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Originally Posted by Biff
Can anyone tell me what these things are? I have seen them before at the Burj Dubai site pics. Other than seeming like huge blocks of concrete or stone - what are they used for? |
Those concrete blocks are used to test the load on the piles. Each pile is designed to support a specific weight and allow for a specific lateral move, within the limits. So basically with these blocks they simulate the load weight that the specific pile is supposed to support, when the tower above is build, and with special equipments they measure the horizontal or vertical movement (if any) of the pile as well as serching for any possible tensions developed on the pile structure.
There are also pneumatic machines that simulate the weight with no needs of concrete blocks.