HKIE Geotechnical Division &
Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong
Top‐up course for TCP T3 on GIFW and Building Works with Significant Geotechnical Content
Excavation and Lateral Support
Part II
Ir. James Sze
Director of Infrastructure, Ove Arup & Partners HK Ltd
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong
Chairman, Session 2016/17, HKIE Geotechnical Division
1
Importance of Proper Design and
Site Control
2
A case in Taiwan
Video from internet
3
A case in China
Video from internet
4
A case in Malaysia
Video from internet
5
Failure of strutting system (soldier pile wall) in
South Korea
6
Failure of soldier pile wall with tie-back
Cross‐section extracted from Choi et al (2012) “A
Case Study of Micropiling for Ground Reinforcement”
7
Excessive movement
of adjacent structures
due to wall installation
Sinkhole formed by pipe pile installation
8
Typical Movement related to Excavation in HK
9
Examples of Effects on surroundings
Source from newspapers
10
Site Supervision Requirement
11
Relevant Documents for Building Works
12
Building Works with Significant GEO Content
a. site formation c. retaining structures
• blasting • diaphragm walls, sheet‐pile walls, bore‐piled
walls and pipe‐piled walls
• pre‐stressed ground anchors
• reinforced fill structures
• ground anchors in sensitive sites*
• cantilever/gravity retaining walls (H > 5 m)
• soil nails
• cut slopes (in rock or soil) (H > 3 m) d. ground treatment
• stabilization works on rock slopes • vertical drains, horizontal/raking drains
• fill slopes (compaction and installation of such • grouting and dewatering for cut and cover
surface filter/drainage layers) (H>5m, or < 5 m excavation and tunnel/shaft/cavern
high which pose a direct risk to life) construction
• reinforced fill slopes • ground water drainage works in Scheduled Area
No. 1
b. excavation and lateral support
e. demolition works affecting slopes and
• depth > 2.5 m retaining walls
• depth > 7.5 m in sensitive sites* • ground stabilization works using soil nails or
anchors
* Directorate Site Supervisor (DSS) will be required who can be RGE or Director
13 grade of the firm with RPE(G) qualification
Building Works with Significant GEO Content
f. foundation h. tunnel works*
• foundation for buildings in Scheduled Area No. 1 • cut and cover construction methods
• deep foundation for buildings in Scheduled • drill and blast methods
Areas Nos. 2 & 4 and in Designated Area of
• soft ground tunnel construction techniques
Northshore Lantau
• tunnel boring machine, micro‐tunnelling
• foundation that could affect an existing
(including directional drilling) and pipe jacking
tunnel/cavern or that could be affected by
methods
tunnel works
• associated ground support, ground treatment
g. water wells and groundwater control works
− well yield test and the effect of proposed water
extraction.
Sensitive sites are sites where the works could pose adverse impact to life and/or property.
These include sites where works could affect old buildings with shallow foundations, old
tunnels/caverns, major roads, railways, water mains, gas mains, slopes, retaining walls or
sites with history of instability.
14
Site Supervision of ELS Works
• To be provided in accordance with Technical Memorandum for
Supervision Plan and CoP for Site Supervision (depth >2.5m)
• RSE Stream only when 2.5m < D 4.5m
• RGE Stream involved when D > 4.5m
• Directorate Site Supervision (DSS) normally required for depth >7.5m in
sensitive sites
• TCP T5 and/or DSS under RGE’s stream to submit regular reports of site
observations
• Site supervision personnel and RGE shall regularly review the monitoring
trends and the actual performance of the excavation during critical stages
of the works
15
Annex to Site Supervision Form
16
Number of TCP Personnel to be deployed
CoP2009 Corrigendum issued in June 2016
17
Site Supervision Role
18
Supervision Management Framework
19
General Site Safety Issues
• Personal Protection Equipment
• Maneuvering of plants
• Working at height
20
General Site Safety Issues
• Working at height at depth – falling objects from temp. platform
Debris on platform
21
Technical Supervision
22
Checklist
23
Detailed checklist
• CoP for Site Supervision 2009 provided
guidance on inspection at various
stages of foundation, GI fieldwork and
soil nailing works.
• PNAP APP‐158 expanded into
superstructure, site formation and
Excavation & Lateral Support.
• For BD Audit purpose.
24
Detailed checklist
• AP/RSE/RGE stream inspection
according to expertise
• Some common items remain
25
Issues Causing instability
Design Issues
• Overlook unbalanced load
• Incorrect soil models
• Misunderstanding/Misinterpretation of analysis of computer program
• Inadequate waling/strutting details
Construction Issues
• Ignore the design requirement
• Poor workmanship – e.g. Incorrect strut levels, Improper welds
• Inadequate excavation sequence of works – e.g. Over‐excavation
• Ignoring monitoring data
• Unforeseen ground condition
26
Uncertainties in Excavation Works
• Variability in ground condition
• Ground response (effect on works or vice versa)
• Change in groundwater table (natural variation or work induced)
• Sequence of works – over‐excavation, phasing
• Workmanship – accuracy of wall alignment, strut levels, welds etc
• Ground settlement on wall installation
• Effectiveness and extent of dewatering
• Interaction response of adjacent structures
• Effects of previous construction work – redevelopment project
27
Typical Way to Deal with These Risks
Typical design approach
– Design parameters from previous experience
– Offset risk by using conservative assumptions
– Verify design using instrumentation results (Alert, Action & Alarm
trigger levels) – similar to Amber, Red & Black rainstorm signals
28
Things to Watch Out (Non-exhaustive List)
Before go to site When you’re on site, things to watch out
• Familiar with Code of Practice • Personal protection equipment
for site supervision • Health & safety
• Drawings and specifications • Condition survey
• Get thorough briefing from your • Contractor’s method statement
senior, key assumptions, risk • Workmanship
register list • Change of materials
• Know your duties and • Change of ground condition
responsible • Disturbance of works
• Construction sequence
• Details, welding & bolting
• Protection measures against surface
runoff
• Instrumentation, monitoring & site walk
29
Instrumentation and Monitoring
30
An example of Instrumentation Plan
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
31
Inclinometer in Wall
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
32
Typical Instruments
Cement
Grout
Inclinometer
Access Tube
Vertical Inclinometer
33
Strain gauge/Load cell in struts
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
34
Typical Instruments
Strain gauge
35
Standpipe/piezometer/observation wells
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
36
Typical Instruments
Standpipe/piezometer
37
Ground/utility settlement points
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
38
Typical Instruments
Ground/utility Settlement Point
39
Building settlement/tilting
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
40
Typical Instruments
Building/structure Settlement Point
41
Typical Instruments
Tilt Plate / tiltmeter
42
Vibrograph/Noise meter
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
43
Typical Instruments
Vibrograph for vibration monitoring
Noise Measurement (e.g. rock
excavation)
44
Comobined deposition of Instruments
Fill
Alluvium
Weathered Granite
Bedrock
45
Monitoring & Trigger Levels
• Trigger levels are used as part of the design verification process ‐
design review
• To check the actual performance of the design during construction –
risk management and control
• No standard definition for AAA values, but commonly,
Alert level = 60%, Action level = 80% & Alarm level = 100%
• Additional calculation during the course of excavation based on actual
serviceability to ensure AAA values not exceeded
• Engineering judgement are often guesses or best practice and more
detailed back‐analysis is then required in order to result in more
rational and economic design
46
Instruments – Less Common
Convergence meter / extensometer
47
Automatic Data Monitoring System (ADMS)
Motorized theodolites & digital leveling systems under
computer control by “intelligent” software gives 3
dimensional movements in “real time” together with
automatic on site and remote alarm systems.
48
Automatic Data Monitoring System (ADMS)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr6jrvjPH48
49 49
Automatic Data Monitoring System (ADMS)
A project near MTR Tai Wai Station
50
Typical settlement record with event logs
wall installation pump test & bulk excavation
0
king post
-5
Settlement (mm)
-10
-15
GS7
-20 Alert Level
Action Level
Alarm Level
-25
1/6/2007
1/7/2007
31/7/2007
30/8/2007
29/9/2007
29/10/2007
28/11/2007
28/12/2007
27/1/2008
51
Seepage issue
52
Seepage problem
Can be catastrophic !
53
Infinity Tower Case
video
54
Seepage problem – a site at Tsim Sha Tsui
before
55 flooded
Seepage problem – a site near the seafront
Flooded depth =
13m in 2 days
56
Pumping Test
57
Full-scale Pumping Test
• Pumping test is an important means to assess the seepage cut‐off
effectiveness of an embedded retaining wall in associated with any
other ground treatment measures, e.g. grouting
• Important for deep excavation since related to movements as well as
safety so requires a mock dewatering
Acceptance criteria
• Target dewatered level inside the Site
• Acceptable ground settlement outside the Site (more important)
• Acceptable groundwater drawdown outside the Site
58
Works to Facilitate Pumping Test
Installation of deep well
59
Works to Facilitate Pumping Test
Dipping of water level
inside pumping well
Switch box & valve for
pump well
60
Works to Facilitate Pumping Test
De‐silting
tank
Water meter
61
Works to Facilitate Pumping Test
Observation well & measurement of water level
62
Works to Facilitate Pumping Test
Water level measurement
outside site
Real time
measurement &
63
on screen display
Typical Pumping Test Results – a site at Tai Po
Targeted Dewatering
Level
Observation Well within Site
Acceptance criteria
64 Observation Well Outside Site
Sites near the Sea – Tidal Effect
65
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
66
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
67
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
68
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
69
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
Cut holes for quick set needle grouting
70
Demonstration of PU Grouting to stop water
inflow
video
71
Seepage due to Sheet Pile Wall Defect
72
Seepage due to Wall Defects
73
Seepage due
to Wall
Defects
74
Case History of Site Works –
HKPolyU School of Hotel & Tourist Management
75
General View of Site
Cross Harbour Tunnel
76
Cross-section with Inferred Geology
Typical 25m excavation Pipe pile wall + grout curtain
77
Pre-drilling for Pipe-pile Wall Construction
Key issue Things to observe / check / verify
Change in rockhead and stratigraphy across the site Soil strata/ rockhead level
78
Pipe-Pile Wall Installation
Key issues Things to observe / check
/ verify
Disturbance of • Size, thickness and
pipe pile wall material grade
installation • Observe disturbance to
adjacent to fire adjacent ground
station, roads
etc • Monitor the settlement
readings of fence wall
and ground
• Monitoring drilling rate &
air pressure
79
Pipe-Pile Wall Installation
Key issues Things to observe / check
/ verify
Extension of • Observe the pipe pile
pipe pile length with depth marks
sections, depth • Inspect the welded joints
of pipe piles and select the weld joints
to be test
• Witness the non-
destructive tests
• Measure the final depth
80
Pipe-Pile Wall Installation
Measurement of depth
of soldier pipe
H‐pile section
to act as shear
pin in rock
Key issues Things to observe / check / verify
Soldier pile (shear pin) • Installation method to ensure orientation and depth
installation at toe of pipe piles • Quality of tremie grout (strength requirement
instead of pure backfill purpose)
81
Grout Curtain behind Wall
Tube‐á‐manchettes
Steel pipe piles
82
Grout Curtain methodology
video
83
Chemical Grout – sample grout mix design
1. Grouting shall be carried out from the bottom to 1m below ground level in successive phases using
bentonite cement grout followed by chemical grout. Each rise of the double packer shall be 500mm
at each stage.
2. Envisaged mix for 1st phase bentonite‐cement grout is given below for reference:
• BENTONITE 35 kg/m3 of grout
• CEMENT 350 kg/m3 of grout
• WATER 600 litres/m3 of grout
3. Envisaged mix for 2nd phase chemical (silicate gel) grout is given below for reference:
• SODIUM SILICATE 400 kg/m3 of grout
• WATER 708 kg/m3 of grout
• REAGENT Type and dosage to ensure a gel time (depending on injection path)
4. Envisaged criteria for each phase of grouting to stop is given below for reference:
A. If grout pressure reaches 2 x effective overburden pressure , or
B. If the bentonite‐cement grout intake reaches 150 litres per linear metre of drillhole or the
chemical grout intake reaches 200 litres per linear metre without reaching the limiting grout
pressure.
5. In the event that criterion (b) is met at a pressure below criterion (a), allow time for the grout to
achieve initial set and then re‐grout the hole using the same sequence. Repeat as necessary until
criterion (a) is achieved.
84
Curtain Grout
Key issues Things to observe / check / verify
Grout curtain to ensure seepage cut-off • Grout hole position, depths
• Monitor grouting procedure, grout
intake & grouting pressure, blockage,
gel time etc
• Review pumping test results
• Settlement monitoring results
85
Pumping Test
Installation of deep well
Key issues Things to observe / check / verify
Effectiveness of seepage cut-off • Groundwater level inside & outside site
• Flow rate
86 • Settlement, inclinometer results
Excavation, Lagging & Struts
Install waling, strut and
short struts
Start excavation & install
steel plate lagging
87
Shoring System – Cross-lot with Preloading
88
Site Progress Photos 1 of 7
Site clearance
89
Site Progress Photos 2 of 7
Pre‐drilling; pipe pile wall with H‐pile shear pin installation; curtain grouting
90
Site Progress Photos 3 of 7
Demobilization of piling rigs; Deep well installation for pumping test
91
Site Progress Photos 4 of 7
Commence excavation; strutting; temporary deck erection
92
Site Progress Photos 5 of 7
10.11.2007
Temporary deck completed; Proceed excavation to 2nd strut level
93
Site Progress Photos 6 of 7
Install and preload 2nd level struts; continue excavation
94
Site Progress Photos 7 of 7
Excavation nearly reaching rockhead at approx. 20m depth with 6‐level struts
95
Interesting Stuff - Existence of Old Foundations
96
Instrumentation and Monitoring
97
Instrumentation and Monitoring (Cont’)
Site
measurement
Inclinometer monitoring
of wall deflection
General observation
98
Key Issues during Excavation Stage
Key issues Things to observe / check / verify
Waling, main strut & short • Check welds
struts • Adequate supports to waling and stiffeners in short
struts to avoid sway of waling due to resultant force
from corner strut
Pre-loading of strut • Ensure adequate preload force applied
• Avoid over pre-loading – check sign of movements
Seepage during excavation to • Rock joint mapping
from vertical rock face • General appraisal by inspection
Conflict between shoring • Counter check with latest architectural layout
works and permanent • General observation to allow earlier rectification
basement structures
Behaviour of pipe pile walls • Inclinometer results
during excavation
Movement/settlement outside • Monitoring records
site • Site walk
99
Remarks for other Sites
100
Ground Movements induced by Wall Installation
• Sheet piles – cohesionless sandfill
• Pipe piles – cohesionless sandfill, soft clay
• Diaphragm walling in boulderly fill, CDG with corestones
101
Minor detail can affect over performance
102
Fill Quality in Old Reclamation
As reported by Ir. Rupert Leung of Hyder in 2011 for
Foundation Construction of WSD Pumping Station
at Sheung Wan
103
Pile remains for Redevelopment projects
104
Construction Sequence on plan vs actual
video
105
Method of Soil Excavation
Excavator/backhoe
106
Mucking out of Soils
Grab
Removal of excavated materials
107
Method of Rock Excavation
video
108
Method of Rock Excavation - Police HQ Ph. III
Rock excavation using hand‐held tools
‐ Very slow progress
‐ Necessary to speed up the progress
Rock Excavation by
Blasting using PCF
109
Method of Rock Excavation - Blasting
video
110
Conclusion Remarks
• Appreciate various types of embedded retaining walls
• Brief understanding of the design consideration and methodology
• Appreciate the limitations / uncertainties of ELS designs
• Roles as TCP T3 in ELS works
• Appreciate of construction practices and issues that might need to pay
attention
111
End of Part II
james.sze@arup.com
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