Keller underpinned the raft foundation of an 8 floors and basement building, by installing Soilcrete® jet grout columns to transfer column loads to competent ground, ensuring long-term foundation stability despite challenging low-headroom access conditions.
The project
This project addressed settlement concerns affecting a section of the Khobar Business Park (KBP), an office building. Constructed on a raft foundation, the structure required an urgent ground improvement and remediation solution to eliminate the potential for future settlement and safeguard structural integrity.
The challenge
The primary challenge was to provide a settlement remediation solution that transferred building loads to competent strata through compressible soils, while working within the restricted basement headroom and around existing services. The design also needed to mitigate future settlement, prevent differential movement, and accommodate increased column loads from future building upgrades.
The solution
Keller implemented a remediation solution using 1.5 m diameter jet grout columns to transfer building loads from the raft foundation to competent ground. The works were executed using Keller's compact KB-1-2 jet grouting rig, specifically designed for restricted headroom conditions. Trial columns and load testing, combined with a carefully controlled installation sequence and continuous settlement monitoring, ensured structural stability throughout the works. Effective management of grout spoil and effluent enabled safe execution within the operational constraints of the building.
