Case

Studies

GRL Engineers offer a wide range of deep foundation testing and consulting services, nationwide. Most GRL Engineers have achieved Advanced Level or higher on both the PDCA/PDI Dynamic Measurement and Analysis Proficiency Test.

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Rehabilitating the Van Wyck Expressway

GRL Engineers proposed Dynamic Load Testing on micropiles for the Van Wyck Expressway. The initial micropiles were damaged and Thermal Integrity Profiling was utilized to assess the integrity of the alternate piles. CAPWAP Analysis was also provided after testing to further evaluate static pile capacity. Read more
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Commuter Rail Station Expansion

Thermal Integrity Profiling using thermal wire and Crosshole Sonic Logging are compared in this North Carolina case study to determine differences in project time and cost between the two methods. The study was performed on a Commuter Rail Station which was awarded to Blythe Construction. GRL Engineers utilized both testing methods to confirm concrete quality in various shafts. Read more
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Replacement Bridge Over Buffington Road and NFS Railroad

The SCDOT retained GRL Engineers to perform testing on a production shaft. Drilled shaft verticality and cleanliness were evaluated on the production shaft. Bi-Directional Static Load Testing was performed on the drilled shaft to determine the mobilized shaft resistance. Thermal Integrity Profiling to assess concrete integrity and shaft profile.   Read more
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Pensacola Bay Bridge
The U.S. 98 Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement project began in 2017 to address hurricane evacuation traffic needs. The replacement required PDA Testing on test piles and production piles. Data was assessed via CAPWAP® data analyses to provide simulated static load testing. Hurricane Sally interrupted construction in 2019, and potential damages to production piles were assessed using Low Strain Integrity Testing.
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I-77 Canton Bridge Structures
The large aquifer in Canton, OH presented multiple drilled shaft installation challenges on the I-77 mainline bridge structures. GRL Engineers were involved in mulitple phases of construction, providing a variety of testing services including Dynamic Load Testing with an APPLE drop weight system, CAPWAP® Analyses to simulate static load testing, Drilled Shaft Base Cleanliness Evaluations, Thermal Integrity Profiling, and Static Load Testing on CFA piles. The project was considered monumental as it was the Ohio DOT's first time utilizing Dynamic Load Testing on a CFA pile.
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Bridge Abutment and Boardwalk at TI' awh ah dees Park
Test piles for the bridge abutments underwent GRLWEAP Pile Driveability Analysis to assess if the proposed hammer would be able to achieve specified driving depths. GRL Engineers provided Pile Driving Monitoring on the abutments and utilized CAPWAP® Analyses to simulate static load testing. Additionally, the new boardwalks were tested with Static Compression Load Tests using a hydraulic jack.
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Central Florida Expressway SR 528 and SR 436 Interchange Reconfiguration
This $118 Million interchange reconfiguration was initiated to create a smoother, more efficient transition for heavy airport traffic flow on the Beachline Expressway. GRL Engineers provided GRLWEAP Wave Equation Analysis for pre-construction, the Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) during pile construction, and CAPWAP Analysis after installation. The project was completed eight months ahead of schedule.
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El Dorado National Forest Bike Trail
GRL Engineers performed Dynamic Load Testing and CAPWAP Analysis on a less common pile type- fiberglass. The fiberglass piles were implemented on a bike trail at El Dorado National Forest.
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Rehabilitating the Van Wyck Expressway
GRL Engineers proposed Dynamic Load Testing on micropiles for the Van Wyck Expressway. The initial micropiles were damaged and Thermal Integrity Profiling was utilized to assess the integrity of the alternate piles. CAPWAP Analysis was also provided after testing to further evaluate static pile capacity.
Read More >
Commuter Rail Station Expansion
Thermal Integrity Profiling using thermal wire and Crosshole Sonic Logging are compared in this North Carolina case study to determine differences in project time and cost between the two methods. The study was performed on a Commuter Rail Station which was awarded to Blythe Construction. GRL Engineers utilized both testing methods to confirm concrete quality in various shafts.
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SR23 First Coast Expressway
GRL Engineers was the SR23 project's Dynamic Testing Engineer (DTE) for the 26 bridges on 10.5 miles of new multi-lane limited access toll roadway to State Road 23, part of the First Coast Expressway. Prior to construction, a GRLWEAP Pile Driveability Study was performed for initial hammer selection. Dynamic Pile Testing and Monitoring was performed using a Pile Driving Analyzer and results were assessed with CAPWAP software to establish production pile driving criteria.
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Lynch River Bridge Replacement
In Florence, South Carolina, GRL Engineers provided various testing methods for the Lynch River Bridge replacement. Prior to pouring concrete, a Drilled Shaft Base Cleanliness Assessment was performed, followed by a Drilled Shaft Verticality Assessment. Once the shaft was determined acceptable, the concrete was poured and the instrumented cage was installed. After curing, the engineers used a Bi-Directional Static Load Test to assess load capacity.
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Northwest Railroad Bridge Project
In this case study, the northwest railroad project utilized GRLWEAP Wave Equation Analysis and Dynamic Load Testing on 3 indicator piles. Previous experience near the site indicated the potential for significant pile capacity increase with time. A restrike was performed in an unusual way to optimize the foundation.
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Replacement Bridge Over Buffington Road and NFS Railroad
The SCDOT retained GRL Engineers to perform testing on a production shaft. Drilled shaft verticality and cleanliness were evaluated on the production shaft. Bi-Directional Static Load Testing was performed on the drilled shaft to determine the mobilized shaft resistance. Thermal Integrity Profiling to assess concrete integrity and shaft profile.  
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I-480 Valley View Bridge Deck Replacements
The widening of the I-480 Valley View Bridge was a design-build project for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). GRL Engineers provided Pile Driving Monitoring, Long-term Restrikes with the APPLE IV system, Static Load Tests and CAPWAP Analyses to assess resistance distributions.
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Lake Marion Greenway Trail Boardwalk
GRL Engineers provided load testing to check the foundation capacity for the Marion greenway trail boardwalk. Initially Static Load Testing was provided and the project continued with Dynamic Load Testing utilizing the APPLE VII. The switch to dynamic testing allowed for significant time savings.
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I-4 Ultimate
GRL Engineers has been an integral force behind the I-4 Ultimate project with over 150 bridge foundations tested. GRL Engineers were instrumental in providing PDA Dynamic Testing services with associated CAPWAP Analyses to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
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Harris County Toll Road Authority SH 249
The Harris County Toll Road Authority brought GRL Engineers on to perform quality control testing on excavated test shafts. Drilled shaft verticality was assessed using the Shaft Area Profile Evaluator (SHAPE) device and Crosshole Sonic Logging was performed to evaluate concrete quality around the shaft cage.
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Seattle Center Arena
GRL Engineers performed Thermal Integrity Profiling on the Seattle Center Area, the world's first net zero certified arena. GRL tested and analyzed the collected thermal data for 21 drilled shafts. The tested shafts were either 36 or 78 inches in diameter with shaft lengths from 80 to 93 feet.
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Mukilteo Multimodal Ferry Terminal
In this case study, GRL Engineers performed Crosshole Sonic Logging and Pile Driving Monitoring on the replacement terminal for the Mukilteo Ferry in Mukilteo, Washington. This terminal replacement project included important collaboration between government and local Native American tribes.
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Tri-State Tollway Mile-Long Bridge

In 2020, GRL Engineers were contracted to perform testing on the  Mile-Long Bridge located in Willow Springs, Illinois. Various testing methods were performed to assess the concrete integrity including Crosshole Sonic Logging, Thermal Integrity Profiling, and Data Analyses. 

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North Madison Substation

GRL Engineers took on an investigative project on the North Madison Substation in Wisconsin, to analyze acceleration and stresses in non-uniform piles during vibratory driving. The test involved Dynamic Pile Monitoring using a Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) and the PDI-VIB Program. 

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1100 Broadway Avenue in Oakland

GRL Engineers were contracted to perform Dynamic Pile Monitoring with a Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) and collect high-strain dynamic measurements using APPLE Load Testing. A CAPWAP Analysis was performed using the collected test data. 

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