From Linear to Circular Cconomy; Using Hollow Piles to Reduce Embodied Carbon and Promote Pile ReuseÂ-PPT Presentation

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The HIPER Pile approach aims to help decarbonise construction by moving from a linear to a circular economy for foundations. Many urban sites already contain several generations of piles, leaving little room for new ones. Removing old piles is costly and time-consuming, while reuse remains uncommon.<br /><br />Wider reuse depends on better guidance and confidence in pile records, structural capacity, integrity and concrete durability, as well as acceptance by insurers and warranty providers. Earlier industry guidance includes a 2006 conference and handbook, a 2007 CIRIA guide and an ICE special edition on reusing foundations and structures.<br /><br />HIPER combines leaner pile design with assessment and future reuse. Its hollow pile design can optimise structural and geotechnical capacity compared with solid piles. A survey port allows inspection during a building’s occupancy, enabling the pile to be reused or extended through the base.<br /><br />A case study for HS2’s Euston Station in London compared a 23-metre HIPER pile with a 27-metre traditional solid pile. The HIPER design used 10 tonnes of reinforcement instead of 26 tonnes and 405 m³ of concrete instead of 687 m³. Muckaway was 585 m³ rather than 687 m³. The presentation reports reductions of 15% in pile length, 62% in reinforcement, 41% in concrete and 15% in muckaway, alongside a thermal coefficient of performance (COP) increase from 300–400% to 500–600%.

Keywords

HIPER pile

foundation reuse

circular economy

decarbonisation

pile design

construction sustainability

HS2 Euston Station

hollow pile

structural capacity

concrete reduction