Project

Keller is currently involved in the ground improvement works using vibrocompaction for the Tuas reclamation project in Singapore. The site is located on the western tip of Singapore Island and is projected to become a biomedical hub when completed in the future.

The reclaimed land will create the much needed industrial space for development in this landscarce city state. The vibrocompaction method was chosen to improve the overall stability of the sand key' which defines the boundary of the reclamation works.

The reclaimed sand along the sand key area has to be improved by vibrocompaction to meet the specification provided by the Client. Vibrocompaction was carried out up to a maximum depth of 35 m.

Two cranes were used for compaction on the land side. For marine compaction a 200 ton crane with twin vibrators mounted on a barge was used to carry out the improvement works. The compaction works ran in day and night shift for 6 days a week' compacting approx. 1million cum of sand per month.

Global positioning system (GPS) with an accuracy of about 20 mm was utilized to locate the compaction points on the marine side. The GPS antennas were mounted on a beam directly above the extension tubes of the vibrators.

Post CPT tests were carried about 7 days after the completion of each panel. The test locations were selected by the Client. For the land side' a CPT rig mounted on a crawler was used while for the marine side' the tests were carried out from a jack-up barge. The CPT equipment used in this project allowed testing up to 20 ton load. Settlement measured after vibrocompaction averaged around 1.5 m which is equivalent to 6% of the average compaction depth of 25 m.