Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link Geotechnical Large Scale Testing
Challenging subsoil
A few kilometres off the German coast near Puttgarden in the Baltic Sea, the site investigations for the Fehmarnbelt Fixed link has revealed layers of Palaeogene clay only a few metres below the seabed. A future bridge or tunnel will be founded in this challenging material. At first glance, the Palaeogene clay (fat tertiary clay) appears firm or even stiff, but due to its internal structure it shows complicated deformation and strength properties. Samples taken to our laboratory show fissures |
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Geotechnical large scale testing
A complex laboratory testing program has been constructed and executed. However, for giant construction works such as Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link laboratory tests are not sufficient to understand the behaviour of the material. With this in mind, Femern A/S ordered a series of geotechnical large scale tests to be performed in a 200 by 200 metres large offshore test area situated about a kilometre off Puttgarden. The Palaeogene clay is being tested in different ways. The objective of the tests is to establish how the clay will respond to construction works - how will it swell when overlying soil is excavated and will it subside when heavy loads are set upon it? The tests will also show which piling method is the best to use in this material. |
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On the Geotechnical Large Scale Testing project, for the 2010 works, GEO was subcontracted by Per Aarsleff A/S to perform Cone Penetration Testing (CPT), multi-beam surveys and the instrumentation of the excavation pit. The project is continuing and during 2011 GEO will take part again with the same contractor. Read more about the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link Geotechnical Large Scale Testing Read more about the whole Femern project on www.femern.dk. |
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