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Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction / THOMAS MITCHELL

Swansea University Author: THOMAS MITCHELL

  • E-Thesis under embargo until: 29th January 2030

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.69217

Abstract

Cast-in-place deep foundation structures, such as bored piles and diaphragm wall panels, are typically constructed using the tremie method. This approach utilises a hopper and tremie pipe to place concrete via gravity feed in submerged conditions. The concrete used, referred to as tremie concrete, r...

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Published: Swansea University, Wales, UK 2025
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Li, C
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69217
first_indexed 2025-04-03T11:30:18Z
last_indexed 2025-04-04T05:16:25Z
id cronfa69217
recordtype RisThesis
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High workability and stability are essential for adequate form-&#xFB01;lling while resisting shear forces and hydrostatic pressures that can induce segregation and bleeding. Numerical modelling, namely Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), is employed to simulate the concrete pouring process within bored piles. A novel, multiphase, gravity-driven &#xFB02;ow model is developed in OpenFOAM&#xAE; to more accurately capture the pouring process of the tremie method. Within the model, concrete &#xFB02;ow is driven by the pressure differential brought about by the difference in concrete level between the tremie and pile. The deceleration of concrete &#xFB02;ow over time is found to be the cause of the shell-like concrete &#xFB02;ow pattern that has been observed within the literature. This numerical model is used to study the impact of pile design, construction techniques, and insuf&#xFB01;cient base cleaning on concrete &#xFB02;ow within bored piles; the scope of these studies is governed by criteria de&#xFB01;ned in industry speci&#xFB01;cations. The observed &#xFB02;ow mechanisms are linked to the likelihood of physical defect generation. Low-energy concrete &#xFB02;ow within the cover zone is identi&#xFB01;ed as the fundamental cause of defects, negatively affected by reduced reinforcement clear spacing, decreased cover zone size, debris on the pile base, and low-workability concrete. A computationally ef&#xFB01;cient method is developed to simulate the concrete pouring process of industry-scale bored piles. The tremie-breaking sequence is captured, and individual concrete charges are tracked by implementing a passive scalar transport function into theinterFoam solver within OpenFOAM&#xAE;. This model con&#xFB01;rms that two main bulk-&#xFB02;ow mechanisms occur at full scale depending on whether the pile is reinforced or unreinforced: restricted, "bulging" &#xFB02;ow and unrestricted, "plug" &#xFB02;ow, respectively. When unrestricted &#xFB02;ow is observed, longer concrete workability retention is required to maintain suf&#xFB01;cient &#xFB02;ow and decrease the likelihood of undesirable &#xFB02;ow mechanisms. In summary, pile design should be considered a holistic process, where both concrete mix design and structural requirements are developed simultaneously. Designers should avoid implementing multiple &#xFB02;ow-restricting features within piles to reduce the likelihood of defect generation.</abstract><type>E-Thesis</type><journal/><volume/><journalNumber/><paginationStart/><paginationEnd/><publisher/><placeOfPublication>Swansea University, Wales, UK</placeOfPublication><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint/><issnElectronic/><keywords>Computational Fluid Dynamics, Tremie Concrete, Defects, Multiphase Flow, Bored Piles</keywords><publishedDay>29</publishedDay><publishedMonth>1</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2025</publishedYear><publishedDate>2025-01-29</publishedDate><doi>10.23889/SUThesis.69217</doi><url/><notes>A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information</notes><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><supervisor>Li, C</supervisor><degreelevel>Doctoral</degreelevel><degreename>Ph.D</degreename><degreesponsorsfunders>Arup, EPSRC CASE PhD</degreesponsorsfunders><apcterm/><funders>Arup, EPSRC CASE PhD</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-04-03T12:57:04.5614166</lastEdited><Created>2025-04-03T12:24:40.8896595</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering</level></path><authors><author><firstname>THOMAS</firstname><surname>MITCHELL</surname><order>1</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>Under embargo</filename><originalFilename>Under embargo</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-04-03T12:29:20.4005422</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>54098537</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>E-Thesis</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><embargoDate>2030-01-29T00:00:00.0000000</embargoDate><documentNotes>Copyright: The Author, Thomas Mitchell, 2024</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling 2025-04-03T12:57:04.5614166 v2 69217 2025-04-03 Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction ba812b321169a7c580b8f8ebbc75e3ac THOMAS MITCHELL THOMAS MITCHELL true false 2025-04-03 Cast-in-place deep foundation structures, such as bored piles and diaphragm wall panels, are typically constructed using the tremie method. This approach utilises a hopper and tremie pipe to place concrete via gravity feed in submerged conditions. The concrete used, referred to as tremie concrete, requires specific rheological properties to produce defect-free elements. High workability and stability are essential for adequate form-filling while resisting shear forces and hydrostatic pressures that can induce segregation and bleeding. Numerical modelling, namely Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), is employed to simulate the concrete pouring process within bored piles. A novel, multiphase, gravity-driven flow model is developed in OpenFOAM® to more accurately capture the pouring process of the tremie method. Within the model, concrete flow is driven by the pressure differential brought about by the difference in concrete level between the tremie and pile. The deceleration of concrete flow over time is found to be the cause of the shell-like concrete flow pattern that has been observed within the literature. This numerical model is used to study the impact of pile design, construction techniques, and insufficient base cleaning on concrete flow within bored piles; the scope of these studies is governed by criteria defined in industry specifications. The observed flow mechanisms are linked to the likelihood of physical defect generation. Low-energy concrete flow within the cover zone is identified as the fundamental cause of defects, negatively affected by reduced reinforcement clear spacing, decreased cover zone size, debris on the pile base, and low-workability concrete. A computationally efficient method is developed to simulate the concrete pouring process of industry-scale bored piles. The tremie-breaking sequence is captured, and individual concrete charges are tracked by implementing a passive scalar transport function into theinterFoam solver within OpenFOAM®. This model confirms that two main bulk-flow mechanisms occur at full scale depending on whether the pile is reinforced or unreinforced: restricted, "bulging" flow and unrestricted, "plug" flow, respectively. When unrestricted flow is observed, longer concrete workability retention is required to maintain sufficient flow and decrease the likelihood of undesirable flow mechanisms. In summary, pile design should be considered a holistic process, where both concrete mix design and structural requirements are developed simultaneously. Designers should avoid implementing multiple flow-restricting features within piles to reduce the likelihood of defect generation. E-Thesis Swansea University, Wales, UK Computational Fluid Dynamics, Tremie Concrete, Defects, Multiphase Flow, Bored Piles 29 1 2025 2025-01-29 10.23889/SUThesis.69217 A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Li, C Doctoral Ph.D Arup, EPSRC CASE PhD Arup, EPSRC CASE PhD 2025-04-03T12:57:04.5614166 2025-04-03T12:24:40.8896595 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering THOMAS MITCHELL 1 Under embargo Under embargo 2025-04-03T12:29:20.4005422 Output 54098537 application/pdf E-Thesis true 2030-01-29T00:00:00.0000000 Copyright: The Author, Thomas Mitchell, 2024 true eng
title Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
spellingShingle Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
THOMAS MITCHELL
title_short Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
title_full Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
title_fullStr Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
title_full_unstemmed Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
title_sort Numerical Modelling of Tremie Concrete in Deep Foundation Construction
author_id_str_mv ba812b321169a7c580b8f8ebbc75e3ac
author_id_fullname_str_mv ba812b321169a7c580b8f8ebbc75e3ac_***_THOMAS MITCHELL
author THOMAS MITCHELL
author2 THOMAS MITCHELL
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publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
doi_str_mv 10.23889/SUThesis.69217
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Civil Engineering
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description Cast-in-place deep foundation structures, such as bored piles and diaphragm wall panels, are typically constructed using the tremie method. This approach utilises a hopper and tremie pipe to place concrete via gravity feed in submerged conditions. The concrete used, referred to as tremie concrete, requires specific rheological properties to produce defect-free elements. High workability and stability are essential for adequate form-filling while resisting shear forces and hydrostatic pressures that can induce segregation and bleeding. Numerical modelling, namely Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), is employed to simulate the concrete pouring process within bored piles. A novel, multiphase, gravity-driven flow model is developed in OpenFOAM® to more accurately capture the pouring process of the tremie method. Within the model, concrete flow is driven by the pressure differential brought about by the difference in concrete level between the tremie and pile. The deceleration of concrete flow over time is found to be the cause of the shell-like concrete flow pattern that has been observed within the literature. This numerical model is used to study the impact of pile design, construction techniques, and insufficient base cleaning on concrete flow within bored piles; the scope of these studies is governed by criteria defined in industry specifications. The observed flow mechanisms are linked to the likelihood of physical defect generation. Low-energy concrete flow within the cover zone is identified as the fundamental cause of defects, negatively affected by reduced reinforcement clear spacing, decreased cover zone size, debris on the pile base, and low-workability concrete. A computationally efficient method is developed to simulate the concrete pouring process of industry-scale bored piles. The tremie-breaking sequence is captured, and individual concrete charges are tracked by implementing a passive scalar transport function into theinterFoam solver within OpenFOAM®. This model confirms that two main bulk-flow mechanisms occur at full scale depending on whether the pile is reinforced or unreinforced: restricted, "bulging" flow and unrestricted, "plug" flow, respectively. When unrestricted flow is observed, longer concrete workability retention is required to maintain sufficient flow and decrease the likelihood of undesirable flow mechanisms. In summary, pile design should be considered a holistic process, where both concrete mix design and structural requirements are developed simultaneously. Designers should avoid implementing multiple flow-restricting features within piles to reduce the likelihood of defect generation.
published_date 2025-01-29T09:35:14Z
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score 11.086954

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