Project Description

The project is located within the Dubai Harbour Development close to The Palm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The project comprises construction of residential tower (61 levels) and hotel (16 levels) on common podiums and two-level basement.

Project Challenges

The structure is designed to be supported by bored piles of 1.5m and 1.0m in diameter. Due to the complexity of the structure having significant loadings within the tower area, a pile group assessment has been done to capture proper distribution of forces within the foundation system. Soil-Structure Interaction using geotechnical Finite Element Modelling was carried out for the project. In addition, the site is found to have potential to liquefy being situated in a reclaimed land. RBG has specified ground improvement through Vibrocompaction to improve the ground conditions.

Added Value

RBG provided design and partial supervision of Preliminary Test Piles (O-cell tests) for value engineering. The purpose of these tests is to measure the rock unit skin friction prior to construction of working piles with the objective to optimise the pile design. Upon completion of the Preliminary Test Piles, a total of around 2,800 m3 of combined concrete and steel reinforcement volume has been saved through reduction in pile lengths.