Transducers—The motion sensor should
evaluation is approximate. This test method will not provide be placed at or near the pile head using a suitable, or temporary,
information regarding the pile bearing capacity. It is generally thin layer of bonding material (that is, wax, vaseline, putty etc.)
helpful to consider the soil profile, construction method and so that it is assured that it correctly measures the axial pile
site records when evaluating data obtained by this method. motion (transducer axis of sensitivity aligned with the pile
Other useful information to consider and compare with results axis). The motion sensor is placed generally near the center of
of this test includes low strain integrity test results of similar the pile. Additional locations should be considered for piles
piles at the same site, concrete cylinder or core strength test with diameters greater than 500 mm. The low strain impact
results, automated monitoring data on equipment placing the should be applied to the pile head within a distance of 300 mm
concrete when augered piles are used, or information obtained from the motion sensor. If the pile head is not accessible, as
from crosshole sonic logging (Test Method D6760) or thermal when already integral with the structure, the sensor(s) may be
integrity profiling (Test Methods D7949) if available. attached to the side of the pile shaft.
4.1.1 Methods of Testing: 5.3 Signal Transmission—The signals from the sensors shall
4.1.1.1 Pulse Echo Method (PEM)—The pile head motion is be conveyed to the apparatus for recording, reducing, and
measured as a function of time. The time domain record is then displaying the data, see 5.4, by a low noise shielded cable or
evaluated for pile integrity. equivalent.
4.1.1.2 Transient Response Method (TRM)—The pile head
5.4 Apparatus for Recording, Reducing and Displaying
motion and force (measured with an instrumented hammer) are
Data:
measured as a function of time. The data are evaluated usually
5.4.1 General—The signals from the motion and force
in the frequency domain.
(optional) sensors, see 5.2, shall be conveyed to an apparatus
for recording, reducing, and displaying data as a function of
5. Apparatus
time. The apparatus shall include a graphic display of velocity
5.1 Apparatus for Applying Impact: (Fig. 1) and force (optional), and a data storage capability for
5.1.1 Impact Force Application—The impact may be deliv- retrieving records for further analysis. . The velocity display
ered by any device (for example, a hand held hammer) that will can be referenced either to the initial rise, as shown, or to the
produce an input force pulse of generally less than 1 ms first peak. The apparatus should be capable of averaging data of
duration and should not cause any local pile damage due to the
impact. A hammer with a very hard plastic tip can induce a
short input force pulse without causing local pile damage. The
impact should be applied axially to the pile (normally on the
pile head).
5.2 Apparatus for Obtaining Measurements:
5.2.1 Velocity Measurement—Obtain velocity data from in-
tegration of signals from (one or more) accelerometers, pro-
vided the acceleration signal(s) can be integrated to velocity in
the apparatus for reducing data. The accelerometer(s) should
be placed at (or near) the pile head and shall have their
sensitive axis parallel with the pile axis. Accelerometers shall
be linear to at least 50 g. Either A/C or D/C accelerometers can
be used. If A/C devices are used, the time constant shall be
greater than 0.5 s and the resonant frequency shall be at least
30 000 Hz. If D/C devices are used, they shall have frequency
FIG. 1 Typical Velocity Traces for the Pulse Echo Method Gener-
response up to 5 000 Hz with less than −3 dB reduction of ated by the Apparatus for Obtaining Dynamic Measurements
content. Alternatively, velocity or displacement transducers (note the orientation of the input pulse is shown as positive in
may be used to obtain velocity data, provided they are this standard; orientation could also be shown negative)