Project Description
Context of the project
The Palm Jebel Ali’ is the second in the series of three “palm trees” that form an archipelago of artificial islands reclaimed from the sea in Dubai and set out in the shape of a palm tree. This Palm is intended to house residential and tourist complexes, shopping and leisure centres, for a population of approximately 250,000 people.
Description of the project
The Vibroflotation Group Ltd, a former Soletanche Bachy subsidiary, as part of a joint venture with APCC, was awarded the design and build contract for ground improvement works.
The site covers 10km2 of land to be treated, spread over a total area measuring 50km2, where most access to the work sites is by sea. This non-standard site mobilized more than 400 people with up to 20 cranes and a series of 36 compaction units (V48 for compacting and V23 for the stone columns).
Our solution
After backfilling an area contained by rock armour to a thickness of approximately 15m, vibroflotation treatment could commence. This technique, sometimes called vibrocompaction, is used to increase load-bearing capacity, homogenise soil conditions, limit subsidence and differential settlement and eliminate the risk of liquefaction in granular soils. Once this treatment was completed, 60 load-bearing tests, 1,000 test bores and 40,000 CPT (Cone Penetration Tests) were carried out.
Works performed:
- 170,000,000m3 of backfill
- 10,000,000 tonnes of rocks for the dykes
- 10,000,000m2 of land created
- 70km of beaches
- Project total surface area: 49km2
The Ressources:
- 16 cranes in service
- 24 x 500KVA to 1,250KVA generating sets
- 38 compressors
- 50 compaction units
- 18 mechanical loaders
- 2 unloading lighters
- 5 fast transport vessels
Type of project:
Buildings and housing
Location:
United Arab Emirates
Project owner:
NAKHEEL
Prime contractor:
China Railway Engineering Me
Consortium:
APCC – VFL joint-venture
Types of techniques:
Ground improvement
Key figures of the project
