FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS, NASA MISSISSIPPI TEST FACILITY. REPORT 2. STATIC LOAD TESTING OF FOUNDATION PILES AT TEST STAND S-2, Al.

The Mississippi Test Facility, located approximately 50 miles northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, is the site for test firing the first and second stages of the Saturn 5 rocket. Strain gages were installed on two test piles that were driven before excavation for the test stand foundations to determine the required length of piling. The test piles were driven through casings installed to the approximate subgrade elevation to eliminate frictional effects of soil that would later be excavated. This report describes instrumentation placed on the test piles, presents strain gage readings made during 186- and 300-ton load tests, and presents strain gage readings made before the load tests and after excavation at the S-2, Al test stand. Pile driving data together with boring logs and logs of split-spoon sample borings are also presented. (Author)