Published on: 2026-09-02
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
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At the Department of Construction Organization of the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, a technology for the installation of bored piles in winter conditions using preheated concrete mix is being developed.
Senior Lecturer of the Department of Construction Management at SPbGASU Anna Tsarenko Within the framework of a grant competition for carrying out research work by scientific and pedagogical staff of SPbGASU in 2026, conducted research titled “Technology for installing bored piles in winter conditions using preheated concrete mixture.”
The project opens up new opportunities for the construction sector in St. Petersburg and other regions with similar climatic conditions.
The relevance of the study is determined by the increase in the volume of bored piles installed in St. Petersburg, taking into account the preservation of the upper part of the piles, improving technological reliability, reducing the concrete strength gain time, lowering labor costs and work expenses during concrete works in winter, which, in turn, requires the improvement of existing bored pile installation technologies.
The study, generalization, and analysis of the experience of using methods and techniques of winter concreting of bored piles in construction practice, as well as the study of scientific works by domestic and foreign researchers, determined the most effective methods of concreting medium-mass structures with a surface modulus of no more than 6–8 m–1 at below-zero ambient temperatures.
Improving the technology of constructing bored piles in winter conditions with preheated concrete mixture is aimed at reducing labor intensity and costs while simultaneously enhancing product quality.
To achieve the set goal, a range of tasks has been completed:
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a review and comparative analysis of existing methods of concreting bored piles under winter conditions has been carried out;
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the main technological factors influencing the strength gain of the concrete mixture in bored piles are substantiated;
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The changes in the temperature of the concrete mix in the shaft of the bored pile in contact with seasonally frozen soil under various technological factors were studied using the Frost 3D program;
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dependencies of the influence of technological factors on the kinetics of strength gain and the ultimate strength of concrete were identified, taking into account the curing time of bored piles based on calculations in the ConcreteTermo program;
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A methodology for the technology of installing bored piles in winter conditions has been developed, including the curing of freshly laid concrete under various technological factors, based on computer simulation modeling.
The scientific novelty of the work lies in the substantiation of technological factors, the assessment of their impact on the distribution of temperature fields in the concrete mix and hardening concrete along the length of bored piles, the determination of the dependence of the influence of technological factors on the kinetics of strength gain and the final concrete strength taking into account the curing time of bored piles based on calculations in the ConcreteTermo program. In addition, a methodology for selecting the technology for constructing bored piles in winter conditions is proposed, allowing forecasting the rates of concrete strength gain while simultaneously reducing labor intensity, work costs, and improving product quality in winter conditions.
The proposed method allows determining the optimal temperature for preheating the mixture and the curing time of the concrete at the design stage of the work production plan (WPP), ensuring the required characteristics of the structure with minimal costs.
The study is based on a synthesis of mathematical modeling methods, multifactor analysis, and physical experiment. The use of the software packages Frost 3D and ConcreteTermo allows for highly accurate simulation of real conditions of concrete curing and verification of the obtained theoretical data.
The research results are of interest to a number of specialists in the construction industry:
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for design organizations, giving them the opportunity to incorporate economical and technological solutions for the construction of bored piles during the winter period based on predictive models;
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for general contractors and construction companies as a tool to reduce construction timeframes, lower labor costs and expenses while maintaining high quality of the zero cycle;
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for students and graduate students of construction specialties as a relevant foundation for further scientific research in the field of construction technology and organization.
The research materials will also be used in the educational process at SPbGASU in the training of specialists in construction fields.
The news is published based on the results of the execution of the SPbGASU 2026 grant.
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