Numerical Investigation of Thermally Induced Stresses and Pile Head Movements in Large Energy Pile Group Foundations
摘要
The primary focus of this study is to investigate thermally induced stress and strain distributions among energy piles within large groups over a time scale that is typical of practical applications. A fully coupled 3D temperature–displacement finite element analysis with transient conductive heat transfer is developed using the Abaqus/standard and the results of energy pile groups of 2 × 2, 4 × 4, 6 × 6, 8 × 8 and 10 × 10 under heating over a period of 6 months are presented. It is found that the group effects lead to greater thermal vertical strains as well as pile head displacements, but lower vertical stresses. The loads carried out by the center energy piles of a 10 × 10 group are approximately zero, but the pile head displacements are shown to be more than 2 times larger than that of a single pile. Furthermore, in large energy pile foundations, greater thermal vertical strains and lower vertical stresses occur along the piles over time.