Comparative Assessment of Excavation Supporting Systems in Addis Ababa
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Date
2024-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's growing capital city, has witnessed rapid urban development, necessitating the construction of towering structures. As the need for deep excavation arises, Engineers face the challenge of maintaining stability while digging into the earth. This necessitates using temporary earth retaining structures known as excavation supports or shoring to prevent soil collapse and ensure precise excavation. Various methods are available for excavation support, including soldier beams and lagging, sheet piling, bored pile walls, soil nailing walls, and slurry (diaphragm walls).
In Addis Ababa, specialized firms dedicated to foundations construct excavation support systems. The first foundation specialist company in the country, BAUER MIDROC Foundation Specialist Plc., was established on June 12, 1998. Addis Ababa has varying soil types, but the protection system used is uniform, causing specific problems such as costly temporary shoring systems and time-consuming installation. Local companies compete by compromising safety, leading to the collapse of excavation support systems with major damage, including loss of human life, additionally, machinery has a short lifespan due to difficult strata placement.
The study aims to access different shoring methods in Addis Ababa and compare conventional contiguous pile walls with soil-nailing walls for various sites and soil conditions that are practical, reliable, appropriate, and adaptable solutions for local firms. To achieve this, first gather information about three different sites, including soil strength, excavation depths, surcharge load, and available space for the supporting system structure. Numerical methods such as finite element analysis and limit equilibrium analysis will be used to create models of the deep excavation stabilizing methods for each site and method. After that compare two methods of construction costs and construction period based on the obtained designs.
In conclusion, this research aims to provide valuable insights into the most effective and suitable excavation supporting systems for specific site conditions and soil types in Addis Ababa. The particular approach employed in this study, along with considering various factors, ensures that the findings are reliable and applicable to the context at hand.
The results of this study can be valuable for contractors and Engineers in selecting the appropriate excavation supporting system in Addis Ababa.
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Keywords
Contiguous pile, Excavations, Excavation Support Systems, Soil Nailing