# Optimising Embodied Carbon in Axial Tension Piles: A Comparative Study of Concrete, Steel, and Timber Piles Using a Hybrid Genetic Approach

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a hybrid genetic algorithm to reduce the embodied carbon of tension piles by optimizing different pile types in various soil conditions.

## Contribution

A novel hybrid genetic algorithm is developed to optimize pile designs for minimal embodied carbon in foundation engineering.

## Key findings

- Optimized designs for six pile types in undrained clay and loose sand reduce embodied carbon.
- A case study demonstrates the practical application of the algorithm in real-world construction.
- Concrete, steel, and timber piles show varying carbon reduction potential based on soil conditions.

## Abstract

The construction industry is a major contributor to the global climate crisis, prompting increasing interest in minimising the embodied carbon of structures, whether through material production regulations or the optimisation of structural elements. While a wide body of literature addresses the reduction of embodied carbon in superstructures, limited attention has been devoted to the optimisation of foundations, particularly piles. This research introduces a hybrid genetic algorithm optimisation tool designed to minimise the embodied carbon of tension piles in different soil conditions. Six different pile types are analysed: solid and hollow concrete piles, steel pipes, universal column (UC) sections, and timber piles in both square and circular forms. The optimal design parameters for each pile type on undrained clay and loose sand are presented and compared. The results demonstrate the potential for reducing the embodied carbon of tension piles when utilising optimised designs. Finally, a case study involving an 8-metre-high cross-road signpost is presented, illustrating the practical application of the proposed optimisation algorithm for reducing embodied carbon in future designs.