Pendik / Istanbul
Site Conditions
- Need to expand the safety area (runway end safety area; RESA) provided to reduce the risk of aircraft overrunning the runway beyond the braking distance
- Construction of a three-tier embankment structure with a total height of approximately 25 metres was planned
- The subsurface soil profile consists of soft clay strata with low bearing capacity and high settlement potential
- Due to airport operational safety requirements on the project site located along the runway corridor, the use of pile rigs and other high-boom equipment was not permitted; therefore, pile foundation and ground improvement solutions could not be implemented
Designed Solution
- Construction of the RESA area fills using geofoam block lightweight fill technology
Advantages of the Applied Geotechnology
- By minimizing the increase in vertical stresses caused by embankment construction, foundation settlements were kept within allowable limits.
Performance Under Service Loads
- A comprehensive instrumentation program was implemented using settlement plates.
