Optimising the embodied carbon of laterally loaded piles using a genetic algorithm and finite element simulation

Abstract

With the need to cut embodied carbon from the construction industry, there has been a growing interest in optimising the design of different structural elements. This paper, for the first time, minimises the embodied carbon of laterally-loaded piles using a hybrid genetic algorithm. The research is split into four stages. Firstly, the optimisation algorithm is set and run to produce the optimal piles of lateral capacity 0.5 MN at a 25 mm lateral displacement limit, the embodied carbon of solid cylindrical and hollow cylindrical optimised pile designs is compared showing a significant reduction in the embodied carbon when the hollow geometry is used. Then an analysis is presented to test the effect of different displacement limits on the resulting embodied carbon, showing that the lateral displacement limit has a significant effect on the overall embodied carbon of the pile designs, highlighting a scope for reducing the embodied carbon if more pile displacement is permissible. A finite element model is built using ABAQUS simulation package to investigate the soil-pile interaction and compare the two optimal pile designs. Finally, the lateral load capacity of four different pile geometries is calculated to demonstrate the effect of pile geometry on its lateral load capacity, hollow cylindrical piles, showed to have the highest lateral load capacity compared to the other pile types. We conclude that the opportunity for significant carbon savings exists in laterally loaded piles through both optimisation and careful consideration of performance criteria.