TECHNOLOGY UPDATE The TIP is Tops Faster results, complete coverage, ease of testing and information on cage alignment are just some of the advantages of the new Thermal Integrity Profiler By Lisa Kopochinski

iving up to its sophisticated name, the Thermal Integ- The latest development of Pile Dynamics, Inc. (PDI), in rity Profiler (TIP) is embodying a new, temperature- partnership with & based technology for concrete foundation integrity (FGE), the TIP offers a unique approach in that it uses mea- Ltesting. surements of the heat generated by curing cement to evaluate

Gina Beim, P.E., a senior consulting engineer and marketing director with Pile Dynamics Inc., collects TIP data on a worksite PHOTOS COURTESY OF PDI COURTESY PHOTOS

PILING CANADA 19 TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

The Thermal Integrity Profiler offers a unique approach in that it uses measurements of the heat generated by curing cement to evaluate the integrity of cast-in-place concrete foundations the integrity of cast-in-place concrete foundations. (Regions Joint venture that are colder than expected are indicative of necks or inclu- The TIP technology was first developed prior to 2004 at the sions – a cross-sectional area smaller than intended for the University of South Florida when an initial patent was filed. shaft. Regions that are warmer than anticipated indicate Then, in 2009, a joint effort between PDI and FGE was formed bulges – an excess of concrete in a particular location.) to incorporate this technology into the TIP instrument. In “The heat generated by curing concrete had never before 2011, the TIP was taken to market. been used to assess the quality and shape of cast-in-place “PDI and FGE realized the potential of the technology and concrete foundations,” explained Gina Beim, P.E., a senior how much it would benefit the industry,” said Beim. “The consulting engineer and marketing director with PDI. industry was lacking a test capable of evaluating the shape “Measurements may be taken by a probe inserted into access and quality of the entire foundation element without length tubes pre-installed in the shaft or by Thermal Wire® cables and diameter challenges and without skipping the important attached to the reinforcing cage.” region outside the reinforcement cage.” The TIP can test all the way to the bottom of the shaft, and the temperatures measured reflect what is happening along the entire cross section both inside and outside the reinforce- Municon Consultants ment cage. Vibration Monitoring, Construction Instrumentation, Photo Surveys “You can evaluate the entire shaft, lengthwise and cross-section-wise,” she explained. “In addition, the TIP Vibration Monitoring: Ground, Water & Air. reveals the alignment of the reinforcing cage and the con- , & Tiltmeter Systems. crete cover, which neither cross hole sonic logging (CSL) Remote Reading for Economical Long Term Monitoring nor pulse echo testing – also known as pile integrity test- ing (PIT) – can do. The TIP can also be performed much sooner than CSL or PIT, since those two need a fully cured shaft. TIP tests during curing – within 12 to 48 hours of shaft 1300 22nd Street, Suite A, San Francisco CA 94107 installation. I’m not saying that pulse echo and CSL do not Fax: 415-282-4097 Phone: 415-641-2570 have value. Pulse echo does not require pre-planning and

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CSL has years of tradition and does a very good job in the part of the cross section that it tests (inside the reinforcing “We believe that the TIP cage), but TIP gives something extra.” technology provides the best Engineers benefit representation of the shape As for those who benefit most from the TIP, Beim says it is project owners and contractors. Since the TIP provides ear- of a bored cast-in-place lier testing results, construction can proceed sooner, which pleases everyone involved. caisson in the ground.” “Foundation engineers benefit from a fuller picture of the – Mark Brotherton, Principal Geotechnical foundation shaft, which includes the area outside the rein- Engineer, Parkland Geotechnical Consulting forcement cage and the cage alignment. And the engineer performing the test benefits from increased productivity.” Mark Brotherton, a principal geotechnical engineer with Parkland Geotechnical Consulting, which has several offices the caisson shaft as a means of checking the PIT results,” he in Northern and Central Alberta, is very pleased with the TIP explained. “One of these secondary methods was CSL and system. the other was TIP testing. We chose the TIP method over “We believe that the TIP technology provides the best rep- CSL because we felt that while CSL testing was suited for resentation of the shape of a bored cast-in-place caisson in detecting necking and inclusions in a concrete shaft, it had the ground,” he said. limitations in detecting bulges.” During the preliminary work for the Eastern Alberta Brotherton adds that Parkland also chose to use the TIP Transmission Line for ATCO Electric, a detailed static load model for embedded thermal wires over the probe version. test program was undertaken on a number of driven steel “The placement of embedded thermal wires into the rein- piles and cast-in-place concrete caissons. PIT was proposed forcing steel cage of a caisson was very easy and cost effective for production pile quality control testing to determine pos- when compared to the tubes for CSL and the probe version sible variations in the concrete shaft. of TIP,” said Brotherton. “The use of the thermal wires also “As part of the load test program, a couple of secondary made monitoring much easier than the manual methods methods were requested for confirmation of the shape of required when using the probe version.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 24 D.A. McIntyre MIDWEST VIBRO, INC. Construction Ltd. Pile Driving & Extracting Equipment • Retaining & Sheet Pile Walls Distributors of • Bridge Construction & Repair H&M VIBRATORY • Pipeline Scour Protection • Pile Driving of All Types Driver/Extractor • Erosion Protection Call Us For Your RENTAL NEEDS 616-532-7670 1-800-648-3403

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22 Q4 2013 www.pilingcanada.ca TECHNOLOGY UPDATE

may also be used to evaluate the shape of jet grouting columns and diaphragm or slurry walls, or other concrete structures. It is just starting to be used to investigate nails and micropiles, too, and feedback has been positive.” Added Brotherton, “We would recommend the TIP system. It should be recognized that the use of the TIP requires planning since the thermal wires or probe tubes need to be placed in advance of the concrete with the steel rein- forcement. Therefore, large-scale use of the TIP in foundation construction is probably unrealistic. However, the selective use of the technology in identified special cases such as criti- cal foundation installations in poor soil conditions has a lot PHOTOS.COM

/ of merit; and the use of TIP testing in conjunction with the large-scale quality control testing programs involving sys- tems such as PIT would be very practical.”

Cost and availability FAWLS TOM BY PHOTO The TIP is for cast-in-place concrete foundations such as Costs for the TIP varies depending on the configuration of drilled shafts, bored piles, augered cast-in-place, continuous the system, but a safe estimate for the initial system is on the flight auger piles and drilled displacement piles upper end of $30,000. Customers can also rent the TIP. The system is rising in popularity in the U.S. and Beim says inter- est from Canada is also gaining momentum. Not for driven piles “The PDI sales team feels that this equipment will become Beim does point out that while the TIP is beneficial for many popular in Canada as well as in the rest of the world in the applications, it is not for driven piles. upcoming year.” “It is for cast-in-place concrete foundations such as drilled PDI does not yet have an independent sales representative shafts, bored piles, augered cast-in-place, continuous flight in Canada, so sales are handled by the Cleveland-based sales auger piles and drilled displacement piles. The technology team, where the company is headquartered.

Thermal Integrity Profiler The Heat Is On.

Shape, quality, Direct Advice. cage alignment and concrete cover of drilled shafts. Shape and quality of jet grouting Contact James C. Wishart columns. about your legal challenge. Winner of TEL (204) 957 8333 the DFI 2013 C. William Data acquisition Bermingham [email protected] Award for with Probes or Innovation www.fillmoreriley.com Thermal Wire® cables.

TIP: test fast and soon after casting, so construction can We simplify the legal process for you and ensure move on. you receive practical advice for your project.

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www.foundations.cc www.pile.com/tip FILLMORE RILEY LLP BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS AND TRADEMARK AGENTS [email protected] [email protected]

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