DISCUSSION BY : CHESTER HO PIE Konsult Sdn. Bhd. ON PAPER : “ ECONOMICAL SOLUTION FOR ROADWAY EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTION OVER SOFT. COMPRESSIBLE SOILS” Author(s) : ‘Sin Peng Tean Could the author advise the reason for using a smaller spacing of 4.5m for the Dynamic Replacement (DR) columns in Zone 1 and a spacing layer in Zone 2, as reported? The loading from the overburden is much greater in Zone 2 compared to the sloping edges in Zone 1. As such, the larger spacing for DR. columns in area with higher loading is against normal logic. REPLY BY : Sin Peng Tean ‘The main reason for having a closer spacing in Zone 1 was to provide adequate stability at the edge of the embankment construction, creating a “corset” (ie. confining) effect to the embankment body. -59-TECHNICAL SESSION 8 TUNNELLING Chairman : SS. Gue Session Reporter: James Leong Ting Hau -61-DISCUSSION BY : 8.8. GUE Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd. ON SPECIALLECTURE “ GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF THE MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE ” Author(s) : K. Y. Yong & C. H. Pang In Malaysia, soil investigations involving laboratory tests are required for almost all civil projects. With regards to the MRT Project in Singapore, in addition to the soil investigations; structural survey and analysis of existing buildings were also carried out on buildings that were located in the vicinity of the project area, Is structural survey and analysis of existing buildings widely practiced in other projects of similar nature in Singapore? REPLY BY : K. ¥. YONG In Singapore, the onus and responsibility is on the Contractors and Consultants to determine whether the project warrants a structural survey and analysis. The structural survey and analysis are required to investigate whether buildings in the vicinity of the project would be structurally affected. The extent and type of structural investigations is to be determined by the Contractors and Consultants. Suppose that the structural survey and analysis were not carried out properly or not performed at all, and if structural cracks were to be reported, the Contractor would then have to adsorb the costs for any remedial works. DISCUSSION BY : 8.8. GUE Gue & Partners Sda. Bhd. ONSPECIALLECTURE =: “ GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGES OF THE MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT) SYSTEM IN SINGAPORE ” Author(s) : KY. Yong & C,H. Pang It was noted in the paper that for the MRT Project in Singapore, there was a case where the water table of the construction site was allowed to be lowered by two metres despite the presence of existing buildings in the vicinity with high water table, What was the justification for this engineering decision? REPLY BY ; K. Y. YONG The local code of practice in Singapore prescribes that the water table should not be lowered by more than ‘one metre. However, the Authorities are moving away from prescriptive regulations towards leaving such engineering decisions to the professional judgment of the Consultants. In the incident of the water table being lowered by two metres, a geotechnical investigation and analysis was required to show that the existing structures in the vicinity of the project could tolerate the additional settlement without adverse effects. Hence the responsibility was on the Contractors and the Consultants. They subsequently showed that a water table drop of two metres would result in an acceptable settlement on the buildings. In addition, contingency measures such as pipe jacking or support props of existing structures are to be submitted before the commencement of the construction whenever the prescriptive regulations are not adhered to. In conclusion, compliance of prescriptive regulations is left to the professional judgment of the Contractors and Consultants, -63-DISCUSSIOI i S.S.GUE Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd. ON PAPER : “ REAL TIME MONITORING SYSTEMS FOR TUNNEL & DEEP EXCAVATION PROJECTS ” Author(s) : T.G.Ng&G.H. Tan In the second case history presented, a Real Time e-Monitoring System was implemented on the deep excavation project for the cut-and-cover tunnel of the $$300 million Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Depot. ‘What was the total cost incurred for the monitoring works of that system? REPLY BY AUTHOR : T.G.NG ‘The fully-automated Real Time e-Monitoring System was implemented for a period of six months. The total cost of the monitoring works, which amongst others included the costs of sensors, installation, data logging, rental of data loggers and internet posting, was approximately S$60,000.00.TECHNICAL SESSION 9 GROUND IMPROVEMENT Chairman : Tan Yean Chin Session Reporter: Hooi Kah Yeng, Hazel -65-DISCUSSION BY 8.8. GUE Gue & Partners Sdn. Bhd. ONSPECIALLECTURE—: “ EARTHWORKS PRACTICE IN MALAYSIA” Author(s) fl Ooi Teik Aun Dr. Ooi mentioned my name regarding the duties of the Board of Engineers (BEM). Although I am no longer on the Board, as I have retired from the Board since last August, the Board basically function as a police. If there is no complain, no action will be undertaken. Unless there is a failure to the knowledge of the public, then the Board will carry out the necessary action accordingly. Over the years, there were engineers who have been deregistered or suspended. The Board will look into every complaint and therefore, the Professional Practice Committee is the busiest committee in the BEM now. COMMENTS BY _ WILLIAM C. K. HO SMB Sdn, Bhd. There is a lack of enforcement associated with earthworks practices even though the by-laws and regulations are known to all. I agree with the author's lecture that the quality of earthworks is questionable. COMMENTS BY : PIE Konsult Sda, Bhd. | would like to comment regarding the refusal by the contractors to conform to good practices for construction of earthworks. In many instances, the contractual relationship between the contractor and the client allow the contractor to escape from complying with the requirements. In addition, the contractors carry no responsibility beyond one year after the completion of the earthworks, after which instead, the consultants are saddled with the responsibility. The solution is to ensure that the contractors understand their qualification before they can become engineering contractors even after having passed tests and interviews, COMMENTS BY : K. Y. YONG National University of Singapore One of the problems I encountered while teaching earthworks to undergraduate students is that textbooks normally describe that the amount of cut and fill should roughly be equal so that disposal of spoils or import of fill materials is kept to a minimal. Unfortunately, the textbook does not highlight the difficulties in compacting fills at edges due to the lack of confinement and highways built on such fill slopes have ofien failed because of inadequate compaction. I think such textbooks should be re-written to highlight the serious problem with solutions such as to overfill, compact and then cut back to the desired slope, or alternatively, to build highways only on cut slopes. REPLY BY AUTHOR : OOI TEIK AUN The cutting back of over-compacted slope was in fact practised as early as in the 1970's by engineers in Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR). -67-COMMENTS BY 5 K.Y. YONG ‘That is the reason why I suggested that the textbooks need to be re-written to reflect practice at the site. 1 feel that in geotechnical conferences such as this, it is useful to highlight best site practices and such knowledge should be captured in textbooks or manuals that cover earthworks. DISCUSSION BY c YEE YEW WENG Keller (M) Sdn. Bhd. ON PAPER : “EXPERIENCE OF USING DYNAMIC COMPACTION IN LANDFILL AREAS” Author(s) : Chen Chean Sin, Tan Siow Meng & Kenny Yee (1) How was the remaining settlement due to biodegradation before and after the dynamic compaction, assessed in the design? I believe the compacted rubbish will still decompose after the dynamic compaction has been completed. Were gas emissions and ground subsidence data collected? (2) How were concems of differential settlement between the dynamic compaction impact points and the areas outside the impact points addressed? REPLY BY AUTHOR : CHEN CHEAN SIN (1) Settlement monitoring of the reclaimed land was carried out during the reclamation works and the monitoring continued for one year after the completion of the works. It was found that most of the settlement was due to consolidation of the soft clay below the landfill. A comparison of the results between the ground settlement markers and the rod settlement gauges indicated that the residual settlement due to the landfill is minimal. Last month's monitoring results showed that most of the reclaimed area has been stabilised. Only a few localised areas showed settlement rate of less than 2mm/month, (2) At the design stage of the reclamation work, the development plan for this reclaimed land was not finalised. The requirement was to minimise post construction settlement of the platform due to the landfill and the soft clay underneath. The requirement of the dynamic compaction was to ensure that the minimum limit pressure and pressuremeter elasticity of the landfill shall not be less than 300kPa and 6,000kPa respectively. For any construction to be carried out in the future, the additional load that ‘may cause settlement as well as differential settlement will need to be assessed. Proper measures should be undertaken if it is found that the induced settlement would be excessive. COMMENTS BY : KENNY YEE ‘Menard Geosystems Sdn. Bhd. The author commented that while settlement of landfill due to consolidation, ravelling and collapse of hollow structures can be effectively accelerated by dynamic compaction by reducing the voids in the landfill, the settlement due to physical-chemical changes and bio-degradation cannot be substantially changed by dynamic compaction. However, the reduction of voids (densification) by dynamic compaction will decrease the amount of oxygen in the landfill and hence, reduce the rate of bio-degradation. Gifford et al. (1990) commented that since the rate of anaerobic decay is substantially less than aerobic decay, decreasing the amount of oxygen in the landfill and reducing the quantity of water percolating into the = 68-landfill, slows down the rate of bio-degradation and hence, the rate of settlement. I would like to know if anyone has similar experience or comment. Reference: Gifford, G.P., Landva, A.O, and Hoffman, V.G. (1990). “Geotechnical Considerations When Planning Construction on a Landfill.” Geotechnics of Waste Fills: Theory and Practice, ASTM STP 1070, Philadelphia, p. 41-56. COMMENTS BY : RAYMOND N. YONG University of Wales, Cardiff, UK Was monitoring for gas production, such as methane and Hydrogen Sulphide (HS), carried out before and after the compaction? REPLY BY AUTHOR 7 CHEN CHEAN SIN Gas monitoring was carried out before and after the dynamic compaction, It was found that at localised areas the concentration of methane had increased after the dynamic compaction. COMMENTS BY ‘SHAHLIN SULAIMAN Sarawak Hidro Sdn. Bhd. The increased compaction of the reclaimed land will reduce oxygen content in the landfill, subsequently reducing aerobic reaction, but increases anaerobic reaction. This will lead to increased production of gas such as methane gas and Hydrogen Sulphide (HS). This can cause deterioration of substructure. -69-TECHNICAL SESSION 10 SLOPES Chairman : Kenny Yee Session Reporter: | Chow Chee Meng 71DISCUSSION BY 7 CHAN SIN FATT. Consulting Engineer ON SPECIAL LECTURE: “THE PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING GEOLOGY IN MALAYSIA” Author(s) : Tan Boon Kong 1 would like to congratulate the author for delivering a special lecture which is very useful to practicing geotechnical engincers. The author has highlighted two phenomena which took the discussor many years to discover from his own personal experience and which are crucial for design of deep foundations in Kuala Lumpur. The first phenomenon is the usual occurrence of a deep trench at the contact zone (boundary) between limestone and granite areas due to different rates of solution of limestone at the contact zone. The second phenomenon, which also has a big impact on the design of deep foundations, is the occurrence of weak slumped materials immediately above limestone bedrock, in areas where the Kenny Hill Formation is underlain by limestone. Where this is present in the Kenny Hill formation, the usual firm to hard Kenny Hill residual soils with high SPT “N’ values can be underlain by very weak slumped materials with SPT ‘N’ values near zero. If this is not detected, it can have disastrous consequences for the deep foundation constructed above it DISCUSSION BY 5 CHESTER HO PIE Konsult Sdn, Bhd, ON PAPER : “ GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN OF A HILLY ROAD ” Author(s) . Tan Siow Meng, Choo Yeow Leong & Yeow Pow Kwei The rock toe designed by the authors is resting on the ground surface and the rock toe could slide leading to failure of the slope. A better solution is to have a concrete block sunk into the ground to provide stability via passive resistance, backed by a rock toe and a 75mm (3 inches) layer of sand to prevent loss of materials behind. The additional cost is well justified by ensuring the stability of the slope. There should be no savings that is justified by increase in risk of failure. The Engineer cannot shed responsibility, as he will be taken to task when a failure occurs in the future. He cannot therefore leave the work to the Contractor. Even in the event that the Contractor has his own engineer, the allocation of responsibility must be made clear and accepted by the Authorities and Client and legally documented. REPLY BY fl TAN SIOW MENG The overall stability of the fill slope must be adequate in the first place. It does not rely on the rock toe for stability. The main purpose of the rock toe is to dissipate groundwater which is usually high at the toe of a fill slope. When groundwater table is controlled, the stability of the fill slope is enhanced. Rock toe is also effective to prevent erosion caused undermining. For the above-mentioned function, a flexible rock toe is always preferred over a rigid concrete structure. eis