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A thermo-active pile with a single U-loop is analysed using a 2D thermal analysis, which provides the correct distribution of temperature in a section far from any of the boundaries. The temperature along the circle that contains the pipes is subsequently averaged and converted into a time-series that can be used in 2D coupled THM analysis to determine forces and displacements arising from thermo-active pile operation. The integral of the temperature distribution in the full 2D section can also be used to establish the thermal performance of the pile in W/m, enabling more accurate thermal design of these heat exchangers.

When a larger number of U-loops is used, heat transfer from the pipes to the pile and the surrounding ground accelerates and overall larger temperatures are obtained. This indicates a considerably larger thermal performance in W/m and explains that current designs maximise the number of pipes within the cross-section of the thermo-active pile. However, with greater heat transfer, mechanical forces within the structure increase and need to be acknowledged in its design, as seen in the work by [] for thermo-active piles and [] for thermo-active retaining walls. There are also implications in terms of thermal interference when thermo-active piles are arranged in pile groups - read more about this in and .