Ensuring Drilled Shaft Quality with SQUID® Technology: A Case Study from Pennsylvania

Pile Dynamics Inc. (PDI) continues to advance foundation quality assurance through innovative testing solutions, as demonstrated in the Frankfort Road Bridge Replacement project in Monaca, Pennsylvania.

Project Overview

The project required the construction of 43 drilled shafts with strict base cleanliness criteria: less than 0.5 inches of debris over at least 50% of the shaft bottom, and no area exceeding 1.5 inches. Meeting these specifications was critical before reinforcement cage installation and concrete placement.

The Challenge

Verifying shaft base cleanliness can be time-consuming and subjective using traditional methods, often leading to delays, rework, or uncertainty. The project team needed a fast, objective, and reliable solution that would keep construction moving while ensuring compliance with design and owner requirements.

The Solution: SQUID® Testing

Pile Dynamics Inc. deployed its Shaft Quantitative Inspection Device (SQUID®), using the SQUID66 system, to perform quantitative shaft base inspections. SQUID testing provided rapid, objective measurements of debris thickness across the shaft base.

A key advantage of this project was the use of PDI’s remote testing capabilities. While onsite crews operated the equipment, a PDI engineer analyzed the data in real time from a remote location. This approach reduced travel costs, increased scheduling flexibility, and maintained expert oversight throughout the testing process.

Testing Process and Results

Each shaft was tested in approximately 15 minutes. Of the 43 drilled shafts, 24 were approved during the initial SQUID testing. The remaining shafts were approved after additional cleanout operations, ensuring all shafts met the required cleanliness specifications before proceeding with reinforcement and concrete placement.

Project Benefits

For Contractors

• Fast, 15-minute tests per shaft helped keep the project on schedule

• Early optimization of cleanout methods reduced rework

• Greater confidence in shaft base conditions prior to concrete placement

For Owners

• Documented, quantitative proof that every shaft met cleanliness criteria

• Reduced schedule risk and improved quality assurance

• A cost-effective approach to foundation testing

For Designers

• Verification that as-built shaft conditions matched design assumptions

• Objective acceptance based on quantitative data

• Reduced risk to long-term foundation performance

For Testing Engineers

• Remote testing with real-time insight and no travel requirements

• Seamless coordination with onsite crews

• Trusted technology delivering repeatable, quantitative results

Building Stronger Foundations

This case study highlights how Pile Dynamics Inc.’s SQUID® testing technology supports better decision-making, fewer construction delays, and stronger, more reliable foundations. By combining objective measurements with remote engineering expertise, PDI continues to set the standard for drilled shaft quality assurance on complex infrastructure projects.