SIMBAT

DynamicPileTesting

Features

DynamicPileTestingSystem
TheSIMBATtechniquewasdevelopedbya
FrenchgeotechnicalengineercalledPaquet
in the 1980s. Since when, the method has
been developed further by Testconsult and
has gained in popularity over traditional
dynamictestingtechniques.Thecorediffer
encesare:

A high speed optical/digital theodolite is

usedtorecordrealtimedisplacement.

A series of high and low strain blows are

used, so static reaction to be determined
withoutassumingsoildampingfactors

Displacement data from the theodolite is

usedtocorrectaccelerometerdata

Simulation model is based on accurate dis

placement,ratherthancalculatedvelocity

These differences mean that SIMBAT has

been independently rated the most accu
rate high strain dynamic testing method

SIMBATEN08804

available.Themethodiscommonlyused
on both precast and cast in place piles
todetermineperformance.
.

SimbatSoftware
TheSIMBATanalysissoftwareissupplied
asstandard.ItisWindowsbasedanduser
friendly.Modulesenableyoutocalculate
theimpedanceofthepiletestcapand
pileshaftseparatelyandanalyseeach
blowindividuallytodeterminedynamic
reactionanddisplacement..Thesoftware
canpresentresultsintabularformat,as
wellaspresentingtheseparationof
forcescurvesandthepredictedstatic
loadsettlementplot.

AnintegralpartoftheSIMBATsoftwareis
anumericalsimulation,wherebyexperi
mentalsignalsareintroducedintothe
programmeandcomparedwiththeoreti
callygeneratedsignals.Skinfrictionand
endbearingcomponentsofthepile/soil
systemcanthenbederived.

UniqueTheodolitemeasures
elasticandpermanentdisplace
mentremotely
Ruggedhandheldacquisition
unit,weighslessthan2Kg
Storageforover700results
InstantDynamicReactionand
Displacementreadings
BacklightLCDscreenforworking
indarkenvironments
Simulationsoftwareforanalysis
ofpileshaftandendbearingre
sistance

Load/Settlementplotoutput

Batterypoweredsystem

Suitableforbothcastinplace
andprecastpiles

NDTinConstruction

SIMBATSpecifications
AcquisitionUnit

StandardInclusions

Acquisition: 4channel,16bitacquisitionat
10Khz sample rate. Pretrigger, auto gain
andautobalancingofstraingauges.
Storage: 700+results,including3datasets
per pile with full header informationsite,
pile no, diameter, operator, transducers
anddate/timestamp.
Keypad:Sealedcolourcodedandfullalpha
numerickeypad,tactileandaudiofeedback
OperatingTemperature:0to50DegC
Size:L218xW187xD55mm
Weight:1.35Kg
Display: Monochrome LCD Transflective
with backlight. Contrast keypad adjustable.
Display area 122x70mm. Protective anti
reflectiveglass.
Backlight:Backlitdisplaywithautooff
Connectors: Waterproof Lemo type, each
withuniqueconfiguration.
Battery:1.2VNiMHrechargeableAAcells
BatteryLife:8hrs+operationonfullcharge
BatteryChargeTime:Approx6Hrs
Charger: External wall plugin charger for
100/110/250VAC inputs. External cigar
pluginchargerfor12VDCinputs
BatteryIndicator

Simbat Acquisition Unit, Simbat, 2No PCB

Accelerometers, Theodolite cable reel,
acquisitionconnectionbox,acquisitionbox
cable reel, accelerometer connection ca
bles,straingaugeconnectioncables,10No
strain gauges, fixing kit including target,
Datatransfercable,ACAdapterchargerfor
unit and theodolite, DC Charger lead for
unit, Waterproof carry cases for unit and
theodolite, Protective pouch with neck
strap,InstructionManual,SimbatSoftware
CD, Calibration certificates, 1 Year Limited
Warranty

Theodolite

High speed optical theodolite with integral

with laser targeting and halogen target
illumination.
Battery:NiMHrechargeable
BatteryLife:6hrs+operationonfullcharge
BatteryChargeTime:Approx7Hrs
Charger: External wall plugin charger for
100/110/250VAC inputs. External cigar
pluginchargerfor12VDCinputs
Accuracy:0.14mm@5m

Sensors
Accelerometers: 2No PCB 350B04 5000g
typewithICPpowersupply.
Strain Gauges: 60mmfoiltypeforaccurate
measurements.
Calibration: both accelerometers and the
theodolite supplied are calibrated, using
reference equipment traceable to UK na
tionalstandards(UKAS).Recommendedre
calibrationintervalis1year.

SimbatSoftware
TheSimbatsoftwareisaneasytouseWin
dows based platform for analysing results
and producing reports. Typical plots are
shown to the right. All modules including
the simulation module are included as
standard.

Methodology
Themethodisbasedonthepropagationof
waves in long elastic cylinders. When the
piletopisstruckwiththefallingweightthe
pile section is deformed (enlarged) and
this enlargement travels down the pile to
the toe where it is reflected back up. In a
free,undampedpilestheparticlevelocity
of the return wave would be identical to
theoriginalwave.
When the pile is surrounded and re
strained by soil, part of the wave is re
flectedbackupateachandeveryexternal
restraint, the remainder of the wave con
tinues downwards. So at any one time
there are both upwards and downwards
forcesandvelocitiesinthepile.

The SIMBAT technique is able to separate

these upwards and downwards forces, F
(up) and F (down) and calculate dynamic
soil reaction, Rdy, as the difference be
tweentheupwardsforceinafreepileand
the real upwards force measured. The
conversionofdynamictostaticreactionis
carriedoutbyexpressingRdyas:

Rdy=RSTAT+(K.ep)a

Where:ep=permanentpenetration.K=a
parameterwhichisafunctionofthepile
andthesequenceoftheblow.a=apa
rameterwhichisafunctionofthesoil.

TestconsultLimited

www.testconsult.co.uk
huw@testconsult.co.uk

DisplacementandStrainData

RubyHouse,40AHardwickGrange
Warrington,Cheshire,UnitedKingdom
Tel:+44(0)1925286895,Fax:+44(0)1925286881

SeparationofForcesPlot

Dynamic/StaticLoadSettlementPlot

SimulationSoftware