Crosshole sonic logging

Crosshole sonic logging (CSL) is a method to verify the structural integrity of drilled shafts and other concrete piles. The CSL method is considered to be more accurate than sonic echo testing in the determination of structural soundness of concrete within the drilled shaft inside of the rebar cage. This method provides little indication of concrete soundness outside the cage.

Also known as Crosshole Acoustical Testing, CSL normally requires steel (preferred) or PVC access tubes installed in the drilled shaft and tied to the rebar cage. After the shaft is drilled, and before the rebar cage is placed in the hole, the CSL access tubes are attached to the interior of the rebar cage and then the cage is lowered into the hole and the concrete is placed. Steel CSL tubes are preferred over PVC tubes because studies have shown that PVC tubes tend to debond from the concrete due to the heat of hydration process of concrete, resulting in erratic CSL test results.^{[1] [2]}

The tubes are filled with water as an intermediate medium. After curing for 3-7 days, a sound source and receiver are lowered, maintaining a consistent elevation between source and sensor. A signal generator generates a sonic pulse from the emitter which is recorded by the sensor. Relative energy, waveform and differential time are recorded, and logged. This procedure is repeated at regular intervals throughout the pile and then mapped. By comparing the graphs from the various combinations of access tubes, a qualitative idea of the structural soundness of the concrete throughout the pile can be gleaned.

A more advanced, higher-end analysis that creates a mock 3-dimensional graphical display of the concrete soundness throughout the pile is known as Crosshole Sonic Tomography.

References

1. ^ Hadjuk, Edward L.; Ledford, D.L., and Christopher, W.R. (2004). "PVC and Steel Access Tube Debonding during Sonic Logging Testing for the SC 170 Bridge Replacement Project". Proceedings of the Deep Foundation Institute 2004 Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC. 
2. ^ Schmauder, M.S., Gretchen; Steve D. Bowman, Ph.D., P.E.; and Thomas J. Adams, M.S., P.E (2006). CROSSHOLE SONIC LOGGING: INSIGHTS ON TESTING NEVADA INFRASTRUCTUR. http://2006geophysics.mst.edu/hgconproceedings/2006papers/032.pdf. 

• Farouz, E., Landers, P., Webster, S., November, 2005. Case History: Foundation Evacuation for the Virginia Highway 288 Project. GEO3 Construction Quality Assurance/Quality Control Technical Conference: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; 49-60.
• Beim, J.W., Debas, L.F., Kormann, A.C.M., Martinati, L.R., Neto, L.A., November, 2005. Tomography: A New Technology for Quality Control of Deep Foundations. GEO3 Construction Quality Assurance/Quality Control Technical Conference: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; 323-328.
• ASTM D6760 - 08 Standard Test Method for Integrity Testing of Concrete Deep Foundations by Ultrasonic Crosshole Testing, doi:10.1520/D6760-08 
• ASTM D4428 / D4428M - 07 Standard Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing, doi:10.1520/D4428_D4428M-07 

See also

• FHWA Drilled Shaft Tutorial Chapter 10
• CSL paper from the 2003 symposium for Nondestructive Testing in Civil Engineering

External links

• Sonitec CSL Access Tubes
• ASTM D6760-02 Standard Test Method for Integrity Testing of Concrete Deep Foundations by Ultrasonic Crosshole Testing