Shaft vs toe resistance
See exactly how load transfers to each soil layer.
Foundation Testing
Instrumented Pile Load Test
Pile load testing with embedded instrumentation to separate shaft and toe resistance.
Overview
Piles are fitted with strain gauges or similar sensors at selected levels before testing. During loading the readings show how load is transferred along the shaft and to the base, giving more insight than head-settlement data alone.
A standard pile load test shows total capacity. Adding strain gauges along the pile shows where that capacity comes from: how much is carried by the shaft and how much by the base. That insight often allows safer, more economical foundation design.
- Instrumentation installed at defined levels along the pile
- Load-transfer profile from measured strains
- Shaft and end-bearing behaviour
- Supports design verification and optimisation
Key Benefits
Optimised design
Evidence for shorter or fewer piles on the production works.
Confidence in parameters
Check soil design parameters against real pile behaviour.
Better understanding of behaviour
Reveals weak layers and unexpected load transfer.
Where It Is Used
- Large bridge and viaduct piles
- High-rise foundations
- Piles in layered or weak soils
- Pre-construction test piles for design
How We Work
-
1
Plan gauge levels
Choose instrument levels based on the soil profile.
-
2
Instrument the pile
Attach strain gauges to the reinforcement cage before concreting.
-
3
Test the pile
Load in stages while reading gauges and pile-head movement.
-
4
Derive load transfer
Convert strains into load along the pile and report resistance profiles.
What You Receive
- Instrumentation layout
- Pile-head load-settlement curve
- Load-transfer profile along the pile
- Interpretation report
Frequently Asked Questions
Must instruments be installed before concreting?
Yes. Gauges are fixed to the cage so they are cast into the pile.
Can this reduce foundation cost?
It can, when results justify a more efficient design, but that is decided by the project designer.
Have an infrastructure testing or monitoring requirement?
Tell us about your project — our engineering team will follow up on scope, instrumentation and approach.