Abstract
The Kinta Formation is one of the prominent and complex karst formations in Malaysia. Karst ground has an abundance of cavities, solution channels, pinnacles, overhangs and floaters. Design and construction of foundations in such ground conditions are complicated. If a given site has karst geology and is an also ex-mining ground, the challenges are compounded. Often, generalised and one-size-fits-all designs are used in geotechnical engineering. However, in such unpredictable and challenging soil conditions, this approach can be either conservative or unsafe. An interactive geotechnical design approach is vital to achieving an economical and practical solution. In this paper, the role of interactive design in foundation design and construction of a lime-processing plant in Malaysia is discussed. The site, located in the eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, sits within the bounds of the Kinta Formation and was a former tin-mining ground. Over the 34 ha of the project site, earthworks and foundations were required to be executed. Some examples of solutions derived by interactive design in geotechnical engineering as applied to this project are discussed.
Highlights
An interactive geotechnical design is a design approach that requires design refinement throughout the project execution period until a suitable technique and an optimum scheme are applied to the problem at hand
Design solutions are finalised before the execution begins and there is very little likelihood of changing the design, even when actual ground conditions are distinctly different from what was assumed in design
Various rehabilitation measures have been applied in Malaysia, some of which were documented by Yee (2012)
Summary
An interactive geotechnical design is a design approach that requires design refinement throughout the project execution period until a suitable technique and an optimum scheme are applied to the problem at hand. Karst geology The Kinta Valley karst is the most extensive karst formation in Malaysia. Karst topography is dotted with cavities, ravines, interconnected subterranean channels, pinnacles, overhangs, floaters and slump zones (Tan, 2009; Waltham and Fookes, 2003) These features, in addition to highly erratic bedrock profiles, make karsts one of the most challenging ground conditions with regard to geotechnical engineering. Due to the nature of their placement, tailings are usually in a loose state Such a condition makes ex-mining soils susceptible to liquefaction at low vibrations and higher compressibility when subjected to nominal loading. Various rehabilitation measures have been applied in Malaysia, some of which were documented by Yee (2012)
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