Geotechnical and Geological Engineering

, Volume 31, Issue 1, pp 151–162 | Cite as

Assessment of Grouting Efficiency for Treatment of Underground Cavities

Original paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Ground subsidence incidents occurred in a residential suburb in an arid desert terrain due to sinkholes. Several investigation programs were conducted to understand the cause of the incidents attributed to the dissolution of the limestone bedrock and the subsequent ravelling of the overburden soil cover. A pilot area within the affected locale of the residential suburb in the state of Kuwait was selected for implementing treatment measures. The main purpose of the treatment measures was to fill the uppermost layer of the limestone bedrock in order to eliminate the risk of recurrence of ground subsidence. Cavity filling and permeation cement grouts were injected from the ground surface for filling the underground cavities and the fractured rocks. Results of the implemented grouting measures for treating underground voids and the GIN concept are presented in the paper. Reduction in the porosity of the bedrock layer due to the applied treatment measures was verified and percentage of treatment fill volume for the entire pilot area was estimated. An assessment method for the efficiency of the treatment measures coupled with the properties of grout materials, and lessons learned from the implemented treatment are also presented herein.

Keywords

Grouting efficiency assessment Sinkhole Cavity Treatment Grout GIN concept Permeation grouting Ground subsidence 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

The author would like to express his appreciation to the Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) for their financial support of this project. The appreciation is also extended to the project team members and the management of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for their dedication, facilitative and continuous support.

References

  1. Abdullah W, Kamal H (2005) Characterization of desert karst terrain in Kuwait and the eastern coastline of the Arabian Peninsula. In: Proceedings of sinkholes and the engineering and environmental impacts of karst, San Antonio, TX, pp 35–45Google Scholar
  2. Abdullah W, Mollah M, Al-Mutairi N, Al-Fahad F, Mussallam H (1998) Evaluation and treatment of underground cavities at Al-Dhahar area, vol II, subsurface exploration study in the Al-Dhahar area. Final Report, Kuwait Institute for Scientific ResearchGoogle Scholar
  3. Al-Mutairi N, Eid W, Abdullah W, Misak R, Mollah M, Awny R, Al-Fahad F (1998) Evaluation and treatment of underground cavities at Al-Dhahar area, vol I, evaluation and treatment of subsurface conditions at Al-Dhahar area. Final Report, Kuwait Institute for Scientific ResearchGoogle Scholar
  4. Al-Rifaiy A (1990) Land subsidence in the Al-Dhahar residential area in Kuwait: a case history study. Q J Eng Geol 23:337–346CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. ASTM C39/C39M-09 Standard test method for compressive strength of cylindrical concrete specimens. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, USAGoogle Scholar
  6. ASTM C940-10 Standard test method for expansion and bleeding of freshly mixed grouts for preplaced-aggregate concrete in the laboratory. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, USAGoogle Scholar
  7. ASTM D6910/D6910M-09 Standard test method for March funnel viscosity of clay construction slurries. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, USAGoogle Scholar
  8. Brantberger M, Stille H, Eriksson M (2000) Controlling grout spreading in tunnel grouting—analyses and developments of the GIN-method. Tunn Undergr Space Technol 15(4):343–352CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. Brink A (1984) A brief review of the South African sinkhole problem. In: Proceedings of the 1st multidisciplinary conference on sinkholes, Orlando, FL, pp 123–127Google Scholar
  10. Brinkmann R, Parise M, Dye D (2008) Sinkhole distribution in a rapidly developing urban environment: Hillsborough County Tampa Bay area, Florida. Eng Geol 99:169–184CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. Bruno E, Calcaterra D, Parise M (2008) Development and morphometry of sinkholes in coastal plains of Apulia, southern Italy—preliminary sinkhole susceptibility assessment. Eng Geol 99:198–209CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Burdon DG, Al Sharhan A (1968) The problem of paleokarstic Dammam Limestone Aquifer in Kuwait. J Hydrol 6:385–404CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. Heidari M, Khanlari GR, Taleb Beydokhti AR, Momeni AA (2011) The formation of cover collapse sinkholes in North of Hamedan, Iran. Geomorphology 132:76–86CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Kamal H, El-Hewary M, Abdullah W, Abdul-Salam S (2007a) Treatment of ground surface subsidence. In: The second international Geo-Changsha conference focusing on geotechnical, geoenvironmental engineering, rock mechanics and engineering geology-new developments, CI-premier PTE LTD, Changsha, Hunan Province, China, pp 179–188Google Scholar
  15. Kamal H, El-Hawary M, Abdullah W, Abduljaleel A, Taha M, Karam H, Abdul-Salam S, Al-Sanad S, Abbas M, Al-Shatti F, Al-Elaj M, Al-Arbied A, Al-Furaih R, (2007b) Preparation of tender documents, supervision of implementation and evaluation of treatment measures of the pilot area of Al-Dhahar-phase II. Final Report, Kuwait Institute for Scientific ResearchGoogle Scholar
  16. Lombardi G (1985) The role of cohesion in cement grouting of rock. In: Proceedings of the 15th ICOLD congress, Lausanne, Switzerland, pp 235–261Google Scholar
  17. Lombardi G (1996) Selecting the grouting intensity. Int J Hydropower Dams 4:62–66Google Scholar
  18. Lombardi G (1997) GIN principle revisited. Int Water Power Dam Constr 33–36Google Scholar
  19. Lombardi G, Deere D (1993) Grouting design and control using the GIN principle. Int Water Power Dam Constr 15–22Google Scholar
  20. Newton J (1987) Development of sinkholes resulting from man’s activities in the eastern United States. US Geol Surv Circular 968Google Scholar
  21. Salman A (1979) Geology of the Jal Az-Zor-Al-Liyah area, Kuwait. Master of Science Thesis, Kuwait UniversityGoogle Scholar
  22. Sayed S, Saeedy H, Szekely F (1992) Hydraulic parameters of a multilayered aquifer system in Kuwait City. J Hydrol 30:49–70CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. Shaqour F (1994) Hydrological role in sinkhole development in the desert of Kuwait. Environ Eng Geol 23:201–208CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Sowers GF (1984) Correction and protection in limestone terrain. In: Beak BF (ed) Sinkholes: their geology, engineering and environmental impact. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 373–378Google Scholar
  25. Van Den Eeckhaut M, Poesen J, Dusar M, Martens V, Duchateau Ph (2007) Sinkhole formation above underground limestone quarries: a case study in South Limburg (Belgium). Geomorphology 91:19–37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Wallner M (1976) Propagation of sedimentation stable cement pastes in jointed rock. In: Rock mechanics and waterways construction 2. University of Achen, BRDGoogle Scholar
  27. Waltham AC, Fookes PG (2005) Engineering classification of karst ground conditions. Speleogenesis and evolution of karst aquifers. Virtual Sci J 3(1):1–20Google Scholar
  28. Waltham AC, Bell FG, Culshaw MG (2005) Sinkholes and subsidence: karst and cavernous rocks in engineering construction. Springer, Berlin, p 382Google Scholar
  29. Wilson WL, Beck BF (1988) Evaluating sinkhole hazard in mantled karst terrain, vol 14. American Society of Civil Engineers Geotechnical Special Publication, New York, NY, pp 1–24Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Environment and Urban Development Division, Building and Energy Technologies DepartmentKuwait Institute for Scientific ResearchSafatKuwait

Personalised recommendations