Abstract:
The response of thermally-activated (TA) piles under monotonic thermal loads is quite well understood and
the major uncertainties would appear to relate to the effect of long-term, cyclic loading of individual TA
piles and pile groups. Recent studies undertaken by the authors have provided insights into the behaviour
of TA pile foundations undergoing cyclic thermal loading. The analyses show that despite using a relatively
simple model for the soil behaviour, key aspects of the observed response of piles in sand, under cyclic
thermal loading can be reproduced, providing confidence in the outcomes of the analyses. The studies
examined isolated piles and pile groups, and concluded that thermally-induced settlement may be mitigated
through the choice of an appropriate margin of safety on the pile shaft resistance under service mechanical
load conditions, and the maximum thermal stress can also be readily estimated. This paper consolidates
these works and provides guidance regarding the safe geotechnical and structural design of the piles, then
looks towards the remaining issues around the safe provision of thermally-activated pile foundations.