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THERMAL ANALYSIS IN LARGE DIAMETER BORED PILES

Conference Paper · October 2002

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3
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 6th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

THERMAL ANALYSIS IN LARGE DIAMETER

BORED PILES

Dr. Mosa J. Al-Mosawe Dr. Ahmed A. H. Al-Obaidi

Professor Lecturer
University of Baghdad University of Tikrit

ABSTRACT
In recent years, one of the important developments in foundation engineering has been
the rapidly growing popularity of large diameter bored piles. The bored pile can be
installed in sands and clays, above or below the water table, with a diameter up to 3.5
m.
A concrete member of such size is usually subjected to secondary stresses such as
thermal stresses due to the dissipation of the heat of hydration and from periodic cycles
of ambient.
In this paper, thermal analyzes of a concrete pile subjected to a heat of hydration release
and heat transfer were considered. The heat flow through the pile shaft and the thermal
stresses are analyzed and discussed.
The result of the analysis indicated that the dissipation of the heat is relatively high at
the concrete shaft especially within the 60 hours after placing of the concrete. The
dissipation of the heat of hydration generates tensile stresses in the pile shaft. Additional
reinforcement should be provided to the pile shaft to resist such stresses. The full-length
reinforcement was prompt to obtain an adequate crack distribution and a reasonable
limit on crack width.

INTRODUCTION
There are a number of factors, which should be considered in the design of the bored
piles beyond the routine computation procedures. A review of these factors reveals
serious defects, such as the loss of continuity along the pile length, and the shaft may
contain cracks, voids, inclusion, etc. These defects may not affect the pile performance
in the short term. However, the long-term behaviour may be important, particularly
when a pile is subjected to bending stresses.
In concrete structures, deformations and volume changes should be considered even
through the external loading is small. Volume changes are caused by changes in
moisture content of the concrete, changes in temperature, and chemical reactions, (ACI
Committee 207, 1970). Excessive volume change is detrimental to concrete and leads
to form cracks.

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Cracking is a weakening factor that may affect the ability of the concrete to withstand
its designed load and may also detract from durability and appearance, (ACI Committee
224, 1984).
The thermal stresses in concrete are developed in two ways, from the dissipation of the
heat of hydration and from periodic cycles of ambient. In ordinary structure, most of
the heat generated by the hydration of cement is dissipate almost quickly and there is
little temperature difference from the inside to the outside of the body. A structural
element with large dimensions differs in its behaviour with that of ordinary structure.
The thermal properties allow only slow movements of heat, which means that heat
trapped within a mass concrete structure can hardly be escaped. This will cause a
difference in temperature between the internal mass and the surface. As concrete gains
both strength and stiffness, the restraint of the free contraction will result and generate
the tensile stresses, (ACI Committee 224, 1984).
Salih (2001) found in his experimental study that the maximum temperature recorded
in the internal part of mass concrete was 76°C and remains for a long period of time,
(about three weeks). The cracks were noticed in a concrete pedestal with dimensions
(33*6*5) m when the difference in temperature between the internal part and surface
was 41°C.
Neville, (1981) found that cracking is developed when the difference in temperature
between the interior body and the exterior surface is large. This may occur during hot
weather period, in which cause the cracks will develop in the interior mass as shown in
Fig. (1). Also, cracks can occur during the course of cooling and appear on the surface
as shown in Fig. (2). These figures also indicate that the development of cracks become
important when the temperature difference exceeds 20ºC.
Large diameter bored piles which may be considered in behaviour as a massive concrete
structural element can be affected by the hydration of cement during construction and
curing, which may lead to series of tension cracks in the pile body before loading.
In this study, a non-linear, two-dimensional finite element model is described for the
analysis of concrete pile subjected to a heat of hydration release and heat transfer.

THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS
In order to study the thermo-mechanical behaviour of structures, two stages of analysis
are needed, thermal and stress analysis. The thermal analysis of concrete structures
depends on their thermal properties (i.e. conductivity, density and specific heat). It is
widely known that these properties can vary with temperature. These variations (if
considered) will result in a considerable nonlinearity in the covering equation for heat
flow.
The general covering differential equation for heat diffusion analysis is:
∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂  ∂T  ∂T
kx  + ky  + kz  + q = ρ ⋅c (1)
∂x  ∂x  ∂y  ∂y  ∂z  ∂z  ∂t
where, kx, ky, kz are thermal conductivity in x, y, and z-direction respectively,
ρ: density,
c: specific heat,
T: temperature, and

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q: the rate of heat generated in the body.

The rate of increase of the internal heat c(∂Tof∂tthe

ρ ⋅sum
is the ) rate of heat
generates q and the rate of heating entering by conduction. The derivation of this
equation may be found in any related reference.
The thermal conductivity of ordinary concrete depends on its composition, and it ranges
from 1.4 to 3.6 J/m2s°C/m. The specific heat depends on moisture content for the
concrete, it increases with an increase in temperature and with a decrease in the density
of the concrete. The common range values for ordinary concrete is between 840 and
1170 J/kg/°C.
The rate and the magnitude of the heat generated of concrete depend on the amount per
unit volume of cement and pozzolans (if any), the component composition and fineness
of cement, and upon the temperature during hydration of the cement. The hydration
temperature is affected in turn by the amount of heat lost or gained as governed by the
size and exposure conditions of the member. Thus, the exact temperature of the
concrete at any given time depends on many variables.
Byfors, (1980) assumed a relationship between heat developed and degree of hydration:

[
H e (t ) = ki exp − ai (ln(t ))
− bi
] (2)
where ki, ai, bi: constants depending on cement type and (t) time in hours.

ACI Committee 207, (1973) presents curves where simple mathematical relations were
used to conduct the heat of hydration. In this method, the peak temperature was
assumed to be equal to ambient air temperature. In hot weather, the placing temperature
of concrete might exceed the mean daily ambient air temperature from 2 to 5.5°C. This
peak temperature in concrete may occur anytime during the first week depending on
member size, type of cement and concrete placing temperature as shown in Fig. (3).
The peak temperature can be estimated by using Fig. (4) which correlate the volume to
surface ratio for different placing temperature for Type (I) cement containing 223 kg/m3
of cement. A correction for the difference in air temperature and placing temperature
can be made using Fig. (5) by estimating the time of peak temperature from Fig. (3).

The correction for actual cement content used can be calculated from:
(T)cec = (T)223kg x (cement content in the concrete mix. Kg/m3))/223 (3)

The correction also can be made to the cement type and fineness of cement.
The results of the finite difference method presented by Thurston, et al, (1980) and the
results of the experimental tests carried by Salih, (2001) of the maximum temperature
were close to the ACI Committee, 207, (1973) method.

PARAMETERS STUDIED
The aim of the study in the following articles is to find the distribution of the
temperature due to the release of the heat of hydration and then to find the stresses

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connected with this phenomenon. Thus, the method presented by the ACI Committee
207, (1973) was used to estimate the maximum heat of hydration.
In order to confirm the above method, the placing temperature was chosen as 40°C in
summer and 18°C in winter. The cement type was sulphate-resisting Portland cement
(Type V), and the cement content was 400 kg/m3.
Following the procedure is given by the ACI Committee 207, (1973), the peak
temperature obtained were 68°C after 18 hrs of placing in the summer and 35°C after
one day in winter for a concrete pile with one meter in diameter. The soil temperature
was considered to be equal to 25°C, both in summer and in winter, (Al-Obaidi 1999).
The assumed values of thermal conductivity and specific heat for the concrete pile shaft
and the soil around are shown in Table (1).

Table (1) Thermal properties of the concrete pile shaft and the soil used in the
analysis

Thermal properties The pile shaft The soil

Thermal conductivity J/m2s°C/m 3 1.73
Specific heat J/kg/°C 950 1150

THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

A general finite element program “ANSYS, 5.4” (1997) was selected to generate the
solution for the thermal and the stress analysis.
Since the pile length to diameter ratio is high, thus it is assumed that the heat will
transfer in the radial direction only and the problem can be considered as plane
axisymmetric. A small angle θ = 10° is used for approximating the circular boundary
with a straight-sided element as shown in Fig. (6).
In thermal analysis, plane elements with two-dimensional thermal conduction
capabilities were used to represent the pile and the soil. Each element has four nodes
with a single degree of freedom and temperature at each node. The boundary condition
will locate at a horizontal distance of three times the diameter of the pile measured from
the pile centre.
In stress analysis also, the problem was considered as plane axisymmetric. Plane solid
elements were used with four nodes having two degrees of freedom at each node. Only
the pile was representative in the analysis of the finite element. The section initially
considered being free from axial, lateral and flexural restrained in all directions. The
loading introduced as a nodal temperature at each node. In both analyzes (thermal and
stress analysis), automatic time stepping was used.
The magnitude of the stress in the concrete depends on the modulus of elasticity, which
varies rapidly with time over the first 28 days after concrete placing. It is generally
′
fc
accepted that the concrete modulus of elasticity is proportional to . Thus, relating to
28-day values:

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Ect f ct ′ (4)
=
Ec 28 f c 28 ′

where Ect is the modulus of elasticity at any time,

Ec28 is the modulus of elasticity at 28 days,
fct is the strength of the concrete at any time, and
fct28 is the strength of concrete at 28 days.

The relationship between the strength of concrete at 28 days and at any age t is
′  t  ′
f ct =   f c 28 (5)
 4.0 + 0.85t 

Thus, from Equation. (4) and (5),

1/ 2
 t  (6)
Ect =   Ec 28
 4.0 + 0.85t 

The values of Ect were calculated for each temperature and introduced to the input file
of the program. The coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete was considered to be
constantly equal to 12*10-6 per °C.

TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION AFTER HYDRATION

The temperature distribution within the pile shaft and the soil around the pile due to the
dissipation of heat of hydration were drowned and shown in Fig. (7). The curves in this
figure represent the distribution of temperature after 24 hrs, 48 hrs, 60 hrs, 5 days and
10 days after concrete placing.
As shown in the figure, the dissipation of the heat is relatively properly high at the
concrete shaft, especially within the 60 hours after placing of the concrete, where the
difference in temperature between the pile centre and the surface reach 20°C after 24
hrs of concrete placing. This difference will reduce to 13°C after 60 hrs of concrete
placing. The rate of dissipation after 10 days seems to be little, where the difference
between the piles centre temperature and the surface equal to 2°C.
The soil around the pile also plays a certain role in the heat dissipation regime. The
figure shows that this effect is in the zone confined by the 1-1.5 m of the soil around
the pile.
The changes of the temperature at points starting from the pile centre and continued to
0.25 m and 0.5 m, were shown in Fig. (8). The curves in this figure show that a high
rate of heat dissipation takes place during through the first two days after placing. This
high rate leads to produce the difference in temperature between the inner and outer
points within the pile shaft. This change in temperature lead to volume change and
therefore generate stresses within the pile shaft. The values of these stresses are shown
in Fig. (9) in a relationship with the time after placing for the same points represented
in Fig. (7).

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Figure (9) shows a tensile stress of about 1.77 MPa generated at the inner point and 1.0
MPa the near the surface. These stresses drop to as low as 0.1 MPa after 10 days of
concrete placing.
The results of this analysis indicated that a solution should provide to eliminate the bad
effect of the tensile stresses produced. This solution might be revealed that the pile
should be provided a minimum reinforcement.

CONCLUSIONS
The results of analysis on large diameter bored pile indicate the following conclusions:

1. The finite element technique is a useful tool in predicting the stresses

generated due to thermal effect.
2. The dissipation of heat is relatively high during the first 60 hrs after casting
the concrete of the pile shaft.
3. The stresses generated due to heat dissipation should not be ignored. These
tensile stresses might reduce the capacity of concrete to loading
4. Additional reinforcement to take the effect of the tension occurred due to
thermal stresses might be very beneficial.

REFERENCES

1. ACI Committee 207: “Effect of Restraint, Volume Change, and

Reinforcement on Cracking of Massive Concrete”, ACI Journal, vol. 70 No.
7 July 1973, pp. 445-470.
2. ACI Committee 207 “Mass Concrete for Dams and other Massive
Structures”, ACI Journal, vol. 67 No. 4 April 1970, pp. 273-309.
3. ACI Committee 224 “Causes, Evaluation, and Repair of Cracks in Concrete
Structures”, ACI Journal, vol. 81 No. 3 May-June 1984, pp. 211-230.
4. Al-Obaidi, A. A. H. “Performance of unreinforced concrete bored piles
under different loading conditions”, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Baghdad,
2001, 171pp.
5. Al-Obaidi, A. A. H. “Temperature Variations and its Effect on some
Engineering Properties Of Tikrit Soils”, Scientific Journal of Tikrit
University/ Eng. Sic., vol. 6, No. 5, 1999, pp. 13-28.
6. ANSYS Inc. “ANSYS user’s manual”, Release 5.4, 1997.
7. Byfors, J., “Plain Concrete at Early-ages,” Swedish Cement Concrete
Research Institute, 1980.
8. Neville, A. M. “Properties of Concrete”, 3d edition, Pittman, Marshfield,
Massachusetts, 1981, 779 pp.
9. Salih, S. M., “Shrinkage and Thermal Cracking of Internally Restrained
Reinforced Concrete Members” M. Sc. Thesis, University of Baghdad,
2001, 116pp.
10. Thurston, S. J. et al, “Thermal analysis of Thick Concrete Sections” ACI
Journal, vol. 73 No. 38 Sept-Oct. 1980, pp. 347-357.

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Fig. (1) The pattern of temperature Fig. (2) The pattern of temperature change
change which causes internal which causes external cracking of
cracking of large concrete mass, large concrete mass, (after
(after Neville, 1981). Neville, 1981).

Fig. (3) Effect of placing temperature and exposure on the age of peak temperature.
Type (I) cement. Air temperature equals placing temperature, (after ACI
Committee 207, 1973).

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Fig. (4) A temperature rise of concrete members containing 223 kg/m3 of cement,
(after ACI Committee 207, 1973).

Fig. (5) Heat flow between air and concrete for different in placing and ambient air
temperature, (after ACI Committee 207, 1973).

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Fig. (6) Problem sketches for thermal analysis.

Fig. (7) Dissipation of heat of hydration from the pile in summer

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Fig. (8) Hydration temperature time – history for pile

Fig. (9) Stress-induced due to the dissipation of hydration.

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