Annotated Summary

Halim, D. (2008). Effects of excavation on performance on adjacent buildings (Research Report). Retrieved from Nanyang Technological University Singapore website: https://dr.ntu.edu.sg//handle/10356/13110

According to the research report “Effects of excavation on performance on adjacent buildings”, Halim Darwid (2008) propose that underground construction such as tunneling, and excavation works will lead to movement of soil. For example, excavation works will cause changes to the stress and strain in the soil mass. Wall at the sides of the excavation deflect and ground settle.

Singapore is a highly urbanized country with many underground constructions in the future. Hence these soil movement changes can have an impact on existing structure and utilities. Building affected by the movement of soil may settle, distort or deform which leads to cracking and structural damages. These not only affect the esthetic but also the technical viability of the existing buildings.

The article also states that to consider tunneling or excavation works to be successful, it is important to ensure that the safety of the existing structure will not be affected.

The article mentioned a few examples of the affected structures caused by underground construction in Singapore. In the year March 1999 to February 2001, shophouses located near Clark Quay was affected by the construction of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) North-East line. The maximum settlement of soil was recorded at 115mm and the minimum settlement was 45mm. 

The article further mentioned six protective measures and one the measure states that “strengthening the ground to increase the stiffness below foundation levels by grout injection or ground freezing” (Burland,1997, p.67).

This article aids us in understanding the concept of underground construction and equipped us with the basic knowledge of how cracks are formed in structures. Since the article mention that grout injections can increase the stiffness of soil below ground level, Bio grout can be used as a prevention for further soil settlement in buildings.

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