Synopsis

This half-day short course will cover some key elements of the rock mass for underground construction. It aims to provide a link between the knowledge of geology and its engineering applications in underground construction. It will present and discuss systematically the fundamentals of engineering geology, also covers the engineering uses of both soil and rocks, the theory and practice in site investigations for underground construction and rock mass classification methods. The course will discuss on the Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Q-system and rock joint characterization techniques for site investigation. Mapping techniques, core logging interpretation, and so- called  'histogram-logging'  will be explained.  

The lecture will provide a case history of the use of rock mass rating for the determination of tunnel primary support in the construction of two drill & blast tunnels near Taiping, namely Bukit Berapit Tunnel and Larut Tunnel. The railway tunnels were completed in 2014 and are now in operation.  The lecture will cover a brief description of the tunnel project and the method use in the determination of tunnel primary support from tunnel face mapping, determination of rock Geological Strength Index (GSI) using RMR method and correlation of GSI to the tunnel support class. The range of support class from umbrella arch with steel ribs for soil section to rock bolting/shotcrete for rock will also be discussed.


Biodata of Speaker

1) Rini Asnida Abdullah

Rini Asnida Abdullah is Senior Lecturer and Post-Graduate Coordinator Programme (Geotechnics) of Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). She obtained her Bachelor and Master degree in Geotechnics from UTM in year 2001 and 2006. And she received her Ph.D degree in Rock Mechanics from University of Leeds, United Kingdom in 2012. Before joining the UTM as the academic staff in 2003, she has 3     years working experience with the Minconsult Sdn. Bhd. and Public Work Department. She has been supervising 2 Ph.D. and 14 Master students, while
published in the peer-reviewed domestic and international journal articles, including the conference presentations. Her research interests include rock mass classification, rock slope modelling, rock fractures and fragmentation, underground excavation and blasting. Her contribution in the rock mechanics field has been recognized twice in the Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium as one of the award recipients, from the International Society of Rock Mechanics (ISRM). She served as an editor board member of Journal of Geotechnical Engineering and Jurnal Teknologi (Special Issue). She is currently a Secretary-General of the ISRM Malaysia National Group and Technical Committee of Tunneling and Underground Space Technical Division (TUSTD) of Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM).


2) Mr. Roziahisham bin Ab Wahid

Mr. Roziahisham bin Ab Wahid was graduated on 1999 with BSc. in Applied Geology from UniMalaya KL. Normal member of IGM and GSM, he is currently with the Underground Tunnel Department of MRTCorp KL, looking after the geotechnical and engineering geological aspect of tunneling  and related structures throughout Line 1 SBK tunnel, which were  drilled through TBMs and D&B methods. He is currently busy with the KL MRT Line 2 SSP (Sg. Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya) on planning, study and investigation works on the tunnel alignment and surface excavation, with construction works scheduled for commencement by 2017. Previously he was involved in hydroelectric power dam and water transfer tunnels i.e Ulu Jelai HEP under SMEC in Cameron Highland, Pahang Selangor Raw Water Transfer under SMHB in Karak- Ulu Langat, Ulu Balleh HEP Feasibility Study under GHD in Sarawak & Triang Water Transfer Tunnel with Ultra C&E of South Korea in Negeri Sembilan.  Earlier, he spent couple of years as mudlogger in the O&G upstream exploration and development sector after a long stint with Kumpulan Ikram at the Geotechnical Forensic Investigation Unit. He was one of the key members for the National Slope Master Plan for PWD from IKRAM, as he also involved with slope mitigation and geotechnical forensic investigations, as well as excavatability assessments on the in-dispute earth materials throughout the country.


3) Ir. Andrew Yeow

Ir. Andrew Yeow graduated from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) with Bachelor of Civil Engineering in 1990.  He is currently the Head of Geotechnical in MMC Gamuda KVMRT Sdn Bhd for the Sg Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya (SSP) Line Project.  He has over the years gained wide experience in design, construction supervision and design management in a wide range of large scale infrastructure projects, especially in geotechnical and tunneling works.  Some of the projects he had been  involved are KESAS Expressway, LDP Highway, Penchala Tunnel, Sg Selangor Dam and diversion tunnel, the SMART tunnel, Electrified Double Track Project between Ipoh and Padang Besar and KVMRT SBK Line.