This test method will provide a relationship between time to failure, creep rate, and displacement to failure for specific failure loads at specific test temperatures as well as a relationship between creep rate and applied load at specific test temperatures for loads less than failure loads.

Pile design for specific soil temperatures may be controlled by either limiting long-term stress to below long-term strength or by limiting allowable settlement over the design life of the structure. It is the purpose of this test method to provide the basic information from which the limiting strength or long-term settlement may be evaluated by geotechnical engineers.

Data derived from pile tests at specific ground temperatures that differ from the design temperatures must be corrected to the design temperature by the use of data from additional pile tests, laboratory soil strength tests, or published correlations, if applicable, to provide a suitable means of correction.

For driven piles or grouted piles, failure will occur at the pile/soil interface. For slurried piles, failure can occur at either the pile/slurry interface or the slurry/soil interface, depending on the strength and deformation properties of the slurry material and the adfreeze bond strength. Location of the failure surface must be taken into account in the design of the test program and in the interpretation of the test results. Dynamic loads must be evaluated separately.

1.1 This test method covers procedures for testing individual vertical piles to determine response of the pile to static compressive load applied axially to the pile. This test method is applicable to all deep foundation units in permafrost that function in a manner similar to piles regardless of their method of installation. This test method is divided into the following sections:

Note 1—Apparatus and procedures designated "optional" are to be required only when included in the project specifications or if not specified, may be used only with the approval of the engineer responsible for the foundation design. The word "shall" indicates a mandatory provision and "should" indicates a recommended or advisory provision. Imperative sentences indicate mandatory provisions. Notes, illustrations, and appendixes included herein are explanatory or advisory.

Note 2—This test method does not include the interpretation of test results or the application of test results to foundation design. See Appendix X1 for comments regarding some of the factors influencing the interpretation of test results. A qualified geotechnical engineer should interpret the test results for predicting pile performance and capacity.

1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The SI units given in parentheses are for information only.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.