Dubai Creek Tower Building, Santiago Calatrava UAE Skyscraper Images, Tall Mast Structure

Dubai Creek Tower by Santiago Calatrava

New Skyscraper Architecture in the United Arab Emirates design by Santiago Calatrava architects

post updated 24 Feb 2019 ; 16 Dec 2017

Dubai Creek Tower Building

Design: Santiago Calatrava

Dubai Creek Harbor Tower News

Fugro Completes The Deep Foundation Testing For Signature Tower In Dubai

Fugro has played a key role in the ground engineering of the Dubai Creek Tower, a vast slender structure which will comprise a central concrete column supported by a network of steel cable stays.

Because of its significant height and design, ground engineering was critical in the programmed schedule and foundation design. Fugro was appointed to provide data collection and interpretation that could be relied upon by the construction contractor leading the foundation design and engineering. The testing and monitoring project ran from June 2016 to August 2017.

Utilising the most advanced mathematics, engineering and physics known to man, the Dubai Creek Tower is expected to be one of the most significant structures ever created. Image courtesy of Emaar Properties:

Utilising the most advanced mathematics, engineering and physics known to man, the Dubai Creek Tower is expected to be one of the most significant structures ever created. “Fugro carried out one of the most comprehensive geotechnical investigations in the region. We then tested the in situ performance of the proposed foundations in order to optimise the final design of the core and the cable anchorage foundation design,” explained Joyshwin Sumputh, Fugro’s Service Line Manager.

The contract for the foundation design and construction of Emaar Properties PJSC’s Dubai Creek Tower was awarded to Soletanche Bachy in June 2016. The company’s DCH Tower Project Manager, Vincent Leblois, described the project: “This is probably one of the most challenging and demanding buildings under construction in the world.”

The first step was a campaign of preliminary load testing to ascertain the ground geotechnical characteristics and finalise the detailed design of the deep foundations. Soletanche Bachy needed a partnering team that would enable its success from the outset. “Based on previous experience in Dubai, we knew that Fugro would be the only company capable of mobilising the necessary resources and completing these tests in line with our tight schedule,” continued Leblois.

image © Santiago Calatrava

The project specifications also called for a state-of-the-art, robust system including the use of fibre optics to carry out the intense static load test programme using Fugro’s Osterberg Cells® (O-cells). Close collaboration, as well as Fugro’s worldwide network and engineering capabilities, allowed the team to successfully complete the preliminary testing scope of works in due time and set the right pace for the project.

Leblois concluded, “The Fugro team’s professionalism, reactivity and continuous support were key factors in this achievement which also resulted in breaking the world record for deep foundation testing load applied on a single barrette (36,300 tons).”

Project specifications called for a state-of-the-art, robust system including the use of fibre optics to carry out the intense static load test programme using Fugro’s O-cells:

Many ultra-high capacity piles and barrettes are being designed today as a direct result of Fugro’s ability to verify their capacity. In Dubai Fugro performed additional tests to confirm the assumptions of the design were within safe working loads. “We tested six working barrettes, full scale, to validate the optimised final design for the foundation construction,” added Sumputh.

“Each barrette was instrumented with a single level O-cell assembly and installed with minimal disruption to the programme. Grouting the O-cells after testing enabled the working barrettes to be incorporated into the foundation structure.” Fugro also conducted over 250 kilometres of sonic reading to provide quality assurance for the concrete integrity of the tower’s permanent foundations.

Construction of the Dubai Creek Tower is expected to be completed by 2020.

photo via Dubai Media Office on Twitter

ABOUT FUGRO
Fugro is the world’s leading, independent provider of geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions. Fugro acquires and analyses data on topography and the subsurface, soil composition, meteorological and environmental conditions, and provides related advice. With its geo-intelligence and asset integrity solutions Fugro supports the safe, efficient and sustainable development and operation of buildings, industrial facilities and infrastructure and the exploration and development of natural resources.

Fugro works around the globe, predominantly in energy and infrastructure markets offshore and onshore, employing approximately 10,500 people in around 60 countries. In 2016, revenue amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

16 Feb 2016
Dubai Creek Harbor Tower
Design: Santiago Calatrava
Dubai Creek Harbor Tower by Santiago Calatrava

Dubai Creek Harbor Tower design : Santiago Calatrava

Location: DCH – Dubai Creek, UAE