187 The external instrumentation is essentially the same as that required
for an axial compression test, but there are some important differences to consider. The loads applied in a lateral load test are usually much smaller than for an axial load test, but the displacements will likely be greater. It is therefore important to select a load cell with the appropriate accuracy and precision for the range of loads to be applied. The length of travel required on the loading jack ram will need to be sufficient for the displacement anticipated. The travel on dial gauges and LVDTs will also need to be selected with the anticipated displacement magnitude in mind. In
planning the load test setup, it is recommended to run a preliminary analysis for the site-specific ground conditions, foundation type and loads to gain a feel for
the magnitude of displacement, such that an appropriate jack and instrumentation selection can be made. Further information on the selection and use of geotechnical instrumentation is available in Dunnicliff (1998) and Brown et al. (2010).
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