Plate Load Test speeds up Wind Farm Geotechnical Testing – Case Study
We find clients are often looking for ways to improve geotechnical testing outcomes and do it more efficiently at the same time. This drives their buying decision making. Australian Soil and Concrete Testing (ASCT) was a case in point when they were searching for Plate Load Test equipment for their upcoming Collector Wind Farm project. Some of the things that motivated them include:
- Faster – reduced time to test and get results – real time if possible so decisions could be made straight away
- Cost effective – ideally a one person operation
- More representative – focused on measuring the fundamental design parameters in the field (comparing like with like)
- Accurate and repeatable
- Without errors through instrumented equipment with data automatically and accurately recorded and results produced by machines to overcome manual data recording, transposition or calculation errors
- GPS located and time stamped – know where and when every test is done
- Visually presented results (e.g. graphical)
- Improved safety
ASCT were aware of traditional methods of plate load testing available with the associated safety, time (2-4 hours just to setup and do the test plus data analysis adding significant additional time) and data integrity issues.
Traditional Method
Modern Method
For this project, they needed Plate Load Test equipment that was suitable for pavement, foundation and temporary works platform (crane pad) investigation.
They needed to measure the load-deflection relationship and the strain moduli of the first and the second loading cycle, Ev1 and Ev2, enabling them to determine the allowable bearing capacity.
The German designed and manufactured AX01 Plate Load Test came on their radar, initially attracted by the short operation time (approx. 20-30 mins per test including setup, test & results graphing). They realised that, with the volume of testing required for the Collector Wind Farm, the return on investment (ROI) would be very short. GPS located data being captured and analysed electronically on the spot was also very attractive.
Now their Plate Load Test gear is popping on other large infrastructure projects like Snowy 2.0.
Australian Soil and Concrete Testing (ASCT) provides Construction Material Testing to infrastructure projects throughout Australia.
To find related videos, technical standards and research papers please visit the AX01 Plate Load Test section of our website.
The Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD) was first used in 1998 by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) at the Minnesota Road Research Project. Starting in 2005 the LWD has been used by Mn/DOT as an acceptance tool for the compaction of roadbed and miscellaneous embankment and trench construction, culvert treatments and other tapered construction.
I would hate to go back to doing the Plate Load Test using the old method using dial gauges. It would be so time consuming, not to mention manually recording and then processing all the results.
I have known the team at Insitutek for over ten years. Their professionalism, positivity and enthusiasm for their work is outstanding and I am pleased to recommend them.
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