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The sustainability of deep foundation systems remains an underexplored aspect of geotechnical engineering. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles are widely employed in large-scale residential projects due to their structural efficiency and reduced environmental impact during installation. However, their life cycle environmental burdens, particularly from cement and steel production, require further investigation. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the environmental impact of CFA piles installed in a high-rise residential development in northeastern Brazil. The analysis follows ISO 14040/44 standards and adopts a cradle-to-site system boundary, covering material production, transportation, and pile installation. Results indicate that material production (A3) dominates the environmental footprint, with cement contributing over 85% of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and steel being the primary driver of Mineral Resource Scarcity Potential (MRSP) and Ionizing Radiation Potential (IRP). The total GWP per ton of installed CFA pile is 138 kg CO2-eq, while HTP reaches 15.2 kg 1,4-DCB-eq, exceeding climate-related indicators. These findings establish a benchmark for CFA pile sustainability and support decision-making toward lower impact foundation solutions.

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Life Cycle Assessment of CFA Pile Foundations: Environmental Benchmarking for Large-Scale Residential Construction

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • André V. A. Borgatto,
  • Juliana C. Véras,
  • Castorina S. Vieira

摘要

The sustainability of deep foundation systems remains an underexplored aspect of geotechnical engineering. Continuous Flight Auger (CFA) piles are widely employed in large-scale residential projects due to their structural efficiency and reduced environmental impact during installation. However, their life cycle environmental burdens, particularly from cement and steel production, require further investigation. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify the environmental impact of CFA piles installed in a high-rise residential development in northeastern Brazil. The analysis follows ISO 14040/44 standards and adopts a cradle-to-site system boundary, covering material production, transportation, and pile installation. Results indicate that material production (A3) dominates the environmental footprint, with cement contributing over 85% of Global Warming Potential (GWP) and steel being the primary driver of Mineral Resource Scarcity Potential (MRSP) and Ionizing Radiation Potential (IRP). The total GWP per ton of installed CFA pile is 138 kg CO2-eq, while HTP reaches 15.2 kg 1,4-DCB-eq, exceeding climate-related indicators. These findings establish a benchmark for CFA pile sustainability and support decision-making toward lower impact foundation solutions.