Load Tests on Polymeric Piling

Two 16 in. (400 mm)  polymeric piles reinforced with FRP and steel rebar were installed and load tested in Port Newark. The piles were driven with an ICE 70 single acting hydraulic hammer that had a 31.1 kN ram with a rated maximum stroke of 3 ft (0.9 m). This hammer has a pump-controlled stroke that was varied from 1 to 3 ft during initial driving and restrike. Plywood cushions (243 mm thick) were employed to protect the pile top.

A static load test was carried out on the two RPP piles. The FRP-reinforced and steel- reinforced piles reached ultimate capacities of 80 and 110 tons, respectively. This capacity is reasonable considering that the piles were driven to a bearing layer of silt and clay with an average standard penetration test (SPT) blow count of 14. A reference steel pipe pile was driven at the same location; it was not load tested, but it achieved a dynamic CAPWAP capacity that was between the capacities achieved by the steel- and FRP-reinforced RPPs.