[Case Study] Msheireb Station – Doha Metro Qatar

Doha Metro is the world’s largest infrastructure project by Qatar Rail Company that started in the year 2013 and was completed this year, in 2019. Eighty-two km of metro tunnel incorporating 26 stations will run underground in Phase 1. Msheireb Metro Station will serve as the heart of Phase 1 as it is the major interchange station of three metro lines – with Red and Green Lines running parallel and the Gold Line situated underneath.

Doha Metro Qatar 
Encardio Rite was awarded the I&M sub-contract for complete monitoring and surveying solutions for diaphragm walls, ground anchors, piles, groundwater, adjacent ground, and buildings, falling within the zone of influence of Msheireb Station and its west entrance structure.

Project Overview

Doha Metro Qatar Project

Msheireb Metro Station is the largest underground station in Doha situated at the corner of the Msheireb Downtown Doha development. The station lies between ~ 15 m to 40 m below ground level.

The Msheireb Station in the center of the metro already forms the accumulation point of the whole system. All lines meet here and, 12 TBM breakthroughs ended at this mammoth station alone. Excavation for Msheireb Station, approximately 40 m below ground level is one of the deepest excavations for the metro in The Middle East so far; therefore, Instrumentation and monitoring (I&M) works play an important role in the project.

Deformations observed in the West Entrance site of Msheireb Station

An increase in lateral movements was noted in 2 inclinometers (picture 1) as the excavation progressed. These inclinometers were installed in secant pile walls to support a 14 m deep excavation (picture 2 shows the location of these inclinometers on the instrumentation layout plan by blue arrows & picture 3 shows the actual site). The increase in the movement occurred on the same day.

Upon visual inspection at the site, to verify the inclinometer results, cracks were observed in the vicinity of the above inclinometers (pictures 4 to 6). The cracks were formed as the top of the piles moved towards excavation away from the surrounding ground.

Inclinometers Graph 
Inclinometers Graph 
Picture-1 
Inclinometers Graph 
Picture-2 
Doha Metro Qatar Construction 
Picture-3 
Crack 5-8 m Away from INC-1 
Picture-4 
Crack 5-8 m Away from INC-1 
Picture-5 (crack 5-8 m away from INC-1) 
Crack 5-8 m Away from INC-1 
Picture-6

Readings of the 3D prisms installed on the piles near the above the inclinometers also showed an increase towards excavation (picture-7), further corroborating the results of the inclinometer.

Crack 5-8 m Away from INC-1 
3D Prisms Installed Graph

Picture-7

The above results and site inspection observations were promptly reported to the main contractor for taking corrective actions.

Monitoring Solution by Encardio Rite

3D Prisms Installed Graph 
The services provided by us include:

  1. Carried out a dedicated Pre-construction building condition survey.
  2. Looked after the supply of geotechnical instruments, precise survey instruments, and targets.
  3. The installation of geotechnical instruments including the drilling works for sub-surface instruments and survey targets.
  4. Manual and automatic monitoring go hand in hand for the success of any project.
  5. Carried the Optical Surveying-precise leveling & 3D deformation monitoring
  6. Programming and commissioning of data acquisition systems.
  7. Setting up an online web-based data management system (WDMS) and its maintenance during the contract period.
  8. Spiral test for inclinometer installed in the soil.
  9. Daily & weekly reporting with evaluation & interpretation.
  10. Calibration of data loggers and sensors
  11. Post-construction building condition survey

Instrumentation Used in the Project

Doha Metro Qatar Monitoring Solution

Being the major instrumentation provider in this project, we used highly reliable and accurate instruments. Some of the instruments used by us include:

Inclinometer: This device is used to monitor lateral movements of diaphragm walls, piles, and ground around the deep excavation.

In-place inclinometer (IPI): It was installed in the D-wall at critical locations and monitored every two hours automatically to check the lateral movements.

Vibrating wire Piezometer: Multilevel vibrating wire Piezometers were used to monitor the groundwater pressures around the station area at various ground strata.

Standpipe Piezometer: They were installed in the ground around the station’s excavation and within the excavation to monitor the groundwater level.

Surface settlement points: It was installed in soil and pavement to monitor surface settlement around excavation works.

Building settlement points: These points were installed at each building within the zone of influence to monitor its settlement.

Prism targets: Prism targets and mini-prism targets were installed on critical buildings and D-wall for 3D deformation monitoring.

Doha Metro Qatar Monitoring Instrumentation

Tilt meters: Tilt plates were installed on critical buildings close to the excavation works. A portable tilt meter was used to record tilt readings.

Crack meters: Installed at existing building cracks to monitor variation in crack width during excavation works

Load cell: Load Cells were installed on ground anchors to monitor load.

Automatic data acquisition systems and compact data loggers: For automatic monitoring of IPIs, vibrating wire piezometers, and load cells.

The experienced and proficient I&M team of Encardio Rite has been providing services for almost 4 years. Monitoring reports included interpretations of variations observed in instrument data, mentioning the factors likely to affect their behaviour e.g. construction, dewatering, third-party activities, etc. were provided to the contractor on a regular basis.

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