Centrifuge modelling of an energy pile group with groundwater flow

Abstract

For several decades, energy piles have been developed to extract heat from the ground by using foundation piles as heat exchangers. However, the thermal loading of these piles directly affects their mechanical behaviour. Centrifuge modelling of a thermally loaded pile group within a groundwater flow makes it possible to improve the understanding of the hydro-thermo-mechanical behaviour of this type of foundation. In this study, groundwater flow was established in a centrifuge model to study an energy pile group. The focus of this study was to enhance research findings on energy geo-structures such as foundations, which are very often located in soil with seepage. The groundwater flow allows reduction of thermomechanical effects and therefore plays the role as a stress and deformation stabiliser in addition to favouring the thermal recharge of the soil.