Pile Driving Analysis (PDA)

Profound Company (Netherlands) began in the 1960’s as a group of the Building and Construction Research Department within the Dutch organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), the second largest R&D organization in Europe. The Foundation Pile Diagnostic Systems (FPDS) Group, as it was called, took on a broad range of activities for its clients in foundation pile testing with state-of-the-art technology that was developed in research and development projects. Their equipment and software also enabled clients to perform or monitor foundation pile testing themselves.

As an independent company Profound continues with the work that was started some 50 years ago, to accommodate its clients (now in more than 40 countries), and also to innovate by continuously making new practical applications in the field of foundation engineering and geotechnical monitoring available to the market and has been trusted in Vietnam.

Dynamic Load Testing (DLT) is a frequently used worldwide technique to evaluate the bearing capacity of piles. The Profound PDA/DLT-system is used for both DLT and for Pile Driving Analysis (PDA) as a powerful tool to control the pile driving process and reduce risks involved.

During pile driving the performance of the hammer, the condition of the cushion, the behaviour of the pile and the driving resistance of the soil are accurately monitored and analysed.

* Key advantages of the PDA/DLT-system:

- Fully digital signal processing;

- Optimum flexibility and reliability;

- Integrated sensor condition testing;

- Immediate presentation of acquired data on screen;

- Flexible USB based conditioner;

- Easy mounting and handling of sensors and cables;

- Proven technique in full compliance with ASTM D4945-17;

- Backed by 40 years of pile testing experience;

- Efficient addition to Static Load Testing according to Eurocode 7.

* The additional knowledge obtained by performed PDA can pay for itself many times over by:

- Reducing the risk of damage to the pile or hammer;

- Reducing the risk of damage to the superstructure caused by failure of the foundation;

- Optimisation of the final depth of driving, which may result in a shorter pile length;

- Facilitating the prediction of pile driving and selection of the correct hammer for future projects. A quality record of each pile can be supplied to clients and authorities.