BC - ETS 01
Location
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BC-ETS 01 is in the southern sector of the central beach of Balneário Camboriú, on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was held on the second half of 2024.
Geological and geotechnical setting
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​​The local ground comprises marine and beach deposits and alluvial fan deposits in an area with documented anthropogenic modification over time.
Subsurface stratigraphy (typical ranges)
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Sedimentary deposits: about 0 to 26 m
Residual soil: about 26 to 36 m
Granitic bedrock: below about 36 m
Geotechnical investigation program
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The investigation program was planned to derive high-quality parameters for each stratum, with tests executed adjacent to the test piles:
SM: mixed boring with SPT plus rotary drilling
SCPTu: seismic piezocone penetration test
CPT: cone penetration test
DMT: flat dilatometer test
PMT: pressuremeter test
CHT: crosshole seismic test
MASW: multichannel analysis of surface waves
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Testing program configuration
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The initial testing program comprises ten continuous flight auger (CFA) piles, organized as follows.
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Piles with 25 m length
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1) Static compression tests (continuous auger)
Quantity: 2
Diameter: 60 cm
Instrumentation: 5 levels
Construction: 25 m of continuous auger penetration
Objective: correlate prediction methods based on different in situ investigations with conventional instrumented static load tests carried out to failure.
2) Static compression tests (with extension rod)
Quantity: 2
Diameter: 60 cm
Instrumentation: 5 levels
Construction: 10 m with extension rod + 15 m with continuous auger
Objective: compare against 100 percent continuous-auger piles to assess the influence of using an extension rod over 40 percent of the shaft length.
3) Static tension tests
Quantity: 2
Diameter: 60 cm
Instrumentation: 5 levels
Objective: evaluate shaft friction under tension and contrast it with compression behavior.
4) Dynamic load tests (PDA with stepwise energy)
Quantity: 2
Diameter: 60 cm
Instrumentation: 5 levels
Objective: compare dynamic interpretations with the results of conventional static tests.
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Piles longer than 36 m
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5) Static compression tests
Quantity: 2
Diameter: 60 cm
Instrumentation: 7 levels
Reinforcement: full-length steel H-section
Tip condition: partially socketed in fractured rock
Objective: evaluate the behavior of CFA piles with tips partially embedded in fractured rock and assess the practical feasibility of inserting a steel profile along the full pile length.
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Conclusion and objectives of BC-ETS 01
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BC-ETS 01 marks a significant step in applied geotechnical research focused on CFA piles. The campaign is designed to refine construction techniques and prediction methodologies and to convert evidence from full-scale, instrumented testing into safer and more efficient foundation practice.
Main focus areas and activities
1) Execution of 25 m piles (core configuration)
Focus the main testing effort on 25 m CFA piles to enable the full suite of in situ and geophysical tests, providing a comprehensive basis to analyze pile behavior across soil conditions.
2) CPT and SCPTu benchmarking
Compare mechanical cone (CPT) and seismic piezocone (SCPTu), with potential refinement of factors used in cone-based ultimate capacity prediction methods.
3) Seismic testing
Use MASW, SCPTu, and crosshole tests to determine shear-wave velocity (Vs) and cross-check results among methods.
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4) Deformability parameters analysis
Correlate stiffness parameters from pressuremeter (PMT) and dilatometer (DMT) with seismic-derived small-strain stiffness to define working-strain moduli for settlement analyses.
5) Study of the extension-rod effect
Test piles with 40 percent of the shaft installed using an extension rod; compare responses with 25 m continuous-auger piles.
6) Piles in fractured rock layers
Test piles partially socketed in fractured rock to assess drilling performance and the feasibility of inserting
a full-length steel H-section.
7) Pile behavior prediction event
In partnership with COBRAMSEG 2024, use BC–ETS 01 data to advance knowledge in foundation engineering and promote exchange of methods and results within the geotechnical community.
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Invitation to collaborate
We invite practitioners, researchers, and industry partners to share comments, observations, suggestions, and constructive critiques. Our commitment is to build, together, robust and applicable knowledge for foundation engineering, grounded in field-scale evidence and open exchange.
If you are interested in collaborating or would like more information, please contact us. Together we can advance foundation engineering and promote safer, more efficient practice.