Test system for caissons and piles.

摘要

A test system for caissons, piles and the like provides an improved way of testing the load bearing capabilities of such inground foundation elements. The test method involves supporting an inertial mass e.g. of concrete rings (30) on the upper end of a columnar foundation element (10) that is installed in the ground and generating in a chamber defined between the underside of the inertial mass and the upper end of the foundation element over a limited duration a propellant gas pressure sufficient to accelerate the inertial mass upwards away from the upper end of the foundation element and at the same time to produce a downwards reaction force of a predetermined desired magnitude on the element. The rate of increase of fluid pressure is controlled such that thereaction force does not damage the foundation element. The magnitude of the downwards force and the response of the foundation element are measured by suitable instrumentation.