Early stage elastic wave velocity of concrete piles

The low-strain pile integrity testing method is used for quality control of new piles as well as length and integrity check for old piles. If no other methods for calibration are available, the accuracy and reliability of the techniques depend on a good estimation of the elastic wave velocity. In practice it is assumed that piles can be tested 7 days after casting and that the velocity is almost constant in all piles of one kind in a construction project. Recent measurements at the BAM test site in Horstwalde, Germany, showed that the 7 day criterion is not generally applicable.