Test Results

Millions of dollars have been spent testing PileMedic’s capabilities. Many large governing agencies have funded their own research in validating this technology. Among these are studies funded by the following:

1) United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) – Concrete and Timber Piles

Market research and testing of commercially available Pile Jackets to evaluate their Expeditionary Value and Capacity Restoration. PileMedic was selected because it is the Strongest, Fastest, One-Size-Fits-All jacket on the market. PileMedic is now package into specially-designed modular repair kits. These repair kits are compatible with current military engineering capabilities. A background of their PIER selection process is available in pdf format by clicking the link. You can also watch the video here.

2) Louisiana Tech University & Louisiana DOT – Timber Piles

A total of 42 tests were conducted on undamaged, damaged, and repaired timber piles to characterize their behavior under concentric and eccentric loads. The repaired piles featured a FRP jacket, an underwater epoxy or grout fill and in some cases carbon fiber reinforcement between the FRP jacket and the timber pile. The repair materials are commercially available and were provided by Denso North America, Simpson Strong Tie and Pilemedic. The final report on this study is available in pdf format here.

3) Texas DOT (TXDOT) – Steel H-Piles

Texas DOT has also completed a major funded project at the University of Houston. In that study, 7 full-scale steel piles were tested under different degrees of corrosion damage and encasement in PileMedic® jackets. The specimens were subjected to axial compressive loads. All specimens regained or exceeded their undamaged axial capacity as a result of being retrofitted with the PileMedic® system. The final report on this study is available in pdf format here.

4) Tucson Electric Power – Utility Poles

A Class III 45ft- wood distribution pole was tested in the field and broke at approximately 5 feet above ground at a load of 1,070 pounds.The broken pole was strengthened with PileMedic and re-tested. The strengthened pole broke at a load of 2,400 pounds, exactly at the point where the repair had stopped. Watch the Video

5) Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) – Timber Bridge Piles

In conjunction with the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDR), researchers at Florida International University tested five timber piles. A 16-inch long portion of each pile was shaved and removed in an hourglass shape to depths ranging from 1 to 2 inches to simulate various degrees of damage encountered in the field. All piles were encased in PileMedic® glass laminates that extended 12 inches beyond the damaged area along the length of the pile. The damaged area was filled with pure resin or a mix of resin and gravel. The ends of the piles were cast in a 24-inch concrete cube. The specimens were subjected to a combination of axial and lateral loads. The specimens showed various degrees of increased axial load capacity and their failure load ranged from 5.3 to 9.9 times the design capacity. The final report on this study is available in pdf format here.

6) California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) & the National Science Foundation (NSF) – Concrete Columns

With funding from the NSF and Caltrans, researchers from three universities participated in a study to develop a solution for rapid return to service of bridge piers that may get severely damaged in an earthquake. The 24”x36” concrete column was first subjected to simulated earthquake loading, causing the fracture of three No. 8 rebars on each face of the column. The objective of the study was to see if the strength and ductility of the column could be restored without replacing the broken steel bars! Read the Report or Watch the Video