INSTRUMENTATION AND MONITORING
Geotechnical
Site Assessment
Applications: Soil bearing capacity – Lateral loading – Deformability Modulus – Permeability –Strength index – Shear Strength – Concrete & rock triaxial strength
Instrumentation: Pressure meters – Borehole dilatometers – Packers – Piezometers – Point Load Testers - Vane Shear Testers – Hoek triaxial cell
Foundation Monitoring
Applications: Driven Piles – Drilled shafts – Tiebacks & soil nailing – Rock anchors – Concrete piles – Slurry wall
Instrumentation: Strain & Stress gauges – Displacement Transducer – Settlement gauges – Load cells – Total pressure cells - Extensometer
Structural Health Monitoring
Applications: Dams, Tunnels, Bridges, Pipelines & other large structures
Purpose: Stability, Security, Behavior, Design & quality
Construction Materials
Condition Assessment of Existing Structures & Recommendations.
Specific programs designed for the type of application and material. Examples:
Corrosion Monitoring for Reinforced Concrete & Cathodic Protection System
Monitoring of Weathering for Ports + Coastlines + River Banks
Asphalt Condition & Separation Joints Performance for Highways
Weld Strength for hydrocarbon + chemical tanks and other critical steel infrastructure
PROJECTS
Ground Characterization
BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA
COUNTRY: Egypt
LOCATION: Alexandria
CLIENT: Ministry of Education
COST: US$ 240 million
DATES: 1994-2003; 2004-2006; 2010
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The Bibliotheca complex includes the main library building, a conference center, a spherical planetarium, a science museum, and a footbridge that links the University of Alexandria with the library's two-storey cafeteria. The main building consists of four basement levels 18m below ground and seven floors 33m above ground. The diameter of the visible structure is 160m. The library building is surrounded by a reflecting pool and large public plaza. A light roof that opens towards the Mediterranean Sea covers the structure. The reading space is an original design of terraces, which conceal the limited access books, and is a new standard in library planning.
Total site area: 40,000m2; Total library floor area: 74,000m2; No. of floors: 13; No. of seats: 3,500
Since its opening in 2003, supervision of punch list items and changes within the complex have occurred, and included the design of a new entrance close the conference hall that leads directly to the new museum exhibition at basement 1 level +3.55. (The entrance includes stairs, a wheel chair ramp, entrance lobby, and toilets).
SERVICES PROVIDED
A consortium of Snøhetta and Hamza Associates was formed for the Bibliotheca project. Snøhetta provided the architectural design; we provided the detailed design and engineering services throughout the planning period and served as Resident Engineer during construction.
Design of a diaphragm wall (1.2m thick and 35m in height, with continuous horizontal reinforcement and vertical pre-stressing)
Execution of design aspects
Site work
Architectural, structural, and civil engineering building services
Mechanical, electrical and sanitary works
Landscaping of the site
Tender evaluation
Construction supervision for all of the
buildings in the complex
2010
Design of a new entrance to the new museum exhibition, in collaboration with Snøhetta, and supervision of the works.
SAUDI EMBASSY TWIN TOWERS
COUNTRY: Egypt
LOCATION: Giza
CLIENT: IDEA Center
COST: US$ 38 million
DATES: February 2002-March 2005
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
This large office and residential project in Cairo is divided between two sites. The first site is located in the Dokki district of Giza city on the west bank of the river Nile (Giza site). The second is located in the Garden City district of Cairo city on the east bank of the Nile.
The Giza site is an elongated "L- shaped" piece of land composed of two parcels totaling 6,324m2 in area. The first parcel forms the longer leg of the "L" and is rectangular in shape (32m x 71m). The second parcel has an irregular shape with an area totaling 4,054m2.
The Giza complex is comprised of an office building and a residential building connected by a two-level podium that covers virtually the entire site. The residential building is a 17-storey structure (basement, ground floor, 14 upper floors, and a terrace) with a 56m high tower on a built-up area of 11,200m2. The office building is 23 stories (basement, ground, 18 floors, and 3 utility floors), with an 81m high tower overlooking the Nile on a total built-up area of 10,800m2.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Review of schematic design
Design development
Detailed design for architectural, interior, structural, plumbing, HVAC, and electromechanical works
Preparation documents of the tender
GREATER CAIRO METRO – LINE NO. 2 PHASES 1A & 1B AND PHASES 2 & 2B
DATE: January 2003
CLIENT: Campenon Bernard
LOCATION: The route extends from Ramsis Square to the Giza suburban station.
DESCRIPTION: The line links the northern part of Cairo (Shubra-El Kheima) to the city center before it crosses the Nile River to reach Giza.
PROGRAM OF WORK:
PHASE 1A
13 boreholes with continuous sampling using Mazier and Vibro-percussion techniques
with depths ranging from 30m to 52m
Installation of nine piezometers at depths ranging from 20m to 50m
Four flat dilatometer (DMT) tests at depths ranging from 13m to 29m
Four Electric Cone Penetration (ECPT) tests at depths ranging from 13m to 30m
PHASE 1B
15 boreholes with continuous sampling using Mazier and Vibro-percussion techniques
with depths ranging from 30m to 50m
Three SPT boreholes with a depth of 35m
Installation of seven piezometers at depths ranging from 16m to 50m
Four flat dilatometer (DMT) tests at depths ranging from 13m to 19m
Four Electric Cone Penetration (ECPT) tests at depths ranging from 12m to 24m
PHASE 2
31 boreholes with continuous sampling using Mazier and Vibro-percussion techniques
with depths ranging from 25m to 55m
18 SPT boreholes with depths ranging from 15m to 55m
Installation of 24 piezometers at depths ranging from 15m to 52m
Eight flat dilatometer (DMT) tests at depths ranging from 13m to 25m
12 Electric Cone Penetration (ECPT) tests with depths ranging from 15m to 32m
PHASE 2B
Three boreholes with continuous sampling using Mazier and Vibro-percussion
techniques with depths ranging from 30m to 36m
20 SPT boreholes with depths ranging from 15m to 36m
Installation of six piezometers at depths ranging from 15m to 20m
Five Electric Cone Penetration (ECPT) tests at depths ranging from 17m to 23m
AL AZHAR ROAD TUNNEL
DATE: April 1999
CLIENT: Campenon Bernard
LOCATION: Downtown Cairo
DESCRIPTION
The El Azhar Road Tunnel is a major underground roadway that connects a long and crowded area of ancient Cairo between the El Ataba district and Salah Salem Expressway. At the beginning of the tunnel are two entrances to the south and north of the El Opera parking building, heading southeast until they join after crossing El Ataba Square. The tunnel continues southeastward below El Azhar Street, almost parallel to Gohar El Kaid/ El Moski Streets, until it reaches Salah Salem Street at El Khalideen Park.
PROGRAM OF WORK:
25 boreholes with depths ranging from 15m to 57m
Nine SPT boreholes with depths ranging from 30m to 40m Six piezometers with depths ranging from 15m to 55m
11 CPTU with depths ranging from 7m to 16m
12 Dilatometer Tests with depths ranging from 6m to 19m
Samples were collected by continuous coring technique using Mazier and SPT.
In addition to the geotechnical program, concrete coring, inclinometer installation and sonic testing were carried out in part of the project.
AL SUKHNA PORT
DATE: July 1998
CLIENTS: Maritime Transport Authority, Jan Du Nul & Archirodon
LOCATION: 45m South of Suez City on the Gulf of Suez
PROGRAM OF WORK:
Three boreholes 55m deep Three boreholes 45m deep 13 boreholes 35m deep
36 boreholes 25m deep One borehole 15m deep 17 boreholes 6m deep
17 UCPTs down to 10m
The program of work included sampling using Mazier and double core.
The implemented instrumentation program included strain gauges, inclinometers and extensometers. Sonic Integrity Tests were carried out for all the constructed panels and barrettes.
PORT SAID, WEST HARBOR
DATE: December 1997
CLIENTS: Bechtel Corporation & Amoco for Oil
LOCATION: West Harbor, near Port Said, Egypt at approximately 32o 8’ east longitude and 3o 20’ north latitude
PROGRAM OF WORK:
Four borings 50m deep
Two borings 80m deep
10 CPTU tests down to 50m or refusal (at 19 tons)
Three Seismic Cone tests down to 50m or refusal (at 19 tons)
Dissipation tests during CPTU testing.
Installation of eight Standpipe Piezometers in different aquifers.
Field Vane Tests in soft formation down to 50m
Electric resistivity survey using a four electrode Wenner array.
Samples were collected by continuous coring technique using Mazier, thin wall tube, and SPT.
NILE CITY COMPLEX
DATE: July 1997
CLIENT: Nile City Investment Company
LOCATION: Ramlet Boulak, Land no. (10-24), Cairo, Egypt
DESCRIPTION:
The project occupies a total area of 15267m2 and is comprised of:
Two tower buildings, each consisting of 38 floors of offices and four basement floors.
One 26-floor hotel building with four basements. One 7-floor retail building with four basements.
A parking area consisting of four underground floors.
PROGRAM OF WORK
10 boreholes, 50m deep Three piezometers, 20m deep
Samples were collected by continuous coring technique using Mazier, thin wall tube, and SPT.
ALEXANDRIA PORT EXTENSION AND REHABILITATION OF QUAL WALL NO. 85
COUNTRY: Egypt
LOCATION: Alexandria
CLIENT: Ministry of Food Supply – Egyco
COST: US$ 12 million
DATE: 1981-1981
PROJECT
The project included a stability analysis and evaluation of the need to use piles in the quay wall extension.
Results indicated that there was no stability problem and settlement was within the allowable limits for this type of structure. However, contrary to what was believed, the horizontal movement had become somewhat critical.
It was recommended to install an instrumentation system to observe the horizontal movement during construction.
SERVICES PROVIDED
Analysis and computation of geotechnical data to evaluate the safety and predicted movement of the quay wall
Design of the construction method to join the old quay wall with the extension that is larger in berth