A thermo-hydro-mechanical model for energy piles under cyclic thermal loading

Mehdi M. Arzanfudi, Rafid Al-Khoury, L.J. Sluys, G.M.A Schreppers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
70 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper introduces a thermo-hydro-mechanical finite element model for energy piles subjected to cyclic thermal loading. We address four particular features pertaining to the physics of energy piles: three-dimensionality, embedded heat exchangers, soil constitutive modeling and pile–soil interface. The model is designed to capture the strong coupling between all important physical and thermomechanical processes occurring in a concrete pile embedding U-tubes heat exchangers and surrounded by a saturated soil mass. It encompasses solid and fluid compressibility, fluid and heat flow, thermoplastic deformation of soil, buoyancy, phase change, volume change, pore expansion, melting point depression, cryogenic suction and permeability reduction due to ice formation. The model is distinct from existing energy pile models in at least two features: (1) it can simulate the detailed convection-conduction heat flow in the heat exchanger and the associated unsymmetrical thermal interactions with concrete and soil mass; and (2) it can simulate cyclic freezing and thawing in the system and the associated changes in physical and mechanical properties of the soil mass that likely lead to thermoplasticity and deterioration of pile shaft resistance. The performance of the model is demonstrated through a numerical experiment addressing all its features.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103560
Number of pages18
JournalComputers and Geotechnics
Volume125
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Embedded finite element
  • Energy pile modeling
  • Geothermal heat exchanger
  • Multiphase mixture material
  • Pile-soil interface
  • THM model

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