A Novel Method for Testing the Effect of Base Post-Grouting of Super-Long Piles

The base post-grouting technology is widely used in pile foundation engineering to improve its behavior. For super-long piles, due to the large compression of pile shaft, conventional static load tests cannot effectively test the effect of post-grouting at the pile base. This study introduced a novel method to test the effect of base post-grouting of three 88 m long piles. A total of three test piles were grouted at the bottom of the piles. The grouting amount of the No. 1 pile was 500 kg, the No. 2 pile was 250 kg, and the No. 3 pile was 0 kg. The transmitted wave method in the pile and dynamic penetration method were used in combination to quantitatively evaluate the effect of base post-grouting on the soil below the pile base. The influencing range of base post-grouting was firstly evaluated by the transmitted wave method in the pile, and the strength of the soil before and after grouting under the same pile base was measured by the dynamic penetration method. The test results showed that: the depth of the pile base reinforcement was 2 m for No. 1 pile, and 1 m for No. 2 pile, which was consistent with the grouting amount; the elastic modulus of the soil below the pile base after base post-grouting was about twice that of the soil before base post-grouting; the strength of the soil below pile base was largely improved after grouting; and the bearing capacity of the base soil layer increased from 35.5% to 41.7% when the grouting amount increased from 250 kg to 500 kg.

Automated summary

This study introduced a novel method to test the effect of base post-grouting of super-long piles, and the test results showed that the strength and bearing capacity of the soil below the pile base were significantly improved after base post-grouting.