Experimental dataset on the thermo-mechanical response of an energy piled wall section

Abstract

The investigation of geotechnical structures as heat exchangers for ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems has been extensive, mainly aiming at reducing initial capital costs of implementing renewable energy sources for space heating and cooling. Despite advancements in understanding the thermo-mechanical response of energy pile foundations, industry adoption lags behind academic developments. To bridge this gap and broaden the application of this technology to other geotechnical structures, there is a need for reliable, easy-to-use methods and confidence building through demonstration projects. This work presents a thermo-mechanical dataset from a pilot project of three energy piles within a retaining wall system at a Metro station in Melbourne, Australia. The data encompasses heat carrier fluid flow rate and temperature, station (air) temperature, soil temperatures at two depths, and temperature and uniaxial strains at different depths and locations across two piles. Unlike previous datasets focused on single piles, this dataset captures both single and multiple (three) simultaneously activated piles within a piled retaining wall, providing a better representation of an energy wall system. Beyond the raw data interpretation and model validation, the dataset can be used to evaluate the system's thermal performance and develop analytical methods needed in the industry.