Consistency and repeatability in the analyses
and design are very important as there are many
engineering personnel working on the same
project, doing similar types of analyses and
designs for similar structures or foundations,
albeit with some modifications and at different
geographical locations. The challenges are
even more prominent for projects constructed
in limestone with infamous karstic features as
shown in Figure 1.
The standardisation of the design processes
leads to a more systematic and effective training
of engineering personnel to carry out their
work. The trained engineering personnel will be
able to produce consistent, quality works with
fewer errors. This will ultimately lead to higher
efficiency and ensure completion of the works in
a timely manner. Efficiency will also lead to less
resources required for the same task and be more
economical. Without systematic and streamlined
processes, there will be potential problems of
resource wastages, delays or even failures.
Figure 2 shows an example of a flow chart
presenting the key processes that need to be
carried out by the engineers for the analyses
and designs of deep excavation works (e.g. MRT
underground station). There are more details and
guidelines that the engineers can refer to for each
process stated in the flow chart. These design
processes were used to design two underground
stations in KVMRT2-SSP Line, namely the Chan
Sow Lin Station and Conlay Station. The photo
taken by the drone operated by MMC-GAMUDA
KVMRT (T) Sdn Bhd JV (MGKT) for the Chan Sow
Lin underground station is shown in Figure 3 while
Figure 4 shows the photo of Conlay underground
station at night. Figure 5 shows the Three-
Dimensional Finite Element Method (3-D FEM)
modelling of a section of Conlay underground
station.
These systematic processes can only be
successfully achieved by a team of engineers
who are properly guided and trained by the
project leaders and design managers. Integrated
engineering mega projects not only combine the
engineers’ technical brilliance and experiences,
but also require them to have the following
attributes to ensure success:
a. willingness to share their skills and
experiences;
b. willingness to train the engineers working
with them;
c. developing a systematic, consistent and
repeatable design process (e.g. flow
charts, checklists, list of do’s and don’ts,
design manuals, excel spreadsheets,
software application procedures, analyses
and design methodologies, verification
processes, etc.) so that the engineering
team working under them can perform
their duty with efficiency and consistency
to ensure quality of work;
d. carrying out systematic checks and
reviews of analyses and designs including
input parameters, modelling, analyses,
results, specifications, drawings, method
statements, etc. to prevent errors;
e. guiding the team on design changes or
deviations encountered in the design
processes and during construction.
A systematic design process is also needed to
design the tunnelling works for KVMRT2-SSP Line.
Figures 6 and 7 show the tunnelling works.
Importance of Innovative Designs based
on fundamental Engineering Principles
One of the potential pitfalls faced by design
engineers working on mega infrastructure projects
is the over-reliance on existing analyses and design
methodologies instead of having an inquisitive
mindset to find out the fundamental engineering
principles behind the analyses and designs; then
trying to evolve and improve the methodologies
to suit their own project requirements and local
conditions.
It is important for an engineer to ensure
public safety through sound engineering designs
while complying to the standards or codes of
practice, which are mandated by law; and to use
available analyses and design methodologies
developed specifically for the project (e.g.
tunnelling design, underground excavation,
ground treatment and embankment designs,
bridges and viaducts, special structures,
etc.). Engineers must also continue revisiting
fundamental engineering principles to further
improve and remove unnecessary conservative or
obsolete methodologies. With the advancement
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