Thermal Integrity Profiling (TIP™)

Pile Dynamics, Inc’s (PDI) award-winning Thermal Integrity Profiler (TIP) uses the heat generated by curing cement to assess the quality of drilled shafts, bored piles, augured cast-in-place, continuous flight auger and/or drilled displacement piles. TIP may also be used for quality control and shape evaluation of jet grouting, slurry walls and diaphragm walls.

The average temperature within a concrete shaft is dependent on its diameter, concrete mix design and the time of measurement relative to concrete casting. Measured temperatures at the reinforcement cage vary with the distance to the center of the shaft and concrete cover. TIP evaluates the entire cross-section and the entire length of the foundation with NIST traceable sensors in the Thermal Wire® Cables. Results are available shortly after shaft installation is concluded, saving valuable time and money. TIP reveals necks or inclusions, bulges, variations in concrete cover, shape of the shaft and cage alignment.

Data collected with the TIP system is utilized for analysis by the TIP reporter software, measuring temperatures vs depth, and mapped on cross sections of the excavation. A straightforward examination of TIP’s graphical representations is often sufficient to indicate a shaft with no integrity issues or one with defects.

TIP has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Deep Foundations Institute as the 2015 winner of the Charles Pankow Award for Innovation. TIP was also awarded the prestigious 2013 NOVA Award from the Construction Innovation Forum (CIF).

Pile Dynamics, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of quality assurance products for the Deep Foundations Industry. PDI, located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, has commercial representatives in all continents. For more information visit www.pile.com/pdi.