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Geotechnical characteristics of weathered granitic gneiss with geo-hazards investigation of pit excavation in Guangzhou, China

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Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into weathered granitic gneiss in Guangzhou, China, including its formation, grading, classification, and the geotechnical characteristics of different weathered states. The granitic weathering profiles are graded into five weathered states: fresh rock, slightly weathered, moderately weathered, highly weathered, and completely weathered. The fresh rock and the slightly weathered rock have good mechanical behaviour. The highly weathered granitic gneiss was found to possess a relatively higher permeability than the other weathered states, in which the fissure water is usually stored. Geotechnical characteristics of the weathered granitic gneiss that poses geohazards during excavation are identified, including: (1) uneven grain size distribution, (2) water softening of the residual soils, and 3) spherical weathered boulder. The following potential geohazards are identified: (1) quicksand and piping, (2) water–ground settlement or even collapse due to water softening, (3) trenching difficulties in a diaphragm wall, and (4) instability of the lattice columns. Countermeasures for preventing these geo-hazards are proposed, including (1) rate-controlled drilling of dewatering wells, (2) grouting in both sides of retaining walls, and (3) deep hole blasting of large-size residual gravel boulders. These measures has been demonstrated to be useful in construction of Zhongxin Station.

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Acknowledgments

The research work described herein was funded by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program: 2015CB057806) and partially funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC; Grant No. 41372283). These financial supports are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Ship and Deep-Sea Exploration (CISSE), Department of Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dong Chuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 200240, China

    Mu Chen, Shui-Long Shen & Huai-Na Wu

  2. Department of Geotechnical and Tunneling Engineering, School of Highway, Chang’an University, Xi’an, 710064, Shanxi, China

    Zhi-Feng Wang

  3. School of Civil Engineering, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

    Suksun Horpibulsuk

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  1. Mu Chen
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  2. Shui-Long Shen
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  3. Huai-Na Wu
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  4. Zhi-Feng Wang
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  5. Suksun Horpibulsuk
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Correspondence to Shui-Long Shen or Huai-Na Wu.

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Chen, M., Shen, SL., Wu, HN. et al. Geotechnical characteristics of weathered granitic gneiss with geo-hazards investigation of pit excavation in Guangzhou, China. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 681–694 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-016-0915-1

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