In western Bucharest, Romania, a residential building is being constructed over existing subway tunnels. The structure, which will cost an estimated EUR 2.5 million, includes nine floors and a basement. However, for the first time a structure was being built over subway tunnels within the city. The project will unlock potential future investments at other areas over tunnels in Bucharest, a city where buildable grounds are becoming a rarity.
SAIDEL Engineering was tasked with providing structural and geotechnical design for the residential building. The geotechnical design had to be approved by the subway operator. The objective was to reduce the overall effect of the building on the tunnel lining, by providing a safe and cost-efficient foundation solution.For the geotechnical complex analysis, SAIDEL Engineering selected PLAXIS software. Initially, a plane strain analysis was performed regarding feasible solutions for both excavation and foundation. The excavation solution was accepted at that stage by the subway operator. In order for the geotechnical design to be approved as well, 3D models were developed for improved accuracy and optimization, and the results were compared against the plane strain analyses to provide further confidence in the project’s foundation.
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In order to approve the project, the subway operator set some requirements regarding tunnel displacements and structural forces. Various solutions were analyzed, such as a simple raft or raft on piles with various diameters and lengths, with or without base enlargement. The case of using a 15cm thick layer of Storyfoam, under the raft and between the pylons, in order to encase the subway tunnels, was also analyzed.
Source: Bentley Systems Announces Finalists in the Year in Infrastructure 2020 Awards Program
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