Thermally Induced Long-Term Displacement of Thermoactive Piles

Abstract

The long-term displacement of thermoactive piles subjected to static load and thermal cycles is analyzed using the numerical solution of the one-dimensional load-transfer method modified to account for thermoelastic effects. Numerical results show that thermal cycles cause changes in load transfer and may lead to gradual plastic displacement accumulation due to the mobilization of side shear resistance with the number of thermal cycles. Displacement accumulation depends on the static factor of safety, the amplitude of the thermal cycles, and the ratio between the shaft resistance and the ultimate pile capacity.