(All You have To Know about Burj Khalifa Foundations)
The tallest building in the world, required an advanced and robust foundation system due to its immense height and the challenging geotechnical conditions of the Dubai area. Here's an overview of the foundation construction, including the use of deep piles and the cathodic protection system in the reinforcement:
1.Foundation Design and Construction
A-Foundation Type: The Burj Khalifa is supported by a large, reinforced concrete mat foundation, which is 3.7 meters thick and spans an area of about 7,500 square meters. This mat sits on top of a series of deep piles that transfer the load to the underlying bedrock.
-Deep Piles
A-Piling Process: The foundation includes 192 bored reinforced concrete piles, each with a diameter of 1.5 meters and a length of about 43-50 meters. These piles were drilled into the ground using advanced techniques, ensuring stability in the lweak soil
B-Load Bearing: The piles were designed to handle the enormous load of the building, with each pile capable of bearing significant weight due to the depth and the use of high-strength concrete (C60/C80 grade)
-Soil and Geotechnical Conditions
-The underlying soil is mostly composed of weak sandstone A detailed geotechnical investigation was conducted to ensure that the pile foundation would perform effectively under these conditions
-Grouting was used around the piles to improve the soil's bearing capacity and reduce settlement
2.Cathodic Protection System
-Purpose: The cathodic protection system was employed to prevent corrosion of the steel reinforcement within the foundation piles and mat. Given Dubai's high salinity groundwater and humid conditions, the risk of corrosion in the steel reinforcement was significant
-Cathodic Protection Details
-Sacrificial Anodes: The system involved the use of sacrificial anodes, which are placed within the concrete. These anodes corrode instead of the steel reinforcement, thus protecting the integrity of the structure
-Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP): Another method used was ICCP, where an external power source applies a small, continuous current to the reinforcement, reducing the electrochemical potential and preventing corrosion
3.Challenges and Innovations
- Heat of Hydration: The thickness of the mat foundation led to concerns about the heat of hydration in the concrete, which could cause cracking. Special cooling pipes were embedded within the concrete to manage the temperature
- Precision and Safety: Due to the building's height and the dynamic loads (including wind and seismic forces)
The combination of deep piling and an advanced cathodic protection system ensured that the Burj Khalifa's foundation could support the structure safely and durably, even in challenging environmental conditions
📹 Credit: Respective owners
Copy Right (Writer ): Ahmed Badawy
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