Low strain integrity tests in piles – 1-D and 3-D numerical modeling and comparisons with results obtained in the field

The risks associated with integrity problems in piles led to the inclusion of this matter in international standards. One of the tests available to evaluate piles integrity is known as low strain integrity test. Low costs, simple and fast execution and no waste generation are some of the main advantages of this test. However, between others, soil and reinforcement of the pile may affect the results and cause some difficulty to interpret them. In this paper two numerical models based on Finite Elements Method are presented: 1-D and 3-D. The results obtained in the numerical simulations of the tests are compared with those obtained in the field with focus in two main aspects: the signals attenuation effects and the reflections in the transition between the reinforced part of the pile and the part in simple concrete.