Pile driving test - Arconi Works | Pruebas de Hinca Fotovoltaica, Geotecnia Fotovoltaica

INTRODUCTION

The driving of metallic profiles allows for a reduction of costs and deadlines, being much more attractive than the use of concrete foundations, especially since it also reduces the environmental impact of the project.

Thanks to this, the installation of photovoltaic solar power plants using the profile driving is one of the most economic and ecological options available.

PREVIOUS TESTING

The evaluation of the foundation by driving is carried out by the pile driving tests, profiles of different dimensions and sections are placed in the ground to later check their resistance and the load bearing capacity of the structures and solar trackers.

Once the profiles have been fixed on the ground, tensile testsare carried out, where their capacity to bear vertical and horizontal loads is determined.

The pile driving and tensile tests are usually only executed once, and customarily after the initial geotechnical study has been done, thus selecting the profiles, dimensions, methodology and areas more suitable for the tests.

ADVANTAGES OF PILE DRIVING AND TENSILE TESTS

Both the driving and the tensile tests are a fundamental part of any project of photovoltaic solar power plants.

These tests ensure the correct execution of the driving. They allow us to know the adequate penetration length of the profile in the subsoil in order to achieve the appropriate resistance, in addition to indicating if the machinery we are going to use is the correct one to successfully achieve it.

We can make an estimation of the execution time with greater precision, since we will avoid many unforeseen situations (such as the rejection of depths greater than expected, or on the contrary, lower). These events always force a reconsidering of the driving and decision making, which usually takes time and increases the budget.

Another perk is to check for vibrations in the soil produced by the driving process. In the driving tests we will determine the vibrations that are generated in the ground when we hammer the pile.

TENSILE TESTS

Tensile tests consist of the tests to be carried out on the profile or driven pile to know their tolerance to deformation, elaborating tensile tests both horizontally and vertically. For each load stage there is a pertinent displacement measurement made.

Once all loading steps are completed, the allowable deformation tolerance is exceeded, or the profile is removed, the test is complete.

Successful tensile tests ensure the correct support of the solar structure or tracker.

RESULTS

Once the piling and tensile tests are completed, all results are collected in a final report that includes a complete explanation, a situation map and a file card for each trial. Specifically:

Description. The tests that have been executed are explained in detail. This includes: the number of tests carried out, the zones established for them, the machinery used, the tool that has been used to prepare them, the state of the soil, the specific dates, the weather conditions at the time of the test, etc.
General geotechnical characteristics of the study area.
Photographic Appendix.
Test situation map. The exact location of the tests is detailed on a map, specifying the UTM coordinates.
Test file card. A summary file with the relevant data of each test is attached.

EXPERIENCE

We enclose a small sample of the projects in which we have carried out studies of foundations and/or piling and tensile tests for solar photovoltaic power plants since 2011.

Load tests on piles for a photovoltaic plant in Milagro (Spain).
Parameters of the land for foundations of solar panels by means of piles working by shaft.
Calculation of foundations for photovoltaic plant in Wincanton (South Africa).
Calculation of foundations for photovoltaic plant in Zuera (Zaragoza).
Calculation of foundations for photovoltaic plant in Ablitas (Navarra).
Estimation of terrain parameters for photovoltaic plant in Moree. New South Wales (Australia).
Piling and load tests in different Israeli plants.
Piling and load tests on metal profiles in a plot of Sishen (South Africa).
Pile driving tests: 40MW photovoltaic plant on route A-19 "Azapa" in Arica. Region of Arica and Parinacota (Chile).
Pile driving tests in Ktura (Israel).
Piling and extraction tests for the photovoltaic solar plant in Ashalim.
Piling and extraction tests for two photovoltaic solar plants in Oriana I-Yarotek and Oriana II. Isabela (Puerto Rico)..
Piling tests: Guaimbe photovoltaic plant. State of Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Piling tests: Le Plan Photovoltaic Plant in Salles Sous Bois (France).