Field pile load tests in saline permafrost. I. Test procedures and results

Abstract

A pile load test program carried out in Iqaluit, Northwest Territories, to provide design information for the Short Range Radar sites is described. The program consisted of testing 10 steel pipe piles with various surface modifications backfilled with clean sand and 4 Dywidag bars backfilled with Ciment Fondu™ grout. All tests were performed in saline permafrost. This paper describes the site conditions, installation procedures and pile uplift load testing procedures, and results of the pile load tests. The beneficial effect of modifications to the pile surface and backfill material is identified. The analysis and discussions of the results are presented in a companion paper. Key words : permafrost, saline, piles, load tests, field, in situ, capacity.