High-strain dynamic testing is performed by obtaining and analyzing records of shaft force and velocity under drop weight impacts for evaluations of pile load carrying capacity, structural integrity, and load-movement and pile-soil load transfer relationship. High-strain dynamic testing is a non-destructive quick test and it is intended that the test pile be left in a condition suitable for use in production.

Due to the inherit uncertainties in design and construction methods, the impossibility and/or inadequacy of visual inspection, and the technical and economic limitations of conventional static loading tests, high strain dynamic testing methods for quality control and quality assurance of deep foundations are now being applied worldwide. This method coupled with its sophisticated software (CAPWAP) is proven to be faster and more economical than the conventional static load testing.

Many codes, specifications, and guidelines in effect in many countries worldwide cover dynamic testing and evaluation methods of deep foundations. The following is a short list:

ASTM D-4945 Standard Test Method for High-Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles.

ASTM D-5882 Standard Test Method for Low-Strain Integrity Testing of Piles.

International Building Code (IBC), Chapter 8 Soils and Foundations, Section 1807 Pier and Pile Foundations, subsection 1807.2.8.3 Load Tests.

ASCE Standard Guidelines for the Design and Installation of Pile Foundations, Chapter 4 Soil-Pile Interface Strength Requirements and Capacity, subsection 4.5 Load Tests.

AASHTO T-298 Standard Methods of Test for High-Strain Dynamic Testing of Piles.

Florida Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Section 455 Structures Foundations, subsection 455-5.11.2 Wave Equation, and subsection 455-11.5 Dynamic Load Tests.

Canadian Foundation Engineering Manual, Chapter 20 Geo-technical Design of Deep Foundations, subsection 20.2.4 Single Piles – Dynamic Methods.

Hong Kong Government Civil Engineering Department Geo Publication No. 1/96 Pile Design and Construction, Section 7.5 Integrity Testing of Piles, and Section 8.4 Dynamic Load Tests.

Australian Standard AS2159 Piling – Design and Installation.