SYNOPSIS

Malaysia is well-known with mountainous terrain and tropical climate changes throughout the year. Under this situation, soil and rock slopes are prone to sudden failure shortly after intense rainstorms. These incidents have caused millions of dollars of damage to public and private properties every year.

Slope Stabilization of landslides, unstable soil and rock slopes is a significant challenge to Geotechnical Engineers. Generally, the stability of a slope will decrease with increasing slope angle. Present of underground water often plays a major role in slope failure, as it will increase the driving force by filling previously empty pore spaces and fractures by adding to the total weight of the subsoil. Increased of pore water pressure in slope can also decrease the shear strength of the slope material. Chemical weathering and unstable geological features will slowly weaken slope material, reducing its shear strength, thus reducing resisting forces.

Slope Stabilization design is unique as it required an evaluation in term of geology and geotechnical engineering study. In this talk, Ir. Raftah will share her technical experiences through geotechnical engineering related project.


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. RAFTAH MAHFAR holds Degree in Civil Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (1985) and Master of Science in Civil & Structural Engineering from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (1990). She has more than 29 years of technical experience in Geotechnical Engineering design and construction. Her project includes Upgrading of 50 km of Jalan Segamat-Tangkak, Construction of Access Road at Kompleks Istana Baru Terengganu, Slope Repair Works at Jalan Baru Naik Ke Bukit Fraser, Upgrading works of Jalan Persekutuan 3 Kuantan-Pekan, Electrified Double Track Project Ipoh to Padang Besar and etc.

Ir. Raftah is currently a Director of SCG Consultants Sdn. Bhd., a Structural, Civil, Infrastructure, Geotechnical and Railway Engineering Consultants. She is a Professional Engineer with Practicing Certificate with the Board of Engineers, Malaysia (BEM) and also the Interviewer and Reviewer for IEM’s Professional Engineer Interview. She has been actively participating in Committee member of IEM Women Engineers since year 2008, Committee member of IEM Standing Committee on Activities, Professional Practice and Welfare (2012/13). Presently, Ir. Raftah is the Past Immediate Chairman of IEM Women Engineers Section for Session 2015/2016.