Comparative analysis about carbon emission of precast pile and cast-in-situ pile

Abstract

Building construction are attaching greater importance to decrease carbon emissions in order to mitigate greenhouse effects. Precast pile foundation and cast-in-situ pile foundation are main types of foundations. This paper calculates carbon emissions from prestressed pipe pile foundation and cast-in-situ pile foundation under the same bearing capacity, as well as the carbon emissions from different rectifications to battered piles. Prestressed concrete pipe pile foundation demonstrates comparatively less carbon emissions than cast-in-situ pile foundation. The latter releases 1.4 times more carbon than the former. In the rectifications of battered piles, prestressed concrete pipe pile foundation has significantly lowered carbon emissions, to as much as one third of other solutions. This paper also reveals that measures to reduce carbon emissions involve two raw materials, concrete and steel. Carbon emissions should be listed as the fourth parameter in the design of foundation on the basis of bearing capacity, settlement and economical cost. Green, low-carbon, regenerable raw materials are to be explored and selected for building industry.