Sol Expert gets involved in a great variety of projects all over the world. Our projects are being carried out at all stages, may it be during the planning phase to provide pre-construction advice, problem solving during the execution of a project or for post construction forensics.
Hydrogeology, pumping tests and Cut-off wall design
The construction of the Al-Matar-E station (AME) of the subway red line in Doha (Qatar) will be carried out within a 28 m deep excavation pit enabled by the installation of a dewatering system.
The AME station is located in the former airport area, near the fuel depot for planes. At the beginning of the excavation works, a contamination of the subsoil and the ground water by kerosene was identified.
This contamination, when spread into the subsoil after lowering the GWT for excavation, would be left in the trace of the Tunnel Boring Machines.
Sol Expert was comissioned by the construction JV to design a cut off wall that would keep the GWT and the contamination close to its initial position when dewatering.
The scope included the definition, implementation and analysis of a series of pumping tests performed in the two aquifers to calibrate properly the hydrogeological models that were used for the analysis.
Adaptation of construction methods to ground conditions
The expansion of the Matarani port on the coast of Peru, in order to cope with the development of copper mining industry, consists of a new 261 m length berth in open seas.
The ground conditions were particularly challenging as boulders of all sizes were present in the sea bed over thicknesses of 15 m. The contractor had selected the RCD method to install piles in it but was facing severe difficulties with potential impact on project schedule.
Sol Expert was comissioned by the owner to re-define working procedures either with the equipments and materials already mobilised on site or with different type of equipments and revised design.
In addition, Sol Expert had to assess the consistency of the information on geotechnical conditions.
Diagnosis of anchors in a structure dating from the 60's
Before proceeding with the demolition and reconstruction of this residence in Cap d'Ail in France, it was necessary to determine the function and the condition of the old retaining structure in place behind the main buildings.
This structure was showing signs of weakness since several anchor heads were apparently corroded, some of them having even fallen at the toe.
Sol Expert performed a document review as well as an autopsy of the elements in laboratory to conclude that the anchors were in place as security against a global circular failure in the hill behind the building which had been activated or re-activated during the construction of the residence in the 1960's.
Hopefully the anchors never had to play their role since they are now out of order, and should be replaced urgently before any demolition of the existing residence.