Minnesota Department of Transportation

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Materials and Road Research

Materials and Road Research | Geotechnical Engineering | Foundations

MnPILE static-load test frames

MnPILE static-load test frame in action

We own two static-load test frames. The first frame has a capacity of 1,000 tons and the second frame has a capacity of 500 tons. The frames are used to perform static load tests on small to medium diameter pile, drilled shafts, and grout columns within these capacity limits. 

The frames are available to use for free on any public transportation project in Minnesota. The agency or project using the frames is responsible for loading, transporting, and returning the frames and all their components.

Benefits

  • Allows for a higher resistance factor of 0.8 in the design (vs. 0.65 for PDA or 0.5 or 0.6 for MPF 12)
  • Fewer piles are needed if driving to a hard bearing layer
  • For piles supported primarily with skin fiction, achieves capacity sooner resulting in shorter pile
  • Validates design predictions and construction monitoring
  • Provides valuable information for statewide program level load and resistance factor (LRFD) calibration efforts

Drawbacks

  • Cost to load, transport, and return the frames and conduct the static load test
  • Time to conduct the static load test

Use MnPILE for your project

We store the MnPILE static-load test frames at the Minnesota Road Research Facility (MnROAD) at 9011 77th St NE in Otsego. Your agency or project is responsible for loading, transporting, and returning the frames and all their components. Please submit a request to use the frames on your project.

Learn more about MnPILE

MnPILE in action

Since 2012, the MnPILE static-load test frames have been used on eight bridges and one column supported embankment. Piles ranged from 12 inches to 16 inches outside diameter cast-in-place concrete filled pipe piles for the bridges and grout columns the column supported embankment.

Case history document Bridge State project number Date Highway City Frame Foundation element Pile size
None Column testing 6982-322 Fall 2019 Twin Ports Interchange Duluth 1,000 Preliminary test program Grout columns
Clearwater case history (PDF) 71004 7108-23 September 2015 Hwy 24 over Mississippi River Clearwater 500 Pier 2 12" OD CIP pipe
Shakopee case history (PDF) 10004 1009-29 April 2015 Hwy 101 over Mississippi floodplain Shakopee 1,000 Pier 8 12" OD CIP pipe
Dresbach case history (PDF) 85801/85802 8580-149 January 2015 and November 2014 I-90 over Mississippi River Dresbach 1,000 West abutment and east abutment 16" OD CIP pipe
Butterfield case history (PDF) 83040 8308-44 November 2013 Hwy 60 over railroad Butterfield 500 West abutment 12" OD CIP pipe
Arden Hills and St. Paul case histories (PDF) 62716/62717 6285-135 January 2013 I-694 over Old Snelling Arden Hills 500 East abutment 12" OD CIP pipe
Victoria case history (PDF) 10003 1002-89 June 2012 Hwy 5 over trail Victoria 500 West abutment 12" OD CIP pipe
Arden Hills and St. Paul case histories (PDF) 62017 6244-30 January 2010 Hwy 52 over Mississippi River St. Paul Other N/A 16" OD CIP pipe

1,000-ton load frame inventory
Item name Description/size Quantity needed  Quantity available in inventory Notes
Main Test Beam Welded Box Beam 1 1 None
Primary Reaction Beam Welded Plate Beam 2 2 None
Upper Clamp Beam HSS 8 x 6 x ½ 0-4 4 The upper and lower clamp beams and associated primary tension rods, nuts and plate washers are not always used for assembly of the load frame. 
Lower Clamp Beam HSS 8 x 6 x ½ 0-4   4 The upper and lower clamp beams and associated primary tension rods, nuts and plate washers are not always used for assembly of the load frame.
Primary Tension Rod 1¼" Día 0-8 8 The upper and lower clamp beams and associated primary tension rods, nuts and plate washers are not always used for assembly of the load frame. 
Plate Washer 5" x 5" x 1" 32-48 for four pile configuration
64-80 for eight pile configuration
64 The upper and lower clamp beams and associated primary tension rods, nuts and plate washers are not always used for assembly of the load frame. 
Nut (Primary Tension Rod) 1¼ “ Día 0-16 for four pile configuration
0-16 for eight pile configuration
32 The upper and lower clamp beams and associated primary tension rods, nuts and plate washers are not always used for assembly of the load frame. 
Pile Connection Waler Double C15x50 w/end PL 8 for four pile configuration
16 for eight pile configuration
24 None
Nut (Secondary Tension Road) 1¼" Dia 32 for four pile configuration
64 for eight pile configuration
32 None
Misc. Washer N/A N/A N/A None
Secondary Tension Rod 1¼" Día 16 for four pile configuration
32 for eight pile configuration
16 None
Secondary Reaction Beam Welded Plate Beam 4 4 None

Item available but not used
Item name Description/size Quantity available in inventory
Nut 1½" 32