Thermo-mechanical performance of energy pile groups

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C15.0011

Key words (English)

Energy piles; thermo-mechanical loads; soil-structure interaction; group behaviour; geotechnical engineering; structural engineering; energy

Research programs (English)

COST-Action TU1405 - European Network for Shallow Geothermal Energy Applications in Buildings and Infrastructures

Short description (English)

Energy piles couple the role of structural foundations with the one of heat exchangers, representing a renewable and clean source of energy that can be used for the heating and cooling of buildings, infrastructures and all kind of environments. Because of this twofold character, energy piles are repeatedly subjected to thermo-mechanical actions that involve fundamental changes of the foundation and soil behaviours, as well as of their interaction. Currently, the effects that thermo-mechanical loads involve in groups of energy piles are poorly understood. Therefore, the application of such foundations for the support of new structures and infrastructures is still restrained. Looking at such challenge, the goal of this project is to provide a sound knowledge about the response of groups of energy piles subjected to mechanical and thermal actions. Geotechnical, structural and energy analyses will be performed for this aim, focusing on the soil-structure interaction mechanisms that govern the group behaviour from a global to a local point of view. These aspects will be covered through a series of insitu tests, numerical investigations and the development of an analytical model for the assessment of the thermo-mechanical effects on the foundation behaviour, in view of the remarkable need of thorough methodologies and guidelines for the engineering design of such foundations.

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Laboratoire de mécanique des sols EPFL-ENAC-IIC - LMS

Partners and International Organizations (English)

BE; BG; HR; CY; DK; FI; FR; MK; DE; EL; IT; PL; PT; RO; RS; SI; ES; UK

Abstract (English)

See short description

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C15.0011