Method and apparatus for testing load-bearing capacity

摘要

In an embodiment, a hydraulic jack is provided having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion attached to a first section of a structure and the second portion attached to a second section of the structure. When a pressurized fluid is forced between the first portion and the second portion, a load is transferred to the first section and the second section by the pressure of the fluid on the first portion and the second portion. The first section and the second section are forced apart by the load, thus creating or enlarging at least one void in the structure. The pressurized fluid fills or partially fills one or more of the at least one void, thereby increasing the surface area effectively normal to the direction of the load in contact with the pressurized fluid.

主权项

1. A method of applying a load to a pile, comprising:
positioning a structure in a borehole; attaching a load cell to the structure, wherein the load cell comprises:
a top portion adapted to be located below a top section of a pile; anda bottom portion located proximate the top portion and adapted to be located above a bottom section of the pile; locating the top portion below the top section of a pile, wherein the top portion is attached to the top section of the pile; locating the bottom portion below and proximate the top portion and above the bottom section of the pile, wherein the bottom portion is attached to the bottom section of the pile, wherein at least a portion of the cross-section of the top portion and at least a portion of the cross-section of the bottom portion is open before casting the pile, and wherein the top section of the pile and the bottom section of the pile are contiguous through the open portion of the cross-section of the top portion and the open portion of the cross-section of the bottom portion; and injecting a pressurized fluid between the top portion and the bottom portion, such that the top portion and the bottom portion are pushed apart, the top portion pushes up on the top section of the pile with an initial upward force, the bottom portion pushes down on the bottom section of the pile with an initial downward force, and at least one void is created between the top section of the pile and the bottom section of the pile in a portion of the pile extending through the open portion of the cross-section of the top portion and the open portion of the cross-section of the bottom portion, wherein once the at least one void is created the pressurized fluid fills at least a portion of one or more of the at least one void, and wherein the pressurized fluid that enters the at least a portion of one or more of the at least one void causes an additional upward force on the top section of the pile and an additional downward force on the bottom section of the pile.