Civil Engineering April 2022 | Vol 30 No 3

Civil Engineering April 2022 5 SOLUTIONS TO EVERY GEOTECHNICAL CHALLENGE Keller provides solutions to a wide range of geotechnical challenges across the entire construction spectrum. Improve bearing capacity Transferring loads to deeper more competent layers through: Q Q Bearing capacity/settlement control: Soils often need treating to support the weight of a building or to withstand the loads imposed by a piece of infrastructure. This can mean improving the ground or putting in foundations to transfer the loads to deeper more competent layers. Q Q Liquefaction mitigation: Liquefaction is a common problem in earthquake-prone areas where soils lose strength due to the ground motion and behave like a viscous liquid, damaging overlying structures. Q Q Heavy foundations: Weak, compressible soils may require structural elements, specifically heavy foundations, that transfer loads through to underlying competent soils or rock. Q Q Heave control: When wet soils swell and can’t expand downwards or sideways, the soil rises and exposes the upper surface. While displacement may be relatively small, ground heave can lead to serious structural damage. Q Q Re-levelling structures: The gradual downward movement of a building or structure can result in damage. Re-levelling techniques bring buildings back to their correct levels, strengthening any weak ground under and around the foundations and avoiding any recurring sinking issues. Q Q Underpinning: Underpinning provides additional support to existing foundations that are unable to safely support existing or future loads. Containment It is often desirable to prevent the migration of contamination in the ground, or to prevent seepage from a dam or levee. Keller has a wide range of techniques that can be adapted to form an appropriate sealing or cut-off barrier. Excavation support During construction it is often necessary to form a stable excavation and ensure that any associated movement will not damage neighbouring structures or utilities. Keller offers flexible solutions to solve even highly complex excavation support problems for both temporary and permanent conditions. Marine structures Keller offers a full range of services for the marine construction market, including the design and construction of new ports, jetties and quays as well as the extension and restoration of existing structures. We also have solutions for tidal barriers and coastal protection schemes. Remediation Increasing land shortage is driving a need to use more brownfield and marginal land often requiring groundwater and soil remediation to reduce contaminants. Keller offers the optimal solution to make contaminated land suitable for re-use. Seepage control Major civil engineering schemes often involve working below the water table. Controlling or preventing water seepage is vital to allow construction to proceed. Keller has a range of techniques to deploy to provide effective cut- offs and to seal joints and fissures in the ground or below ground structures. Stabilisation Unstable ground can cause instability, both in temporary and permanent cases. Keller has a range of solutions that can be deployed to strengthen the soils. Slope stabilisation Slope stabilisation is often required to retain soil in natural, unstable, or man-made excavations. Keller draws on its extensive experience with the full range of techniques to provide optimal slope stabilisation solutions for various projects. team managed the constant challenges, while keeping their focus on the main task at hand, which was to create enough area for the subcontractor, Ross Demolition, to break and remove rock. To prevail over these challenges, Cloete says, “we kept tackling the challenges as they arose and continued to push forward as a team. Due to great teamwork of the crew, led by Sandiso James, the contract was completed well within the stipulated timeframe. A big thanks to IGUAL Project Managers, RLB Pentad Quantity Surveyors and Sutherland Consulting Engineers, whose input and expertise contributed hugely to the success of this project.” For more information www.keller-africa.co.za info.za@keller.com +27 (0)11 062 7600 Hard rock and water challenges Lateral support complete Lateral support parallel to Dock Road