Addressing Settlement

concerns around Manholes

and Shafts (Geotechnical
Perspective)
Objective

To provide feedback and discussion addressing the adequacy

of the QCS with settlement around Manholes and Shafts.
Overview
1. Issues;
2. Excavation support and dewatering;
3. QCS 2014 requirements of backfilling;
4. Alternative types of backfilling;
5. Comparison to other standards;
6. Conclusions;
7. Discussions.
Issues .1
Issues
• Compaction in QCS is not clearly defined around
edges of excavations;
• QCS can be misused as there are multiple references
to backfilling;
• Frequency of testing;
• Verbal agreements;
• Staff training.
Excavation support & .2
dewatering
Excavation support &
dewatering
• Support of excavation
• QCS 2014 Section 8-Part 2- Clause 2.2.10
a. The Engineer reserves the right to direct the Contractor to take
measures to augment the Contractor’s proposals for the support of
excavated surfaces.
b. Shoring shall be properly maintained until in the opinion of the
Engineer the permanent work is sufficiently advanced to permit the
shoring to be removed.
c. All temporary works supporting the faces of excavations shall be
removed during backfilling with the approval of the Engineer.
d. When, in the opinion of the Engineer, temporary supports need to
be left in excavations to support existing structures or the
permanent Works,
Excavation support &
dewatering
• Dewatering
• QCS 2014 Sec 8 Part 2.2.4 states:

a. The Contractor shall keep excavations free of water, sewage, and

other liquids whether affected by tides, floods, storms, or otherwise
so that the Works shall be constructed in dry conditions.

b. The Contractor shall keep the subsoil or accumulated water or

sewage at a level lower than the bottom of the permanent work until
trench backfilling is complete or for such other period directed by the
Engineer.
Excavation support &
dewatering
• QCS 2014 Sec 8 Part 2.2.14 states:
a. The Contractor shall perform dewatering as necessary to ensure that
b. The Works are installed on dry areas and excavations, including
without limitation the construction of all structures and underground
piping
c. Dewatering is carried out only to a depth sufficient for the required
excavation
d. During construction, no groundwater shall come into contact with any
concrete surface or reinforcement
e. Structures shall be capable of withstanding any hydrostatic pressure
to which it may be subjected during construction and until completed.
QCS 2014 .3
Requirements for
backfilling
QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
• Backfilling excavations
• QCS 2014 Sec 8 Part 2.2.3 states :
It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to locate suitable
borrowed or imported fill material which may be necessary and to
carry out such tests as the Engineer may require to demonstrate the
suitability of the fill to be supplied. Imported fill shall be from a source
approved by the Engineer. Imported fill shall have the following
properties
(a) maximum stone size of 150 mm except as specified in Clause
2.3.2 of this Part
(b) liquid limit less than 35 %
(c) plasticity index of not more than 10.
QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
• QCS 2014 Sec 8 Part 2.3.4 States:
• All concrete shall have attained adequate strength before backfilling;

• Selected fill material for trench backfill in open areas shall be suitable
material selected from excavated material as specified in clause of this part.
Stones larger than 150mm in size may be allowed, provided in the opinion
of the Engineer the required densities can be achieved ;

• Selected fill material for trench backfill under paved areas, shall be suitable
material selected from excavated materials meeting the following
requirements:

a. maximum stone size of 75mm

b. the material passing the 0.063 sieve shall be less than 15%
Cont.…
QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
c. The liquid limit shall not exceed 35% and the plasticity index shall not
exceed 6%

d. The uniformity coefficient shall not be less than 10

e. The total water soluble / acid soluble salt content (for sulphate and
chloride) shall not exceed 2%

f. Organic content shall not exceed 2%

g. The CBR value shall not be less that 15% at 95% maximum dry density
at the formation level. The test procedure shall be as Section 6, Clause
3.10 of the specification.

Maximum swelling : 2% (QCS 2014 Sec 6 Part 3 Table 3.1)

QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
• Requirements Section 8 Part 2.3.4 states:
• The trench backfill material shall be placed in layers of not greater depth
than 200mm thickness and be thoroughly compacted to 95 percent of the
Standard Proctor Maximum Dry Density by approved mechanical
compaction equipment. In roads and footpaths, the coarse filling is to be
carried up to the level at which surface reinstatement is to begin; elsewhere,
to such level as with the surface reinstatement of the whole of the topsoil will
leave the finished work sufficient to allow for future settlement to the original
ground level.

• The moisture content of the material before compaction shall not vary by
more than ±2% of the optimum moisture content (BS 1377 Part 2:1990, Test
3.2).
QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
• Requirements Sec 8 Part 2.3.4 states:
• Unless directed otherwise, testing for density and moisture content shall be
at the rate of:
a. one test per backfill layer for each structure such as manholes,
chambers, and thrust blocks
b. one test per backfill layer for every 30 m of pipeline trench.
QCS 2014 Requirements for backfilling
• Requirements Sec 6 Part 3.3.5 states:
a. Potable or brackish water shall be used for all earthwork operations
except that only potable water shall be used for compaction of backfill
material within one meter from all surfaces of the structure and for the
backfill of all service trenches.

b. Brackish water shall have a maximum total dissolved solids (TDS) of

5000 ppm,

c. Maximum chloride content of 1500 ppm and a maximum sulphate

content (as SO3) of 2000 ppm.
Alternative Types of .4
Backfilling
Alternative types of backfilling
The QCS 2014 provides three (3) other options for
backfilling :
A. Cement-Bound Granular Material;
B. Flowable Fill (Foamed Concrete);
C. No-Fines Concrete.
A . Cement Bound
Granular Material (CBM)
Cement Bound Granular
Material (CBM)
Cement-Bound Granular Material
QCS requirements;
• Material consist of crushed, hard, clean, durable
rock;
• Material be sufficiently well-graded;
• 7-Day strength of at least 3.5MPa and Max 28-
Day strength of 5MPa (Follow BS 1924);
• 150mm thick layers, achieve 95% density.
Cement Bound Granular
Material (CBM)
Cement-Bound Granular Material :
Advantages
• Controlled quality;
• Minimal training required of staff;
• Easy to place;
• Durable.
Cement Bound Granular
Material (CBM)
Cement-Bound Granular Material
Disadvantages:
• Extra controls/checks to be added as per QCS
requirements;
• Aggregate quality needs to be consistent;
• Not easy to excavate after installation.
B . Flowable fill (Foamed
concrete)
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
QCS requirements:
• Flowable fill shall be placed continuously;
• End points shall be adequately bulk headed to
prevent movement;
• 28-Day compressive strength shall be 5MPa with a
density of 1600 to 2000 kg/m3.
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
Advantages :
• Easily Removable;
• Fills all voids;
• Reduced in-place costs;
• No Compaction required;
• No maximum layer thickness
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
Flowable fill (Foamed concrete)
Disadvantages:
• Testing done 7-Days after mixed is use;
• Time to settle and harden;
• Is not waterproof (if required);
• Pipe flotation.
C . No-Fines Concrete
(NFC)
No-Fines Concrete (NFC)
No-Fines Concrete
QCS requirements:
• To comply with Section 5 Part 6;
• All material shall be placed and spread evenly;
• Compaction to be undertaken using approved
mechanical vibrators.
No-Fines Concrete (NFC)
No-Fines Concrete
QCS requirements:
• Any layer not covered within 2 hours by another layer
of no-fines concrete shall, immediately on completion
of compaction;
• Cured for a period which shall not be less than 7
days unless the Engineer agrees otherwise.
No-Fines Concrete (NFC)
No-Fines Concrete
Advantages:
• Saving of material requirements;
• Easy to place;
• Minimal Segregation so can be placed from a height;
• No Compaction required.
No-Fines Concrete (NFC)
No-Fines Concrete
Disadvantages:
• Longtime for removal of Formwork;
• No standard test method to measure
workability or consistency;
• Only visual inspections to certify use ability.
Comparison of QCS to .5
other Standards
Comparison of QCS to other
Standards
• Abu Dhabi Standard Specification Section IV-5 & V-2
• Agree with QCS requirements with this regards.

• DM DSI Spec 4
• Almost agree with QCS requirements with this regards.

• The UK Specification for Highway Works (SHW)- Series 600 Earthworks

(Classes 6N & 6P)
• Almost agree with QCS requirements with this regards.
Summary
Summary
• CBM, Flowable fill and NFC are all alternatives which the contractor can use as
per QCS;

• Cast In-situ manholes may use the excavated rock face as an external
shuttering, eliminating backfill completely although this option needs further
review and investigation;

• The problems associated with settlement of the backfill is most likely to be a

result of poor placement and compaction of the backfill material around the
manholes;

• Complexity to compact the selected fill material close to the excavated face in
trenches and shafts
Summary
• Selected fill is considered to be an option, provided QCS is amended to
incorporate solutions to gaps, identified in material properties, placement,
compaction and testing frequency;

• Single Size Aggregate is not a suitable material to use as backfill.

THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING
Discussion .7