Full-Scale Load Testing and Extraction of Augered Cast-in-Place (ACIP) Piles in Central Florida

A full-scale field demonstration project consisting of installation, instrumentation, testing, and extraction of augered cast-in-place (ACIP) piles located in central Florida was undertaken in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation and the University of South Florida. Seven instrumented ACIP piles, with a nominal diameter of 457 mm (18 in) or 610 mm (24 in), were installed in mainly sand and silty sand. Load testing was performed on six ACIP piles: two in compression, two in tension, and two laterally. In addition, one of the ACIP piles was extracted for visual inspection and comparison to predictions and measurements. The program demonstrated the fully monitored installation and load tested performance of instrumented ACIP piles, along with the use of manual and automated monitoring; use and accuracy of embedded instrumentation, including thermal integrity profiling (TIP) and embedded strain gages; load-displacement behavior of tested ACIP piles; and the integrity and as-constructed geometry of an exhumed ACIP pile. This paper presents the details, results from the different testing performed, and observations from the experimental field program.