DISCUSSION BY : CHESTER HO
PIE Konsult Sdn. Bhd.
ON PAPER : “ ECONOMICAL SOLUTION FOR ROADWAY
EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTION OVER SOFT.
COMPRESSIBLE SOILS”
Author(s) : ‘Sin Peng Tean
Could the author advise the reason for using a smaller spacing of 4.5m for the Dynamic Replacement
(DR) columns in Zone 1 and a spacing layer in Zone 2, as reported? The loading from the overburden is
much greater in Zone 2 compared to the sloping edges in Zone 1. As such, the larger spacing for DR.
columns in area with higher loading is against normal logic.
REPLY BY : Sin Peng Tean
‘The main reason for having a closer spacing in Zone 1 was to provide adequate stability at the edge of the
embankment construction, creating a “corset” (ie. confining) effect to the embankment body.
-59-TECHNICAL SESSION 8
TUNNELLING
Chairman : SS. Gue
Session Reporter: James Leong Ting Hau
-61-DISCUSSION BY : 8.8. GUE
Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd.
ON SPECIALLECTURE “ GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF THE MASS
RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE ”
Author(s) : K. Y. Yong & C. H. Pang
In Malaysia, soil investigations involving laboratory tests are required for almost all civil projects. With
regards to the MRT Project in Singapore, in addition to the soil investigations; structural survey and
analysis of existing buildings were also carried out on buildings that were located in the vicinity of the
project area, Is structural survey and analysis of existing buildings widely practiced in other projects of
similar nature in Singapore?
REPLY BY : K. ¥. YONG
In Singapore, the onus and responsibility is on the Contractors and Consultants to determine whether the
project warrants a structural survey and analysis. The structural survey and analysis are required to
investigate whether buildings in the vicinity of the project would be structurally affected. The extent and
type of structural investigations is to be determined by the Contractors and Consultants. Suppose that the
structural survey and analysis were not carried out properly or not performed at all, and if structural cracks
were to be reported, the Contractor would then have to adsorb the costs for any remedial works.
DISCUSSION BY : 8.8. GUE
Gue & Partners Sda. Bhd.
ONSPECIALLECTURE =: “ GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF THE MASS
RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE ”
Author(s) : KY. Yong & C,H. Pang
It was noted in the paper that for the MRT Project in Singapore, there was a case where the water table of
the construction site was allowed to be lowered by two metres despite the presence of existing buildings in
the vicinity with high water table, What was the justification for this engineering decision?
REPLY BY ; K. Y. YONG
The local code of practice in Singapore prescribes that the water table should not be lowered by more than
‘one metre. However, the Authorities are moving away from prescriptive regulations towards leaving such
engineering decisions to the professional judgment of the Consultants. In the incident of the water table
being lowered by two metres, a geotechnical investigation and analysis was required to show that the
existing structures in the vicinity of the project could tolerate the additional settlement without adverse
effects. Hence the responsibility was on the Contractors and the Consultants. They subsequently showed
that a water table drop of two metres would result in an acceptable settlement on the buildings. In addition,
contingency measures such as pipe jacking or support props of existing structures are to be submitted
before the commencement of the construction whenever the prescriptive regulations are not adhered to. In
conclusion, compliance of prescriptive regulations is left to the professional judgment of the Contractors
and Consultants,
-63-DISCUSSIOI
i S.S.GUE
Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd.
ON PAPER : “ REAL TIME MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR TUNNEL &
DEEP EXCAVATION PROJECTS ”
Author(s) : T.G.Ng&G.H. Tan
In the second case history presented, a Real Time e-Monitoring System was implemented on the deep
excavation project for the cut-and-cover tunnel of the $$300 million Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Depot.
‘What was the total cost incurred for the monitoring works of that system?
REPLY BY AUTHOR : T.G.NG
‘The fully-automated Real Time e-Monitoring System was implemented for a period of six months. The
total cost of the monitoring works, which amongst others included the costs of sensors, installation, data
logging, rental of data loggers and internet posting, was approximately S$60,000.00.TECHNICAL SESSION 9
GROUND IMPROVEMENT
Chairman : Tan Yean Chin
Session Reporter: Hooi Kah Yeng, Hazel
-65-DISCUSSION BY
8.8. GUE
Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd.
ONSPECIALLECTURE—: “ EARTHWORKS PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA”
Author(s) fl Ooi Teik Aun
Dr. Ooi mentioned my name regarding the duties of the Board of Engineers (BEM). Although I am no
longer on the Board, as I have retired from the Board since last August, the Board basically function as a
police. If there is no complain, no action will be undertaken. Unless there is a failure to the knowledge of
the public, then the Board will carry out the necessary action accordingly. Over the years, there were
engineers who have been deregistered or suspended. The Board will look into every complaint and
therefore, the Professional Practice Committee is the busiest committee in the BEM now.
COMMENTS BY _ WILLIAM C. K. HO
SMB Sdn, Bhd.
There is a lack of enforcement associated with earthworks practices even though the by-laws and
regulations are known to all. I agree with the author's lecture that the quality of earthworks is questionable.
COMMENTS BY :
PIE Konsult Sda, Bhd.
| would like to comment regarding the refusal by the contractors to conform to good practices for
construction of earthworks. In many instances, the contractual relationship between the contractor and the
client allow the contractor to escape from complying with the requirements. In addition, the contractors
carry no responsibility beyond one year after the completion of the earthworks, after which instead, the
consultants are saddled with the responsibility. The solution is to ensure that the contractors understand
their qualification before they can become engineering contractors even after having passed tests and
interviews,
COMMENTS BY : K. Y. YONG
National University of Singapore
One of the problems I encountered while teaching earthworks to undergraduate students is that textbooks
normally describe that the amount of cut and fill should roughly be equal so that disposal of spoils or
import of fill materials is kept to a minimal. Unfortunately, the textbook does not highlight the difficulties
in compacting fills at edges due to the lack of confinement and highways built on such fill slopes have
ofien failed because of inadequate compaction. I think such textbooks should be re-written to highlight the
serious problem with solutions such as to overfill, compact and then cut back to the desired slope, or
alternatively, to build highways only on cut slopes.
REPLY BY AUTHOR : OOI TEIK AUN
The cutting back of over-compacted slope was in fact practised as early as in the 1970's by engineers in
Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR).
-67-COMMENTS BY 5 K.Y. YONG
‘That is the reason why I suggested that the textbooks need to be re-written to reflect practice at the site. 1
feel that in geotechnical conferences such as this, it is useful to highlight best site practices and such
knowledge should be captured in textbooks or manuals that cover earthworks.
DISCUSSION BY c YEE YEW WENG
Keller (M) Sdn. Bhd.
ON PAPER : “EXPERIENCE OF USING DYNAMIC COMPACTION IN
LANDFILL AREAS”
Author(s) : Chen Chean Sin, Tan Siow Meng & Kenny Yee
(1) How was the remaining settlement due to biodegradation before and after the dynamic compaction,
assessed in the design? I believe the compacted rubbish will still decompose after the dynamic
compaction has been completed. Were gas emissions and ground subsidence data collected?
(2) How were concems of differential settlement between the dynamic compaction impact points and the
areas outside the impact points addressed?
REPLY BY AUTHOR : CHEN CHEAN SIN
(1) Settlement monitoring of the reclaimed land was carried out during the reclamation works and the
monitoring continued for one year after the completion of the works. It was found that most of the
settlement was due to consolidation of the soft clay below the landfill. A comparison of the results
between the ground settlement markers and the rod settlement gauges indicated that the residual
settlement due to the landfill is minimal. Last month's monitoring results showed that most of the
reclaimed area has been stabilised. Only a few localised areas showed settlement rate of less than
2mm/month,
(2) At the design stage of the reclamation work, the development plan for this reclaimed land was not
finalised. The requirement was to minimise post construction settlement of the platform due to the
landfill and the soft clay underneath. The requirement of the dynamic compaction was to ensure that
the minimum limit pressure and pressuremeter elasticity of the landfill shall not be less than 300kPa
and 6,000kPa respectively. For any construction to be carried out in the future, the additional load that
‘may cause settlement as well as differential settlement will need to be assessed. Proper measures
should be undertaken if it is found that the induced settlement would be excessive.
COMMENTS BY : KENNY YEE
‘Menard Geosystems Sdn. Bhd.
The author commented that while settlement of landfill due to consolidation, ravelling and collapse of
hollow structures can be effectively accelerated by dynamic compaction by reducing the voids in the
landfill, the settlement due to physical-chemical changes and bio-degradation cannot be substantially
changed by dynamic compaction. However, the reduction of voids (densification) by dynamic compaction
will decrease the amount of oxygen in the landfill and hence, reduce the rate of bio-degradation. Gifford et
al. (1990) commented that since the rate of anaerobic decay is substantially less than aerobic decay,
decreasing the amount of oxygen in the landfill and reducing the quantity of water percolating into the
= 68-landfill, slows down the rate of bio-degradation and hence, the rate of settlement. I would like to know if
anyone has similar experience or comment.
Reference:
Gifford, G.P., Landva, A.O, and Hoffman, V.G. (1990). “Geotechnical Considerations When Planning
Construction on a Landfill.” Geotechnics of Waste Fills: Theory and Practice, ASTM STP 1070,
Philadelphia, p. 41-56.
COMMENTS BY : RAYMOND N. YONG
University of Wales, Cardiff, UK
Was monitoring for gas production, such as methane and Hydrogen Sulphide (HS), carried out before and
after the compaction?
REPLY BY AUTHOR 7 CHEN CHEAN SIN
Gas monitoring was carried out before and after the dynamic compaction, It was found that at localised
areas the concentration of methane had increased after the dynamic compaction.
COMMENTS BY
‘SHAHLIN SULAIMAN
Sarawak Hidro Sdn. Bhd.
The increased compaction of the reclaimed land will reduce oxygen content in the landfill, subsequently
reducing aerobic reaction, but increases anaerobic reaction. This will lead to increased production of gas
such as methane gas and Hydrogen Sulphide (HS). This can cause deterioration of substructure.
-69-TECHNICAL SESSION 10
SLOPES
Chairman : Kenny Yee
Session Reporter: | Chow Chee Meng
71DISCUSSION BY 7 CHAN SIN FATT.
Consulting Engineer
ON SPECIAL LECTURE: “THE PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY IN
MALAYSIA”
Author(s) : Tan Boon Kong
1 would like to congratulate the author for delivering a special lecture which is very useful to practicing
geotechnical engincers. The author has highlighted two phenomena which took the discussor many years
to discover from his own personal experience and which are crucial for design of deep foundations in
Kuala Lumpur.
The first phenomenon is the usual occurrence of a deep trench at the contact zone (boundary) between
limestone and granite areas due to different rates of solution of limestone at the contact zone.
The second phenomenon, which also has a big impact on the design of deep foundations, is the occurrence
of weak slumped materials immediately above limestone bedrock, in areas where the Kenny Hill
Formation is underlain by limestone. Where this is present in the Kenny Hill formation, the usual firm to
hard Kenny Hill residual soils with high SPT “N’ values can be underlain by very weak slumped materials
with SPT ‘N’ values near zero. If this is not detected, it can have disastrous consequences for the deep
foundation constructed above it
DISCUSSION BY 5 CHESTER HO
PIE Konsult Sdn, Bhd,
ON PAPER : “ GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN OF A HILLY ROAD ”
Author(s) . Tan Siow Meng, Choo Yeow Leong & Yeow Pow Kwei
The rock toe designed by the authors is resting on the ground surface and the rock toe could slide leading
to failure of the slope. A better solution is to have a concrete block sunk into the ground to provide
stability via passive resistance, backed by a rock toe and a 75mm (3 inches) layer of sand to prevent loss
of materials behind. The additional cost is well justified by ensuring the stability of the slope. There
should be no savings that is justified by increase in risk of failure. The Engineer cannot shed
responsibility, as he will be taken to task when a failure occurs in the future. He cannot therefore leave the
work to the Contractor. Even in the event that the Contractor has his own engineer, the allocation of
responsibility must be made clear and accepted by the Authorities and Client and legally documented.
REPLY BY fl TAN SIOW MENG
The overall stability of the fill slope must be adequate in the first place. It does not rely on the rock toe for
stability. The main purpose of the rock toe is to dissipate groundwater which is usually high at the toe of a
fill slope. When groundwater table is controlled, the stability of the fill slope is enhanced. Rock toe is also
effective to prevent erosion caused undermining. For the above-mentioned function, a flexible rock toe is
always preferred over a rigid concrete structure.
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