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Singapore Geology Its Impact On Underground Construction Works 16 Oct 2016 SMCES
Singapore Geology Its Impact On Underground Construction Works 16 Oct 2016 SMCES
Singapore Geology Its Impact On Underground Construction Works 16 Oct 2016 SMCES
Jeyatharan Kumarasamy
Content
Singapore geology
Some characteristics of Singapore soils and rocks
Construction methods
Deep excavations
Tunnelling
Construction challenges
Deep excavations
Tunnelling
Conclusions
Singapore Surface Geology Map
Major Geological Formations in Singapore
Bukit Timah Granite Formation Jurong Formation
o Existence of corestones/
boulders depends on the
minerals of the original rock
and the weathering agents
o Size of corestones/boulders
vary
Bukit Timah Formation
o Surface weathered to residual soil (mainly sandy clayey silt);
depth to bedrock varies from 3m to up to 70m with an average
depth of 30m
o There is often, but not always, corestone/boulder encountered
within GVI to GV
o Average uniaxial compressive strength of intact rock is about
190 MPa but could be as high as 400MPa
o There are 4 to 5 joint sets ranging from sub horizontal to sub
vertical. Dominant joint set is sub vertical
o Interface between soil and rock is highly variable within short
distance and the change in strength of soil to that of rock is
very drastic
o There is often, but not always, a zone (typically 0.5 to 2m thick)
of permeable (1 x 10-5 to 10-6 m/s) GIV to GV immediately
overlying the rock grades
Geological Faults in Singapore
Jurong Formation
o Origin was dated late Triassic to possibly early Jurassic and
overlies the Granite. It exists mostly at western and southern
parts of Singapore
o Seven sedimentary facies, including one that is characterised
by limestone, are recognised within the formation
o Further geological activity in early Tertiary, late Tertiary and
early Pleistocene caused beds of Jurong Formation variably
folded and fauted; 3 major thrust faults and numerous small
scale faults
Jurong Formation
o Due to folding/faulting,
the sequence of rock vary
significantly
o Highly weathered rock
could be below less
weathered rock
Jurong Formation
o Consists of a variety of sedimentary rocks: sandstone,
siltstone, mudstone, limestone etc
o Degree of weathering depends on rock types, e.g sandstone
more resistive to weathering than mudstone
o Strength of rock depends on rock type and weathering stage
o Residual soils are mainly silty clay
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Borehole Logs along Gridline D PSAs 3rd Container Terminal at Pasir Panjang
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Investigation of cavity during bored piling works at PSAs 3rd Container Terminal Pasir Panjang
Jurong Formation - Limestone
Or this?
span
NET PRESSURE ON WALL (i.e. active passive)
Sheet Pile + Soldier Pile Wall
Contiguous Bored Pile / Secant Pile Wall
23 EXISTING
522
GROUND BUILDING
LEVEL
1.6
103.20
FILL m
2.7
m
3.7
m
2.2
UPPER m2.0
MARINE m
1.7
1.5
m
CLAY
m
2.5
m
FLUVIAL
SAND CHEMICO-
LOWER LIME PILES
MARINE
CLAY
FLUVIAL
SAND
OLD
ALLUVIUM
1.0M TO 1.2M THICK
DIAPHRAGM WALLS
10M TO 14M
INTO OLD
ALLUVIUM
Types of Retaining Systems
Cross walls
Used in place of JGP/DSM
Very effective to limit the ERSS wall deflections
Submerged Excavation
4
8
12 Strut S2 Excavation 1.5m thk tremie
Stilt Upper Marine
Shear Plate
16 Connectors
Sheet Piles 300mm thk
20
Clay Clay
sand layer
24 Final Excavation
Level
28 Pressure
Bored Pile
Founded approx. 50-60m below ground level Relief Pipes Void Former
Stage 3
Stage 1
Stage 2 3-1 Place min.300mm thk sand
1-1 Drive sheet piles. 2-1 Flood the cofferdam to the top levelling layer.
1-2 Excavate approx. 1.5m and level. 3-2 Install pressure relief pipes.
install S1. 2-2 Excavate under water using 3-3 Install pressure plates and place
1-3 Excavate approx. 6.5m and grabs, water jets and air lifting. compressible void formers where
install S2 and bracing between 2-3 Install bored piles using R C D required
S1 and S2. method. 3-4 Cast tremie concrete slab.
3-5 Dewater cofferdam.
Excavation at Esplanade
Semi-circular Cofferdam Excavation
The Sail, Marina Bay Triple cell Manjung, Malaysia Twin cell
3x32m diameter for 9.5m depth 59m/56m diameter for 16.5m depth
excavation excavation
Circular Cofferdam Excavation
Air bubble
Hydraulic Hydraulic
transport cycle transport cycle
Screw conveyor
EPBMs are well suited in low permeable and plastic soils but they
have problems in handling mixed face of rock and granular soils
Artocarpus
Spp Tree
(Tree 64)
Ch380 Ch370 Ch360 Ch350 Ch340 Ch330 Ch320 Ch310 Ch300 Ch290 Ch280 Ch270 Ch260 Ch250 Ch240 Ch230 Ch220 Ch210 Ch200
Fill Fill
Fill
F1
E
Water drawdown F1
10
Upper
Upper Upper
Marine
Marine Marine
Clay
Clay Clay
20 F2
E
E
Lower
Marine Lower
JGP Clay
Lower Marine
Stress relief Marine Clay
30
Clay
OA OA
Sand with gravel Sand with gravel
F2
OA
Clay
OA OA
40 Clay
Sand with gravel
OA
Clay with gravel
OA
Sand with gravel
50
Limestone below the shaft excavation
FILL
Expected
KF Excavation Level
S4a/b
LIMESTONE
Challenges in construction of ERSS walls and excavations
Inadequate ERSS wall penetration
Uncertainty in ground information
Face instability
mixed interface of Granite/Jurong/OA with Kallang Formation
loose sandy soils (F1)
Loss of Ground during Launching
Wear of Screw and Tools
Face instability during EPBM tunnelling
soft Soil
Weathered
Rock
Fresh Hard
Rock
Mitigation measures:
CCL5 tunnelling underneath Telok
prior grouting of soft soils
Blangah Road within Jurong
tight tunnelling control
formation and Kallang soils
good excavation management system
Blockage during EPBM tunnelling
C931 C930
0% 1.34% 0.32% 0.63% 2.76% 0.95% 1.5% 0.39% 0.39% 0.87%
C930 C929A
0mm -17mm -4mm -8mm -35mm -12mm -19mm -5mm -5mm -11mm
Ubi Station
MacPherson
Station
0.08% 0.47% 0.32% 0.39% 2.92% 1.11% 0.55% 0.47% Site
0.32%
-1mm -6mm -4mm -5mm -37mm -14mm -7mm -6mm
0.24% Office
-4mm
-3mm
SPT = 100
79
SPT = 100
Blockage during EPBM tunnelling
Boulders from Chamber Damaged Roller Cutters
Boulders Boulders
Boulders Boulders
1050mm
Bukit Timah Formation (GII / GIII / GIV)
Grouting Locations from within TBM
80
Issues faced during Slurry TBM tunnelling
Sinkholes
tunnelling through soil/rock interface
appropriate face pressure application
good excavation management system
Slurry blow-out
blockages between excavation and plenum chambers
old boreholes which are not grouted
geotechnical instrumentation close to tunnels