MRT UNDERGROUND PROJECT AT KUALA LUMPUR

Introduction
Kuala Lumpur Congestion:Kuala Lumpur is a main attraction places which have a high capacity of residents and
tourist. Kuala Lumpur also known as the capital city of Malaysia. Other than residents and
tourist, KL also city with big amount of office building. These situation makes KL a city
which generated high number of capacity of road users. Issues that commonly occur in KL is
traffic congestion, either ingress to KL or egress from KL.

Solution:A few solutions are provided to decrease KL congestion. First of all reducing the usage of
personal vehicle and maximize the usage of public transport into KL city. For example
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur efforts on reducing personal car entries in KL is having a
car free day on Sunday every second and fourth weeks of the month.
Furthermore, to reduce or minimize the congestion in KL is by improving the public
transportation service. KL also known as the Metropolitan city of Malaysia with monorail,
underground train and intercity train. By improving these public transportation with comfort,
safety and increasing train capacity, people will be using public transportation to avoid traffic
jam and traffic congestion will be reduce.

Figure 1 MRT underground project at Kuala Lumpur

Principles of Engineering Economy

1. Develop the alternatives.
Issues:a. Sink hole
b. Blowout
Decision alternatives:a. New improvement technology (Variable Density TBM)
b. Soil treatment (jet grouting, compaction grouting, fissure grouting).
c. Services and repair for maintenances purpose only (no need to redesign).

2. Focus the differences.

a. New improvement technology (Variable Density TBM)
b. Soil treatment (jet grouting, compaction grouting, fissure grouting).

3. Use the consistent viewpoint.

a. New improvement technology (Variable Density TBM).
- Propose using the new TB Machine for type Variable Density and not for
-

Earth Pressure Balance for different soil condition.

Using specially trained skilled workers.
Using materials that have strength height.

b. Soil treatment (jet grouting, compaction grouting, fissure grouting).

Take time to design and prepare report and must submit & approve by the

local authorities.
Increasing costs and skilled workers during maintenance works.

4. Use the common unit of measure.

a. New improvement technology (Variable Density TBM).
-

Specially made for MRT project

To reduce blowout & sinkholes

Extended version of slurry TBM

Able to use high density slurry and prevent blowout of slurry to the surface.

b. Soil treatment (jet grouting, compaction grouting, fissure grouting).

Jet grouting
- Jet grouting is a construction process using a high kinetic energy jet of fluid to
-

break up and loosen the ground, and mix it with a thin slurry.
It is not truly grouting but rather a hydrodynamic mix-in-place technique

producing a soil-cement material.

It is suitable for mass treatment, linear treatment and inclusions, in soils of
good to poor groutability.

Compaction grouting
- Is a grouting technique that displaces and densifies loose granular soils,
reinforces fine grained soils and stabilizes subsurface voids or sinkholes, by
-

the staged injection of low-slump, low mobility aggregate grout.

The expansion of the low mobility grout bulbs displaces surrounding soils.
When performed in granular soil, compaction grouting increases the
surrounding soils density, friction angle and stiffness. Compaction grouting
has been used to increase bearing capacity, and decrease settlement and
liquefaction potential for planned and existing structures. In karst geologies,
compaction grouting has been used to treat existing sinkholes or to reduce the
sinkhole potential in sinkhole prone areas.

Fissure grouting

Fissure grouting / Rock grouting is typically performed to reduce the hydraulic

conductivity of, or more appropriately, across a rock mass by injection of grout
into the rock's joints and fissures. Grout curtains are constructed by successive
orders (primary, secondary, etc.) of drilling and grouting of multiple grout
holes, each of which is drilled, cleaned, water-tested and grouted - usually with
cement-based suspension grout - in sequence. With appropriate equipment,
personnel and instrumentation, a sophisticated grouting program can be
performed with verifiable results. Real time monitoring and recording of
pressures and flows allows for the adjustment and optimization of grouting
parameters in response to the evolving hydraulic signature of the rock mass.
Analysis of this recorded body of work, coupled with an appropriate number
of hydraulic conductivity tests, can unmistakably show the reduction in
hydraulic conductivity (measured in Lugeons) achieved over time and from
one stage of grouting to the next.

5. Consider all relevant criteria.

New improvement technology (Variable Density TBM).
-

Specially made for MRT project

To reduce blowout & sinkholes

Extended version of slurry TBM

Able to use high density slurry and prevent blowout of slurry to the surface.

6. Make a certainty explicit.

Advantages
- Reducing blowout and sinkholes.
- Able to use high density slurry.
- Less repair and maintenance needed.
- Higher durability.
Disadvantages
- High in cost.
- Need skilled workers.

7. Revisit a decision.

The best solution for this issue is by using the new technology which is by using
Variable Density TBM.