Thermal performance of cast-in-place piles with artificial ground freezing in permafrost regions

During the construction of cast-in-place piles in warm permafrost,the heat carried by concrete and the cement hydration reaction can cause strong thermal disturbance to the surrounding permafrost.Since the bearing capacity of the pile is quite small before the full freeze-back,the quick refreezing of the native soils surrounding the cast-in-place pile has become the focus of the infrastructure construction in permafrost.To solve this problem,this paper innovatively puts forward the application of the artificial ground freezing(AGF)method at the end of the curing period of cast-in-place piles in permafrost.A field test on the AGF was conducted at the Beiluhe Observation and Research Station of Frozen Soil Engineering and Environment(34°51.2'N,92°56.4'E)in the Qinghai Tibet Plateau(QTP),and then a 3-D numerical model was established to investigate the thermal performance of piles using AGF under different engineering conditions.Additionally,the long-term thermal performance of piles after the completion of AGF under different conditions was estimated.Field experiment results demonstrate that AGF is an effective method to reduce the refreezing time of the soil surrounding the piles constructed in permafrost terrain,with the ability to reduce the pile-soil interface temperatures to below the natural ground temperature within 3 days.Numerical results further prove that AGF still has a good cooling effect even under unfavorable engineering conditions such as high pouring temperature,large pile diameter,and large pile length.Consequently,the application of this method is meaningful to save the subsequent latency time and solve the problem of thermal disturbance in pile construction in permafrost.The research results are highly relevant for the spread of AGF technology and the rapid building of pile foundations in permafrost.

Physical modeling of behaviors of cast-in-place concrete piled raft compared to free-standing pile group in sand

Similar to free-standing pile groups, piled raft foundations are conventionally designed in which the piles carry the total load of structure and the raft bearing capacity is not taken into account. Numerous studies indicated that this method is too conservative. Only when the pile cap is elevated from the ground level,the raft bearing contribution can be neglected. In a piled raft foundation, pileesoileraft interaction is complicated. Although several numerical studies have been carried out to analyze the behaviors of piled raft foundations, very few experimental studies are reported in the literature. The available laboratory studies mainly focused on steel piles. The present study aims to compare the behaviors of piled raft foundations with free-standing pile groups in sand, using laboratory physical models. Cast-in-place concrete piles and concrete raft are used for the tests. The tests are conducted on single pile, single pile in pile group, unpiled raft, free-standing pile group and piled raft foundation. We examine the effects of the number of piles, the pile installation method and the interaction between different components of foundation. The results indicate that the ultimate bearing capacity of the piled raft foundation is considerably higher than that of the free-standing pile group with the same number of piles. With installation of the single pile in the group, the pile bearing capacity and stiffness increase. Installation of the piles beneath the raft decreases the bearing capacity of the raft. When the raft bearing capacity is not included in the design process, the allowable bearing capacity of the piled raft is underestimated by more than 200%. This deviation intensifies with increasing spacing of the piles.

Field study of plastic tube cast-in-place concrete pile

The compositions, technical principles and construction equipments of a new piling method used for ground improvement plastic tube cast-in-place concrete pile were introduced. The results from static load tests on single piles with different forms of pile shoes and on their composite foundations were analyzed. The distribution patterns of axial force, shaft friction and toe resistance were studied based on the measurements taken from buried strain gauges. From the point of engineering application, the pile has merits in convenient quality control, high bearing capacity and reliable quality, showing higher reasonability, advancement and suitability than other ground improvement methods. The pile can be adopted properly to take place of ordinary ground improvement method, achieving greater economical and social benefits.

Bearing Behavior of Cast-in-Place Expansive Concrete Pile in Coral Sand Under Vertical Loading

The low side friction of piles in coral sand results in the low bearing capacity of foundations.In this paper,expansive concrete pile is utilized to improve the bearing capacity of pile foundations in coral sand.Both model tests and numerical simulation are performed to reveal the bearing mechanism of expansive concrete pile in coral sand.Results showed that the lateral earth pressure near pile increases obviously and the side friction of piles is improved,after adding expansion agent to the concrete.The horizontal linear expansion is 1.11%and the bearing capacity increased 41%for the pile,when 25%expansion agent is added.Results in finite element numerical simulation also show that ultimate bearing capacity increases with the increase of the linear expansion ratio.Besides,the area for obvious increase in side friction is below the surface of soil about three times the pile diameter,and the expansion leads to a high side friction sharing of the pile.Therefore,the cast-in-place expansive concrete pile is effective in improving the bearing capacity of piles in coral sand.

Field observation of the thermal disturbance and freezeback processes of cast-in-place pile foundations in warm permafrost regions

The bearing capacity of pile foundations is affected by the temperature of the frozen soil around pile foundations.The construction process and the hydration heat of cast-in-place(CIP)pile foundations affect the thermal stability of permafrost.In this paper,temperature data from inside multiple CIP piles,borehole observations of ground thermal status adjacent to the foundations and local weather stations were monitored in warm permafrost regions to study the thermal influence process of CIP pile foundations.The following conclusions are drawn from the field observation data.(1)The early temperature change process of different CIP piles is different,and the differences gradually diminish over time.(2)The initial concrete temperature is linearly related with the air temperature,net radiation and wind speed within 1 h before the completion of concrete pouring;the contributions of the air temperature,net radiation,and wind speed to the initial concrete temperature are 51.9%,20.3%and 27.9%,respectively.(3)The outer boundary of the thermal disturbance annulus is approximately 2 m away from the pile center.It took more than 224 days for the soil around the CIP piles to return to the natural permafrost temperature at the study site.

Applications of Ultrasonic Detection Technology in Bridge Concrete Pile Foundation Detection

In this paper,the application strategy of ultrasonic detection technology in the detection of concrete foundation piles is analyzed using a construction project as an example.It includes a basic overview of the project,an overview of ultrasonic testing technology in bridge concrete pile foundation testing,and an analysis of its practical application in the concrete pile foundation testing of this project.The objective of this analysis is to provide some reference for the application of ultrasonic testing technology and the improvement of the quality of bridge concrete pile foundation testing.

Refreezing of cast-in-place piles under various engineering conditions

In the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Power Transmission Line （QTPTL）, cast-in-place piles （CIPPs） are widely applied in areas with unfavorable geological conditions. The thermal regime around piles in permafrost regions greatly affects the stability of the towers as well as the operation of the QTPTL. The casting of piles will markedly affect the thermal regime of the surrounding permafrost because of the casting temperature and the hydration heat of cement. Based on the typical geological and engineering conditions along the QTPTL, thermal disturbance ofa CIPP to surrounding permafrost under different casting seasons, pile depths, and casting temperatures were simulated. The results show that the casting season （summer versus winter） can influence the refreezing process of CIPPs, within the first 6 m of pile depth. Sixty days after being cast, CIPPs greater than 6 m in depth can be frozen regardless of which season they were cast, and the foundation could be reffozen after a cold season. Comparing the refreezing characteristics of CIPPs cast in different seasons also showed that, without considering the ground surface conditions, warm seasons are more suitable for casting piles. With the increase of pile depth, the thermal effect of a CIPP on the surrounding soil mainly expands vertically, while the lateral heat disturbance changes little. Deeper, longer CIPPs have better stability. The casting temperature clearly affects the thermal disturbance, and the radius of the melting circle increases with rising casting temperature. The optimal casting temperature is between 2 ℃ and 9 ℃.

Deformation and failure modes of composite foundation with sub-embankment plain concrete piles

With the development of high-speed railway in China, composite foundation with rigid piles has become a stamdard solution of meeting the high requirements of stability and post-construction settlement of embankment on soft subgrade. Among several im- provement pattems, plain concrete piles have been extensively used to treat soft ground supported embankment. To investigate the deformation and failure modes of unimproved soft ground and soft ground reinforced by sub-embankment plain concrete piles, and to learn the influences of track and vehicle load, the effect of pile spacing, as well as the compression moduli of soil layers and upper load condition on the failure modes, a series of centrifuge model tests were performed. Test results indicate that the dis- placement of unimproved soft ground under the embankment increases continuously as embankment, track and train loading, and slip circle failure takes place. The deformation law of soft ground reinforced by sub-embankment plain concrete piles depends on pile spacing, compression modulus of the soft ground, and loading conditions. It was also found that plain concrete piles show displacement and failure patterns depending on its location, compression modulus of soft soil around the pile, and loading condi- tions. Furthermore, the evaluation of improved ground stability as well as the model test procedure is also presented.

High-frequency interference waves in low strain dynamic testing of X-section concrete piles

Stress waves propagate along vertical,radial and circumferential directions when a non-uniformly distributed load is applied at one end of a three-dimensional shaft.As a result,the receiving signals are usually mixed with undesired interference components,often featuring as high-frequency fluctuations.Previous studies have revealed that sectional geometry(shape and size)greatly affects the high-frequency interference.In this study,low strain dynamic testing on full-scale X-section concrete is conducted in order to investigate the influences of high-frequency interference on velocity responses at the pile head.Emphasis is placed on the frequency and peak value of interference waves at various receiving points.Additionally,the effects of the geometrical,and mechanical properties of the pile shaft on high-frequency interference are elaborated on through the three-dimensional finite element method.The results show that the measured wave is obscured by interference waves superposed by two types of high-frequency components.The modulus and cross-sectional area are contributing factors to the frequency and peak value of the interference waves.On the other hand,the position with the least interference is determined,to some extent,by the accurate shape of the X-section.

Quantitative analysis of magnetic anomaly of reinforcements in bored in-situ concrete piles

本文利用数值计算方法首次定量化研究了钢筋笼的磁异常场,总结了钢筋笼的磁异常特征,重点讨论了测孔方位、桩孔距、多节钢筋笼等影响因素,并为磁法检测钢筋笼提供了定量化的参考值。通过模型桩试验,验证了理论计算的正确性,并利用理论计算所得的规律合理的对实测曲线进行了解释。结果显示:数值计算和现场试验基本吻合,通过钢筋笼曲线特征可以较好的判断钢筋笼长度和配筋率变化。本文的研究完善了基于磁法的钢筋笼检测方法,并可以做进一步推广。该方法也对其他构筑物内部的配筋检测有一定的指导意义。

Uplift behavior and load transfer mechanism of prestressed high-strength concrete piles

Prestressed high-strength-concrete (PHC) tube-shaped pile is one of the recently used foundations for soft soil. The research on uplift resistance of PHC pile is helpful to the design of pile foundations. A field-scale test program was conducted to study the uplift behavior and load transfer mechanism of PHC piles in soft soil. The pullout load tests were divided into two groups with different diameters, and there were three piles in each group. A detailed discussion of the axial load transfer and pile skin resistance distribution was also included. It is found from the tests that the uplift capacity increases with increasing the diameter of pile. When the diameter of piles increases from 500 to 600 mm, the uplift load is increased by 51.2%. According to the load-displacement (Q-S) curves, all the piles do not reach the ultimate state at the maximum load. The experimental results show that the piles still have uplift bearing capacity.

Viscoelastic behavior of concrete pile

Based on constitutive theory of viscoelasticity,the viscoelastic behaviour of concrete pile was investigated.The influence of viscosity coefficient on the stress,displacement and velocity response was discussed.With the increase of viscosity coefficient,the amplitude of stress wave decreases,and the maximum value of the stress wave shifts to deeper position of the pile.In other words,the viscosity coefficient behaves as lag effect to stress wave.

Key technology for construction of connection between steel pylonand concrete pile cap of middle pylon of Taizhou Bridge

Taizhou Bridge is a suspension bridge with three pylons and two 1 080 m main spans. The middle pylon is a steel frame with longitudinal herringbone shape and lateral gate shape. The connection between steel pylon and concrete pile cap is a key part to transfer the huge inner force from the pylon to the foundation. Its construction quality is a critical factor to the overall structural loading of the whole bridge; therefore the contact ratio between the bearing steel plate of pylon and concrete pile cap is required to be over 75 %. The inclined joint surface in two directions, longitudinally at 39/1 920 and laterally at 1/4, posted a challenge to the construction work. A procedure test was carried out to find an optimal construction method by comparison, and finally the post-injection method was selected as it can meet the requirement of concrete strength and contact ratio at the connection. The successful application of the post-injection method in Taizhou Bridge can provide an example and reference for similar projects in the future.

Application of a concrete thermal pile in cooling the warming permafrost under climate change

Permafrost degradation caused by climate warming is posing a serious threat to the stability of cast-in-place pile foundations in warm permafrost regions.Ambient cold energy can be effectively utilized by two-phase closed thermosyphons(TPCTs)to cool the permafrost.Therefore,we installed TPCTs in a cast-in-place pile foundation to create a unique structure called a thermal pile,which effectively utilizes the TPCTs to regulate ground temperature.And we conducted a case study and numerical simulation to exhibit the cooling performance,and optimize the structure of the thermal pile.The purpose of this study is to promote the application of thermal piles in unstable permafrost regions.Based on the findings,the thermal pile operated for approximately 53%of the entire year and effectively reduced the deep ground temperature at a rate of at least-0.1℃per year.Additionally,it successfully raised the permafrost table that is 0.35 m shallower than the natural ground level.These characteristics prove highly beneficial in mitigating the adverse effects of permafrost degradation and enhancing infrastructure safety.Expanding the length of the condenser section and the diameter of the TPCT in a suitable manner can effectively enhance the cooling capability of the thermal pile and ensure the long-term mechanical stability of the pile foundation even under climate warming.

High-Rise Residential Reinforced Concrete Building Optimisation

In the last few decades structure optimisation has become a main task in a civil engineering project. As a matter of fact, due to the complexity and particularity of every structure, the great amount of variables and design criteria to considerate and many other factors, a general optimisation’s method is not simple to formulate. As a result, this paper focuses on how to provide a successful optimisation method for a particular building type, high-rise reinforced concrete buildings. The optimization method is based on decomposition of the main structure into substructures: floor system, vertical load resisting system, lateral load resisting system and foundation system;then each of the subsystems using the design criteria established at the building codes is improved. Due to the effect of the superstructure optimisation on the foundation system, vertical and lateral load resisting system is the last to be considered after the improvement of floor. Finally, as a case example, using the method explained in the paper, a 30-story-high high-rise residential building complex is analysed and optimised, achieving good results in terms of structural behaviour and diminishing the overall cost of the structure.

温度与荷载共同作用下钢筋混凝土桩的细观损伤

为探究港口码头不同环境因素对码头桩身材料特性的劣化影响而降低桩身承载能力,通过颗粒流分析程序(particle flow code 3D,PFC3D)建立三维颗粒流离散元钢筋混凝土桩模型开展研究。对温度-应力模型进行建立,选取热学参数,构建了温度热管模型,通过分级加热,得到了钢筋混凝土桩的横向拉伸应变、纵向压缩应变以及微裂缝生长数量随温度变化曲线;调整模型混凝土粗骨料占比与强度等级,研究其对钢筋混凝土桩受热损伤的影响;通过施加温度场的模型进行水平加荷载后,得到的应力应变曲线;基于模型微裂隙数量的损伤变量,并构建了损伤变量-轴向应变曲线,进一步分析了温度-荷载共同作用的损伤规律。结果表明:混凝土轴向压缩应变和横向拉伸应变会随温度的增加而逐渐升高,细观微裂隙数量会随温度的升高而增长;粗骨料占比升高会使受热初始损伤增加;温度的升高,材料的宏观力学性能出现了不同程度的降低。

湿陷性黄土地基中桩基负摩阻力计算新方法

负摩阻力对湿陷性黄土地基中桩基的承载变形性状具有重要影响,现行桩基规范及黄土规范推荐的负摩阻力计算方法不能反映黄土桩基负摩阻力的实际性状。对近30年来在黄土地区开展的钢筋混凝土灌注桩现场浸水试验实测数据进行统计,分析黄土浸水完成后桩身中性点深度、桩身最大负摩阻力深度及负摩阻力系数与桩长径比的关系,通过线性拟合得到了中性点深度比、最大负摩阻力深度比及负摩阻力系数与桩长径比的经验表达式,提出湿陷性黄土地基中桩基负摩阻力计算的新方法。新方法用三角形表示负摩阻力沿深度的分布,能反映负摩阻力从桩顶向下先逐渐增大、达到最大值后随深度增加逐渐减小、最终在中性点处减小为零的分布特征。将提出的方法、桩基规范及黄土规范方法的计算结果与实测结果进行对比,结果表明,桩基规范预测的中性点深度比优于黄土规范,黄土规范预测的最大下拉荷载优于桩基规范,而用新方法计算的负摩阻力最接近实测结果。

钙质砂地基中群桩基础荷载传递特性研究

为研究钙质砂地基中群桩基础承载过程中的性能特征,开展不同桩距条件下群桩基础静载试验.得到不同桩距条件下群桩的Q-S曲线和S-lgt曲线,测得3d、4.5d、6d(d为桩径)群桩在静载条件下的极限承载力F_(u),研究各个桩段的桩身轴力、桩侧摩阻力以及桩端阻力的变化趋势.研究结果表明:群桩的Q-S曲线为缓变型,S-lgt曲线为渐变型,桩基承载变形大致分为稳定、渐进以及破坏3个阶段,相较于3d群桩,4.5d、6d群桩沉降发展更缓慢,F_(u)更高;同等桩距下,钙质砂地基表现出比陆源砂地基更强的群桩效应,钙质砂地基中群桩最佳桩距应在4.5d~6d之间.该研究为群桩在钙质砂地基中的应用提供数据支撑和理论参考.

FRP布材增强钢筋混凝土桩水平承载性能研究

纤维增强复合材料(FRP)由于其轻质高强的优点被广泛应用于抗震加固、结构补强等实际工程中,但有关FRP增强混凝土桩水平承载性能的研究较少。为了研究不同FRP布材加固混凝土桩承载特性问题,通过室内模型试验对FRP布桩(普通钢筋混凝土桩身包裹FRP布材)的水平承载规律进行研究,探究了不同包裹层数、不同FRP布材类型、不同布材混合包裹对钢筋混凝土桩承载性能的影响。同时利用ABAQUS软件建立FRP布桩三维有限元模型,对每种工况进行数值模拟。结果表明,FRP布桩的水平承载性能随着包裹层数的增加而提升,提升效果与包裹层数之间并不存在正比例关系;不同布材类型的FRP布桩中,CFRP布对FRP布桩的水平承载性能提升效果最优;混合包裹(CFRP+GFRP)的提升效果要略优于包裹2层GFRP布。