Alternative Title
Paper No. 1.41
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
Date
10 Mar 1998, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Abstract
The near surface limestones in Qatar have complex lithologies and have experienced diagenetic changes after deposition. A variety of weak limestones have been encountered in combination with matrix material (rock fragments and secondary fraction). The matrix, often clayey, sometimes cemented with gypsum, anhydrite or calcite grains, is not a rock nor does it qualify as a soil. These materials are: (i) difficult to sample in the undisturbed state. (ii) extremely variable m composition and proprieties, and (iii) appear susceptible to degradation, particularly when wet. This paper presents geotechnical information from selected sites where these materials (diagenetic limestone) have been encountered. Plate load test data carried out to predict settlements arc shown. Arrival at appropriate foundation geometries and allowable bearing capacity values, consistent with field conditions, are noted. For the present, design is largely empirical and dependent upon site-specific information aided by the plate load tests and on occasion, with field load tests.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
4th Conference of the International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering
Publisher
University of Missouri--Rolla
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 1998 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.
Creative Commons Licensing
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
File Type
text
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Akili, W. and Jackson, Robert M., "Shallow Foundations on a Diagenetic Limestone Formation in Qatar" (1998). International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. 63.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icchge/4icchge/4icchge-session01/63
Shallow Foundations on a Diagenetic Limestone Formation in Qatar
St. Louis, Missouri
The near surface limestones in Qatar have complex lithologies and have experienced diagenetic changes after deposition. A variety of weak limestones have been encountered in combination with matrix material (rock fragments and secondary fraction). The matrix, often clayey, sometimes cemented with gypsum, anhydrite or calcite grains, is not a rock nor does it qualify as a soil. These materials are: (i) difficult to sample in the undisturbed state. (ii) extremely variable m composition and proprieties, and (iii) appear susceptible to degradation, particularly when wet. This paper presents geotechnical information from selected sites where these materials (diagenetic limestone) have been encountered. Plate load test data carried out to predict settlements arc shown. Arrival at appropriate foundation geometries and allowable bearing capacity values, consistent with field conditions, are noted. For the present, design is largely empirical and dependent upon site-specific information aided by the plate load tests and on occasion, with field load tests.
