Propagation characteristics of transient waves in low-strain integrity testing on cast-in-situ concrete thin-wall pipe piles

The three-dimensional effects of pile head and the applicability of plane-section assumption are main problems in low-strain dynamic tests on cast-in-situ concrete thin-wall pipe piles. The velocity and displacement responses were calculated by a theoretical formula deduced by the authors. The frequency and influencing factor of high-frequency interference were analyzed. A numerical method was established to calculate the peak value and arrival time of incoming waves on top of the piles. The regularity along circumferential and the influence of radius or impulse width were studied. The applicability of plane-section assumption was investigated by comparison of velocity responses at different points in the sections at different depths. The waveform of velocity response at different points forked after the first peak, indicating that the propagation of stress waves did not well meet the plane- section assumption. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2008, 30 (3): 414–419 [译自: 岩土工程学报]