Kansai International Airport (Phase-I) Foundation Case Study

ByRajul Teredesai

CE 5333-Foundation EngineeringSpring 2005

Overview

Kansai International Airport (KIA)

Key Features Located on a biggest man-made island in

Osaka Bay, Japan Constructed cost over $14 billion The island of 4 X 1 km, constructed in

around 18m of water, entirely from landfill Project Started in 1986 Opened for flights in 1996 The ASCE named KIA the #2 civil

engineering project of the 20th century, second only to the Panama Canal

Kansai Airport Aerial View

Construction of Airport

Stage Activity Time

I Subsurface Investigation 1 year

II Sea Wall Construction 2 years

III Landfilling 4 years

IV Terminal Construction 2 years

Encasement

The cover consists of

82,000 identical stainless steel

panels. His form was

suggested by channeling the internal airflow.

Subsurface of the Kansai Airport Foundation

Seawall Construction

Up to 40 ft. above sea level Tripod blocks on seaward side for

dissipation of wave energy

Seawall After Completion

Seawall Construction

Mechanism of Sand Drains

Advantage of Sand Drains

The weight of the piled sand forces the water in the clay to move outward along the sand piles.

Application of One Million Sand Drain at KIA

Reclamation Three distinct

grades of sand, gravel and rock from nearby mountains

Four years and 750 million cubic feet of fill

Transportation on Ground: Conveyor Water: Barges

KIA Terminal Building

Architect: Renzo Piano

“Kansai is a precision instrument, the son of math and technology. A strong point of reference, a landmark and an extraordinary spatial experience.”

Renzo Piano

(Renzo Piano Building

Workshop/Ove Arup &

Partners.)

References

A report by Justin Phalen, UC-Davis, 2002

The official website of KIA http://www.kald.co.jp/eindexframe.html

Questions?