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Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.
Establishment of a Management Association of “Simplified Load Testing Method for Piles” Using Human Power
- Contributing to Further Improvement of
Quality and Performance of Foundation Piles -
Tokyo, Japan - July 04, 2023 - Penta-Ocean Construction (President, Takuzo Shimizu) and other twelve corporations, namely, Asanuma Corporation, Okumura Corporation, Kumagai Gumi, Sato Kougyo, Seibu Construction, Toa Corporation, Tokyo Soil Research, Toda Corporation, Nishimatsu Construction, Haseko Corporation, Center for Better Living, Matsumura-Gumi Corporation (listed in Japanese alphabetical order), in regards to the results of their joint research on simplified load testing of piles (foundation piles), have established a management association thereof under the name of Association for Simplified Load Testing of Piles.
The Simplified Load Testing of Piles is a new testing method (Patent No. 7046126) which enables evaluation of the load-displacement relationships of a pile by simple manual hits applied to the pile head (Fig. 1). The load-displacement relationships are evaluated based on the proportional relationship between the dynamic load applied to the pile head by a impulse hammer hit and the responsive pile head displacement generated from the motion sensors at the time of the hit. Regarding the intellectual property rights related to the testing method, the Association for Simplified Load Testing of Piles will act as a representative of the 13 joint research member corporations and will provide a smooth one-stop service from responding to inquiries from third parties to licensing of the patent.
Figure 1 Outline of the technology and actual testing
1.Outline of the Method
Since the tilting of buildings resulting from defective piling work has been put under scrutiny, the performance analysis of piles attracts much attention. Furthermore, while we recently witness increasing demand for reuse of old piles in demolition and rebuilding projects from economic and environmental perspectives, performance verification of (existing) piles are particularly required for these cases.
1. The method performs evaluation of load-displacement relationships of piles in a short time and at a low cost (for both horizontal and vertical loading) without the use of a heavy loading device. Under the conditions of the testing during the joint research (Fig. 2), a test which would have cost 5 million yen and taken 4 weeks to complete by the conventional method was completed within 30 minutes of two man powers at a cost of JPY 200,000*1.
2. Simple and fast testing enables more efficient performance evaluation of a larger number of piles compared to conventional method. Advantages such as prevention of tilting of buildings and enhancement in safety performance when reusing existing piles are expected.
3. The testing method involves a very small load range using human power and is a completely nondestructive testing technique with minimum effect on the pile and the ground.
2.Future development
Going forward, as a member of the Association for Simplified Load Testing of Piles, we will actively promote and encourage the use of the testing method, and ensure the quality and performance of piles in both building construction and civil engineering projects.
