Burj al arab (Cofferdam&Rigging)

Burj Al ArabCofferdam & Rigging

Firas Al Shalabi & Sunny Mahajan

CE 505

Project Presentation1

Background Dubai, UAE

1994 – 1999

The first 7 stars hotel in the world

The start of Dubai’s new vision of attracting new investments in areas outside the oil industry.

If you want to book a night there it will cost you around $2000 (according to Expedia tonight is $2039)

1.2 million SF

321 meters height from the sea.

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The construction

Two main phases:

The manmade Island (our focus)

The building

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Building the island

Temporary tube piles driven into sea bed

Temporary sheet piles and tie rods driven into sea bed to support boundary rocks

Tubular pile

Sheet pile wall

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Building the island Permanent boundary rock bunds (rock armor) deposited on both sides of the sheet

piles

Hydraulic fill layers deposited between bunds to displace sea water and form the island

No solid ground under the building just weak sand (up to 180 meters deep with no solid ground). So it was decided to go with friction piles.

Rock armor

Sand fill

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Building the island

Permanent SHED units placed around the island to dissipate the action of waves and protect it.

2M (6.5 ft) diameter 43 M (141 ft) deep piles were driven through the island and sea bed

SHED units

Main building piles 6

Building the island

Excavations began in the island to remove the hydraulic fill

A coffer dam was being built while excavating

2M (6.5 ft) thick concrete plug slab laid on the base of the island to prevent the base from popping out because of the sea pressure

Reinforced concrete retaining wall built

The construction of the basement started

Concrete slab

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Completed Island Completed in three years

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Diagonal truss rigging Huge tubular triangular truss geometry

The Diagonal vary from 76m to 90m in length and weigh 160 to 180 ton.

The Diagonal connects with a 300mm diameter pin connection to the core-wall and the Rear-leg structure.

There are six diagonals erected at different levels on both side of the building

transported as a single fabricated piece from the fabrication shop 15 km away by special self propelled long trailers.

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Diagonal truss rigging

Dealing with the expansion about (2 inches)caused by the desert heat

Strand jacks supported by Cat heads were connected to the building to execute the lifting of the Diagonals and Horizontals.

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Summary Many forces can destroy your temporary structures. You have to count them all.

The safety of the crew is essential for cofferdams construction.

Rigging elements can’t always be easy and can be more complicated than what we learned

Putting things in the air is a different story.

Have to come up with practical innovative on site solutions for uncertain problems

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Thank youReferences:

• Nathan. D., (2006) “Burj Al-Arab, UAE Structural Steel Construction For A Mega Project.” master builder, 3rd quarter 77-80 http://www.mbam.org.my/mbam/images/MBJ3Q06(pdf)/@BurjAlArb.pdf

• Burj Al Arab, mega structures show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGzSNZudEHw

• Stonecypher. L., (2009). Building the tallest hotel: Burj Al Arab, Dubai. http://www.brighthub.com/education/homework-tips/articles/57599.aspx#imgn_3

• Pourabedin. E., (2009). Burj Al Arab construction. http://www.slideshare.net/shahrozalam210/burj-alarab1203786822334454

• Wright. T., (2000).Creating the Burj Al Arab Dubai

http://wkkarchitects.com/#/burj-al-arab/

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