Using Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL)

To Test Drilled-Shaft Foundations

Branagan & Associates, Inc.

P.O. Box 96177
Las Vegas, NV 89193
Phone: (702) 454-3394
Fax: (702) 434-7594
Internet: www.branagan.com

Concept of CSL
Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) is an accurate,
cost-effective, and nondestructive means of
investigating the integrity of concrete in drilledshaft foundations. These guidelines are intended
enhance the quality of data acquired in CSL surveys
by providing contractors with information on the
preparation of shafts for CSL and the methods used
to acquire CSL data. These guidelines are consistent
with ASTM D 6760-021.
CSL establishes the homogeneity and integrity of
concrete in a deep foundation and identifies
anomalies, such as voids or soil intrusions, within
the structure. In a CSL survey, the transit time of an
ultrasonic compressional-wave (or p-wave) signal
from a signal source in one access tube to a receiver
in another access tube is measured from the bottom
to the top of a foundation. Then, knowing tube
separation distance, the p-wave velocity is
calculated for each depth horizon. This results in a
profile plot of velocity with respect to depth.
In a nominal foundation with uniform, "good"quality concrete, the acoustic travel time between
equidistant tubes will be relatively constant over the
depth of the foundation. P-wave velocities for good
concrete are on the order of 3,700 m/sec
(12,000 ft/sec). Decreases in sonic-velocity from
the local velocity average, accompanied by
decreases in the signal energy, indicate a departure
from uniform concrete quality. An improper
concrete mix, voids, or other non-cemented
intrusive materials can cause decreased-velocity
anomalies. Complete loss of signal may indicate a
severe defect
Material
Good Concrete
Water
Air

Velocity
(ft / sec)
12,000
4,800
1,100

Velocity
(km / sec)
3.7
1.5
0.3

American Society for Testing and Materials, 2002:

Standard Test Method for Integrity Testing of Concrete
Deep Foundations by Ultrasonic Crosshole Testing
Copyright 2002, Branagan & Associates, Inc.

CSL testing is normally conducted as a part of

Quality Assurance or Quality Control programs by
an experienced independent testing firm such as
Branagan & Associates, Inc, (B&A).

Preparing for CSL Testing

Preparing drilled-shaft foundations for CSL testing
is a simple process. The contractor supplies and
installs tubes around the perimeter of the
reinforcement cage that is installed in the drilled
shaft(s) to be tested. These tubes provide the source
and receiver probes with access to the full
foundation length from top to bottom. After placing
concrete and waiting a minimum of 24 hours for
concrete curing, CSL tests can be performed. The
following sections provide specific guidelines for
contractors to consider when planning and
implementing a drilled-shaft foundation evaluation
program.
Access Tube Specifications
Access tubes for CSL tests may be steel or PVC
depending on the project specifications. In either
case, the tubes must have end caps and couplers that
are watertight. The tube inside diameter (ID) must
permit the top-to-bottom free and unobstructed
passage of CSL probes having dimensions of 1.41
inches diameter and 4 inches in length. Thus, the
internal surfaces of the tubes must be clean and free
of corrosion, defects and obstructions. Prior to CSL
testing, tubes should have removable caps at the
surface to prevent entry of foreign material which
could obstruct the tube.

Tube
Composition

Tube ID
(inches)

Schedule 40
Black Steel
Schedule 40
PVC

1.5 to 2.0

Approximate Time
Window for
Acquiring Optimal
CSL Data
24 hours up to 45 days

1.5 to 2.0

24 hours up to 10 days

Good bonding between the tube and concrete is an

important consideration. If de-bonding should
occur, CSL data quality can be negatively affected.
Therefore, external tube surfaces must be clean and
free from contamination to ensure good bond
between the concrete and the tubes. If PVC tubes
Installation of Tubes
The following general guidelines describe the
installation of the access tubes and outline the
sequential timing of the operations.
Pre-construction Planning
are used, it is recommended that they be roughened
by abrasion prior to installation to enhance bonding.
There are trade-offs to consider if there is a choice
in tube composition. PVC tubes cost less than steel
but, due to the tendency of PVC tubes to de-bond
more rapidly from concrete than do steel tubes,
there is a shorter window for acquiring optimalquality CSL data. Alternatively, steel tubes are
more expensive but maintain a good bond for a
significantly longer period.

Tube Preparation

Number and Spacing Angles of Tubes

Project plans and specifications generally identify
the number and spacing of CSL access tubes that
provide good cross-sectional coverage of a given
drilled-shaft foundation. The general guide,
however, is to install one access tube per foot of
shaft diameter (or one tube per 0.25 to 0.30 meters
of shaft diameter) while maintaining equal spacing
around the circumference. The figure illustrates
typical tube configurations and CSL source-receiver
raypaths that select tube configurations allow.

Fit access tubes with watertight cap on bottom

and removable cap on top. Any couplers used to
make full-length tubes must also be watertight.
Butt welding of steel tube couplings is not
permitted and couplers on plastic pipe shall be
threaded or glued. Wrapping joints with tape is
not permitted.

Attaching Tubes to Reinforcing Cage

Wire-tie tubes to interior of cage at regular

intervals along its length (e.g., every 3 ft) to
maintain tube alignment during cage lifting,
lowering and concrete placement. Tubes should
be as vertical and parallel to each other as
possible. Non-vertical or non-parallel tubes can
adversely affect CSL data.

The access tubes should be installed such that

their bottom is close to the bottom of the
concrete foundation thereby allowing the
foundation's bottom condition can be tested.
The generally accepted practice is to place
tubes 0.5 ft above shaft bottoms and extend the
tubes 2-3 ft above what will be the top of
concrete.

Access tubes placed on the reinforcement cage

should have a minimum concrete cover of one
tube diameter or approximately 3 inches.

Use a regular and symmetrical pattern so that

each tube is spaced a maximum distance
possible from adjacent tubes. Number and
spacing of tubes around cage perimeter must
correspond to design drawings or to
specifications.

Basic Coverage:
Six Raypaths for a
Foundation with 4
CSL Access Tubes

Comprehensive
Coverage:
Twenty-one
Raypaths for a
Foundation with
7 CSL Access
Tubes

Before construction begins, confirm with the

project engineer the specified tube composition
and dimension along with proposed method of
tube installation.

Copyright 2002, Branagan & Associates, Inc.

Placing Cage (Reinforcement Operations)

CSL Field Setup and Data Acquisition

During the reinforcement cage installation, take

care not to damage tubes.

Filling Tubes with Water

It is very important to fill tubes with clean

water immediately before or within one hour
after concrete placement. This action inhibits
de-bonding of concrete from the tube. Cap or
seal tube tops to keep out debris.

Removing and then replacing tube caps or plugs

for CSL testing is normally done by B&A
personnel. If for some reason the contractor
needs to remove or replace tube caps, care must
be taken to avoid applying excess torque,
hammering, or other stresses that could break
the bond between tubes and concrete.

Tube Grouting
After CSL testing is completed and the engineer
has accepted the shaft, remove all water from
access tubes and any other drilled holes. Then
fill tubes and holes completely with approved
grout mix.

The earliest time that CSL tests can be conducted is

24 hours after the concrete has been placed. A
longer cure time may be needed depending on if
circumstances (e.g., larger foundation diameter,
concrete mix design) cause the concrete to set more
slowly. Working in coordination with the
contractor, B&A tests shafts quickly and accurately
as soon as possible after concrete is placed. For
CSL testing, B&A uses a field-proven and industrystandard CSL system manufactured by Olson
Engineering. The equipment, transported in an
suitcase-size hard case, includes the following
components:

a depth wheel/counter cabling system for

depths to 250 ft with depth-measuring
increments from 0.6 to 3.5 in.;

a microprocessor-based system capable of

displaying individual records, converting data
from analog to digital format, recording data,
analyzing receiver responses, and printing logs;

35-kHz hydrophone source and receiver probes

with diameter of 1.41 inches and length of 4
inches (i.e., sized for tube IDs of 1.5 to 2.0 in).;

a synchronized triggering system that starts the

recording system at the same time the source is
excited; and

a 12-volt DC battery power source that allows

remote fielding of equipment for a limited time.

CSL Testing Procedures

The CSL testing procedures used by B&A are
consistent with the recommended procedures of the
manufacturer of the CSL equipment, ASTM (as
described in D-6760-02), and the Federal Highway
Administration (as described in publication FLH
521-012).
Either prior to or at the time of the CSL tests, the
following information should be provided to B&A:

Standard Method for Determining Pulse Velocity

Through Concrete in Drilled Shafts
Copyright 2002, Branagan & Associates, Inc.

bottom and top elevations of the foundation, or

foundation
length;

events during construction.

concrete
placement dates;
any other

can provide a limited amount of power for

inaccessible locations. The CSL system can also be
run off of commercial or generator-supplied 110volt 55-60 Hz AC power. A tripod is setup at the
foundation being tested and cabling is spooled from
the computer, over the tripod depth wheel, to each
of the source and receiver probes.

pertinent data
regarding
unusual
observations or
Upon setting up in the field, B&A field personnel
make a sketch of the tube configuration on each
tested foundation and assign a systematic reference
number to each tube. To calculate acoustic velocity,
the distance between the all of the tube-pair
combinations is accurately measured and recorded,
as are the tube stick-ups above the top of concrete.
Because field data-acquisition efforts are most
effective and efficient if performed in a single
mobilization, B&A routinely tests all possible tube
pairs including major diagonals, minor diagonals,
and periphery. These comprehensive CSL data sets
may be useful in defining the extent of an anomaly
should an acoustic anomaly be observed in the
primary data set analyzed.

The probes are lowered to the full depth of each

tube pair being tested. Standard CSL tests are
carried out with the source and receiver probes in
the same horizontal plane. The cables attached to
the probes are simultaneously hand-pulled over the
depth wheel to steadily bring the probes to the
surface. Prior to pulling, any slack in the cables is
removed to ensure accurate depth measurements in
the CSL records. While traversing a tube pair, CSL
acoustic travel time measurements are made at
depth intervals of 0.2 ft or less from the bottom to
the top.
While in the field, B&A personnel evaluate the
measured data as well as the derived sonic
velocities in terms of completeness and accuracy. A
preliminary evaluation of the integrity of the
concrete in the foundations tested can generally be
provided in the field. However, such preliminary
assessments do not preclude B&A's systematic
evaluation of the data in the office setting and final
documentation of the results.
CSL Reporting
As previously described, for each CSL tube-pair
combination on each foundation that is tested,
transit times and signal strength are measured over
the full length of the foundation. Experienced B&A
personnel then analyze the data and prepare a
written report which, in addition to general
descriptive information, includes the following
specific information for each foundation tested:

CSL computer equipment is routinely operated off

of DC power (vehicle power outlet). Thus, vehicle
access to the foundation provides the most
convenient approach for data-acquisition
operations. However, on-board system batteries

interpretation of velocity profile logs with

regard to the integrity of the concrete with
standard ratings of Good, Questionable, Poor,
or No Signal applied to report the quality of the
concrete.
identification of the depth interval and tube pair
that includes a sonic anomaly and, when
appropriate, the influence of construction
techniques or events on the results; and

Copyright 2002, Branagan & Associates, Inc.

10

Acceptance or Rejection of Foundations

appendices which include profiles of the initial

acoustic pulse arrival time versus depth, and
pulse energy/amplitude versus depth.

15

Coring of a foundation may be specified if CSL

anomalies indicate Questionable or Poor Quality
concrete. If coring is to be performed, B&A's CSL
report provides the approximate location of the
anomaly for coring to target. To intercept an
anomaly located in a portion of a foundation, efforts
should be made to maintain a vertical corehole to
enhance the likelihood of target interception. In
general, if a defect is confirmed, coring costs are
the responsibility of the contractor. If no defect is
encountered in the coring process, the owner is
responsible for coring costs and grouting of all
coreholes.

20
Foundation
Velocity Profile

Tube Pairs
1-4
1-5
1-6
1-7
Avg
25
30

35
40

45
50
6

9 10 11 12

13

14

15

Velocity (ft/sec*1000)

Additional Testing
Accuracy of the derived areal location of a defect in
a foundation depends on the number and location of
tubes within each foundation. If CSL results
indicate the presence of significant anomalies, other
techniques can be applied to improve location
accuracy and to further characterize the feature. The
additional information can reduce the uncertainty in
coring and remediating the defective area.
Additional non-destructive testing methods that
could be used include Angled Crosshole Sonic
Logging, Crosshole Tomography, Singlehole Sonic

16

It is the responsibility of the project engineer or

structural engineer to accept or reject a foundation.
Such acceptance is based on the reported results of
the CSL testing, coring results, and all other
available information on the shaft construction.
Rejection of a foundation based on CSL testing
requires conclusive evidence of a defect that will
result in inadequate or unsafe performance of the
structure under service loads. Should a drilled-shaft
foundation be deemed unacceptable, the standard
practice is for the contractor to submit a plan for
remedial action to the engineer for approval. All
modifications to the foundation and load transfer
mechanisms caused by the remedial action require
calculations and working drawings stamped by a
registered professional engineer for all elements
affected. Typically, the labor and materials required
to perform foundation remediation or replacement
are provided at no cost to the owner and with no
extension of the contract time.
About Branagan & Associates, Inc.
Branagan & Associates, Inc. (B&A) is a Las Vegas,
Nevada-based consulting research and engineering
company formed in 1993 to provide technical
services to clients engaged in scientific and
engineering projects in specialized geotechnical
testing associated with the construction industry and
in hydrocarbon exploration and production. B&A
has performed hundreds of Crosshole Sonic
Logging surveys for clients throughout the U.S.

Logging, Gamma-Gamma Nuclear Density

Logging, and Sonic Echo and Impulse Response
tests.

Copyright 2002, Branagan & Associates, Inc.