Location
Chicago, Illinois
Date
02 May 2013, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Abstract
This study was carried out following the development of abnormal faults and distresses that extend over more than two kilometers distance in an agricultural rural area to the North of Saudi Arabia. They appeared on the ground surface in the form of extended wide cracks and appeared across buildings, roads and green areas. Severe damages were inflicted to the existing structures and included cracks within the streets, the buildings and boundary walls. Geotechnical works carried out included advancing six boreholes to depths of 35 to 40 meters below grade. The subsurface soil profile was constructed and laboratory tests were carried out to characterize the shale and obtain relevant strength and swelling properties. The site was found to be overlain by a thin granular layer followed by elastic silt and/or silty shale extending 15 to 37m below top layers. The geophysical method used was the electrical resistivity using multi-electrode system of SYSCAL pro equipment. Several electrical resistivity lines were investigated across and along the crack zones. The outcome of the geophysical results was contrasted and compared to the geotechnical findings and all used to interpret the possible causes of these cracks. The electrical resistivity data were found to map the moisture profile in the area. The expansive soil is moisture sensitive and the data of electrical resistivity was found a good tool to spot areas of high and low moisture. The compiled data was found useful for evaluating the cause of damage and cracks in building construction within the distressed zone.
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Meeting Name
7th Conference of the International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Document Version
Final Version
Rights
© 2013 Missouri University of Science and Technology, 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
Al-Mutairi, Khaled; Dafalla, Muawia; Al Fouzan, Fouzan; and Al-Shamrani, Mosleh, "Geotechnical and Geophysical Evaluation of the Near Surface Faults and Cracks in Residential Area Underlain by Semi-Arid Shale" (2013). International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering. 4.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/icchge/7icchge/session05/4
Geotechnical and Geophysical Evaluation of the Near Surface Faults and Cracks in Residential Area Underlain by Semi-Arid Shale
Chicago, Illinois
This study was carried out following the development of abnormal faults and distresses that extend over more than two kilometers distance in an agricultural rural area to the North of Saudi Arabia. They appeared on the ground surface in the form of extended wide cracks and appeared across buildings, roads and green areas. Severe damages were inflicted to the existing structures and included cracks within the streets, the buildings and boundary walls. Geotechnical works carried out included advancing six boreholes to depths of 35 to 40 meters below grade. The subsurface soil profile was constructed and laboratory tests were carried out to characterize the shale and obtain relevant strength and swelling properties. The site was found to be overlain by a thin granular layer followed by elastic silt and/or silty shale extending 15 to 37m below top layers. The geophysical method used was the electrical resistivity using multi-electrode system of SYSCAL pro equipment. Several electrical resistivity lines were investigated across and along the crack zones. The outcome of the geophysical results was contrasted and compared to the geotechnical findings and all used to interpret the possible causes of these cracks. The electrical resistivity data were found to map the moisture profile in the area. The expansive soil is moisture sensitive and the data of electrical resistivity was found a good tool to spot areas of high and low moisture. The compiled data was found useful for evaluating the cause of damage and cracks in building construction within the distressed zone.
