Understand where the foundation resists
Shows how the load is transferred to different soil layers and how much is mobilized in the shaft and tip.
Advanced foundation testing
Instrumented Static Load Testing
No more guessing where the pile resists. Measure the real load, layer by layer.
Instrumented SLT combines controlled static loading with sensors at different foundation levels to reveal load transfer in depth and increase the safety of design decisions.
Request technical proposal- Load
- by depth
- +60
- years of expertise
- Worldwide
- mobilization
- ABNT
- NBR 16903:2020
What it is
The SLT that measures beyond the pile top
Loading follows the logic of a static load test, but instrumentation adds readings at different depths of the foundation element.
Strain sensors, usually strain gauges, record the material response at defined levels along the shaft. An acquisition system transforms these readings into strain data, allowing the calculation of internal load in each section and the construction of the load transfer diagram.
In concrete piles, sensors are installed on the reinforcement before pouring. In steel piles, installation is done on the element itself. The instrumentation project is developed according to the pile, soil profile, and the technical question the test must answer.
More information for decision-making
What instrumentation allows to analyze
Distributed reading shows how resistance is mobilized along the foundation, offering a view that exclusive top measurement cannot separate.
Deepens interpretation
Complements the load x settlement curve with internal information not obtained through top readings alone.
Validates design assumptions
Allows comparison of field-measured behavior with geotechnical predictions and sizing methods.
Guides engineering decisions
Provides data to evaluate solution performance and support potential optimizations with technical responsibility.
Technical comparison
Conventional and instrumented static load testing
Both methods evaluate foundation behavior under static loading. The difference lies in the quantity and depth of the information collected.
| Analysis | Conventional static load testing | Instrumented static load testing |
|---|---|---|
| Primary measurements | Applied load and settlement at the top | Load and settlement at the top, plus strains at multiple levels |
| Main result | Load x settlement curve | Load x settlement curve and load transfer diagram |
| Shaft friction and tip resistance | Global response, without direct separation | Estimation of portions mobilized in the shaft and tip |
| Planning | Assembly and instrumentation concentrated during the test | Sensors and cabling planned before pile execution |
The choice depends on the project objective. The Geoteste team evaluates the need for instrumentation and defines the appropriate reading levels for each foundation.
How we perform
Test steps
- 1
Instrumentation project
Definition of reading levels along the shaft according to pile geometry, geotechnical profile, and analysis objectives.
- 2
Sensor installation
Positioning of sensors on the reinforcement of concrete piles or directly on the element for steel piles.
- 3
Reaction system
Assembly of the reaction structure with reaction piles, tiebacks, anchors, or a loaded platform, according to the test design.
- 4
Controlled loading
Incremental load application with measurements of pile head displacements and strains at instrumented levels.
- 5
Transfer analysis
Conversion of strains into internal forces to interpret how the load is distributed between the shaft and the tip.
Sectors we serve
Main applications
Real estate
Mining
Energy
Industrial
Infrastructure
Sanitation
Logistics
Oil and gas
Agribusiness
Delivered results
Your report includes
Load x settlement curve at the top
Load transfer diagram in depth
Skin friction distribution along the shaft
Load portion mobilized at the tip
Internal load at instrumented levels
Strain records during loading
Reading technologies
Strain gauges and fiber optics
Electrical strain gauges are commonly used to measure strains at multiple levels along the pile. Readings are processed by a computerized data acquisition system and converted into internal loads based on the properties of the instrumented element.
Fiber optic sensors can also be adopted when the project requires multiple reading points and a specific cabling architecture. The technology is defined after technical evaluation, considering the executive method, foundation geometry, and test objectives.
Excellence built by the largest technical team in the sector
A team of highly qualified engineers and specialists, prepared to develop safe and efficient solutions for the most diverse geotechnical challenges.
Dr. Celso Gontijo
Chairman of the Board
Former president of ABMS (Brazilian Association for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering)
70 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1404864105
José Hermes
Geotechnical civil engineer
Board member of CREA-MG (regional engineering regulatory body in Brazil)
40 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1405047593
Alexandre Gontijo
Technical Director
Geotechnical civil engineer
30 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1404815503
Rodrigo Gontijo
Executive Director
Geotechnical civil engineer
26 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1416959840
Maria T. Mota
Geotechnical civil engineer
11 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1417059923
Diogo Bechler
Geotechnical civil engineer
10 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1416378065
Filipe Almeida
Business and Operations Manager
Geotechnical civil engineer
3 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA - 1423584910
Tatiana Baptista
Commercial Manager
Geotechnical civil engineer
9 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
Marlon Nocci
Geotechnical civil engineer
5 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1420099566
Samuel Werner
Geotechnical civil engineer
6 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1423765745
Aline Nonato
Geotechnical civil engineer
6 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1421107996
Paulo Ricardo Parreiras
Geotechnical civil engineer
7 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1418234362
Tiago Fernandes
Geotechnical civil engineer
2 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1422269183
Amanda Bastos
Geotechnical civil engineer
1 year of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1423530080
Danilo Milard
Geotechnical civil engineer
6 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1422452557
Amanda Nava
Geotechnical civil engineer
3 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1421602407
Ana Flávia Castro
Geotechnical civil engineer
2 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
CREA/CONFEA 1422908925
Victória Corcini
Geotechnical civil engineer
2 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
Pedro Neves
Geotechnical civil engineer
2 years of experience in geotechnical engineering
Sabrina Mendes
Geotechnical civil engineer
1 year of experience in geotechnical engineering
Why Geoteste
Instrumentation planned to meet project needs
Reliable results begin with the definition of measurement levels and continue through the combined interpretation of pile response, the geotechnical profile and the foundation system.
Worldwide presence
Technical mobilization for projects worldwide.
In-house infrastructure
Equipment, reaction systems, and instrumentation managed by a specialized team.
Largest technical team in the sector
Geotechnical civil engineers present from planning to results interpretation.
+60 years of tradition
Grupo Gontijo's experience applied to foundation quality control.
Consulting engineering
Instrumentation plan defined to answer technical questions for each project.
Technical responsibility
Execution, analysis, and report with technical responsibility and record traceability.
Discover how the load is transferred through your foundation.
Plan instrumentation before pile execution.
Talk to a Geoteste engineer and receive a technical proposal suited to the foundation and your project objectives.
Talk to an engineer- (11) 93739-0005
- contato@geoteste.com
- Load transfer analysis