Fast results
Many piles can be tested in a day, so more of the foundation is verified.
Structural Testing
Dynamic Load Test
Dynamic and impact loading tests that measure how foundations and structures respond under fast loading.
Overview
Dynamic load testing applies an impact or moving load and interprets the recorded response. On deep foundations this includes high-strain dynamic testing (HSDLT / PDA) for capacity; on structures it captures vibration behaviour that static tests cannot show.
High-strain dynamic testing drops a heavy hammer on a pile and records the force and velocity at the pile head with a Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA). Wave-equation analysis of the record estimates the pile capacity, resistance distribution and driving stresses in a fraction of the time of a static test.
- High Strain Dynamic Load Test (HSDLT / PDA) on piles
- Vibration and frequency response of structures
- Faster than static testing for many applications
- Complements static load tests
Key Benefits
Lower cost per pile
No heavy reaction system or kentledge is needed.
More than capacity
Also indicates shaft and toe resistance, driving stresses and pile integrity.
Complements static tests
Good for wide coverage, with static tests kept for proof or calibration.
Where It Is Used
- Driven and bored piles on bridges and viaducts
- Piles on metro, rail and highway projects
- Piles where a static test is not practical
- Checking pile installation quality
How We Work
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1
Prepare the pile head
Level and cap the pile so the impact is axial.
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2
Attach the sensors
Mount strain gauges and accelerometers near the pile head.
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3
Apply hammer blows
Drop the hammer and record force and velocity for each blow.
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4
Analyse the record
Run signal matching to estimate capacity and resistance distribution.
What You Receive
- Blow-by-blow force and velocity records
- Estimated pile capacity
- Resistance distribution and stress checks
- Test report per pile
Key Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it as reliable as a static load test?
It is widely accepted when correlated with static test results. Many projects use dynamic tests for coverage and static tests for calibration.
What size of hammer is used?
The hammer weight is chosen to mobilise the required capacity, typically a small percentage of the test load.
Have an infrastructure testing or monitoring requirement?
Tell us about your project — our engineering team will follow up on scope, instrumentation and approach.