Burj Khalifah | Rahasia Fondasinya yang luar biasa kuat

Summary

The Burj Khalifa’s foundation design was a monumental engineering challenge due to the loose, sandy terrain in Dubai. Engineers tackled issues like soil compression, incorporating innovative techniques like thin, sharp piles to enhance frictional resistance. The construction required precise work in extreme heat, with challenges like water intrusion during drilling. Additionally, an advanced cathodic protection system was employed to prevent corrosion, ensuring the building’s longevity. With storm-proof design features and continuous electricity to protect its foundation, the Burj Khalifa stands as a marvel of engineering that withstands both environmental and technical challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Burj Khalifa's foundation design is built to withstand extreme environmental conditions, including sandstorms with wind speeds of up to 100 km/h.
• 😀 The foundation's depth is equivalent to 10 stories, and its structural integrity is crucial for the stability of the tallest building in the world.
• 😀 Engineers faced a significant challenge in finding solid ground beneath Dubai's loose sand and sediment; they resorted to using piles for additional stability.
• 😀 The piles used in the foundation penetrate the soft ground, relying on friction to distribute the building's weight and prevent settlement.
• 😀 Concrete pouring for the foundation was done at night to avoid the intense daytime heat in Dubai, with ice mixed into the concrete to ensure proper setting.
• 😀 The construction process of the foundation was completed in four stages, each requiring 24 hours for concrete to set.
• 😀 Burj Khalifa's foundation had to withstand salty groundwater, which could corrode the steel reinforcement; a cathodic protection system was employed to prevent corrosion.
• 😀 The cathodic protection system relies on electrical currents to prevent corrosion, but it requires careful monitoring to avoid hydrogen embrittlement of the metal.
• 😀 The building’s ability to withstand strong winds (up to 240 km/h) was optimized by adjusting the placement of piles and the structural design.
• 😀 The entire foundation construction process, including the use of advanced techniques like using self-compacting concrete (SCC) and pile testing, took around 2 years to complete.

Q & A

Why is the Burj Khalifa's foundation so crucial for its stability?

The foundation of the Burj Khalifa is essential because the building is located in Dubai, where the ground is loose sand and sedimentary rock. Without a robust foundation, the skyscraper would be at risk of sinking or toppling due to its immense weight, especially given the challenges posed by strong winds and unstable soil.

How do engineers deal with the soft soil in Dubai when constructing large buildings like Burj Khalifa?

Engineers tackle the soft soil problem by using deep foundations, such as reinforced concrete piles, that penetrate through the soft layers and reach deeper, more stable ground. Additionally, they use techniques like friction piles to distribute the load and prevent settlement.

What role does the friction between soil and piles play in the foundation design?

Friction between the soil and the piles helps stabilize the building by transferring the weight of the structure to the surrounding soil. The deeper the piles go, the greater the friction, which helps prevent excessive sinking or movement.

Why is it important for the Burj Khalifa to be continuously supplied with electricity?

The continuous electricity supply is necessary to maintain the cathodic protection system of the foundation, which prevents corrosion of the steel reinforcement inside the piles. Without this constant power, seawater from the Persian Gulf could seep into the foundation and cause damage.

How did engineers prevent the collapse of the Burj Khalifa's foundation in Dubai’s challenging soil conditions?

Engineers prevented collapse by using a combination of deep piles and advanced techniques like mixing concrete with ice to ensure the piles were poured correctly despite high temperatures. They also introduced a cathodic protection system to guard against corrosion from salty groundwater.

What unique challenges did engineers face when pouring concrete for Burj Khalifa's foundation?

The challenges included working in extreme heat (up to 40°C), and the fact that concrete poured in such conditions could crack or weaken. To overcome this, engineers worked at night and used special concrete that was mixed with ice to control the temperature during pouring.

What is the role of the titanium mesh in the cathodic protection system of the Burj Khalifa?

The titanium mesh serves as an anode in the cathodic protection system, where it works to prevent corrosion of the steel reinforcements in the foundation by attracting electrons from the cathode, thus protecting the structural integrity of the piles.

Why was it essential to optimize the amount of electricity used for cathodic protection?

Optimizing electricity is crucial because both over-supply and under-supply of current can cause problems. Too much current can lead to hydrogen embrittlement, weakening the metal, while too little can result in corrosion, compromising the stability of the foundation over time.

How do engineers ensure the foundation piles remain stable despite shifting sand and strong winds?

The foundation piles are designed to be deep and reinforced with concrete and steel to withstand shifting sands. Additionally, the building's design accounts for wind forces, with the structure engineered to endure winds up to 240 km/h, preventing instability from wind forces or shifting soil.

What would happen if the Burj Khalifa’s foundation had used a typical foundation design instead of the one developed by Bill Baker?

Had the Burj Khalifa used a typical foundation design, it would have likely faced catastrophic failure due to the soft, unstable soil in Dubai. The innovative solution of using deep friction piles allowed for the building's weight to be safely distributed, preventing sinking or shifting under its massive load.