Abstract
This case study highlights the importance of geotechnical investigations in the site selection, design and maintenance of life-line structures in multiple hazard prone areas.
The Boar River Pipeline, carrying part of Kingston’s water supply, was damaged by a debris flow originating on the eastern slope of Bromley Hill, following the passage of hurricane Gilbert over Jamaica on September 12, 1988. Regional and site-specific geotechical investigations indicate that landslides are ubiquitous in the region, especially on east-facing slopes, and that the slide which damaged the pipelnine is a relatively shallow failure. The slide may stabilize itself in the due course of time provided there are no extreme weather events. Artificial measures of slope stabilization are recommended as a short-term solution. However, since the entire slope is involved in sliding and favourable conditions for future failures exist in the area, the better approach would be to avoid the failed slope altogether and relocate the pipeline.
Résumé
L’exemple traité dans cet article met en évidence l’importance des études géotechniques pour le choix des sites destinés à recevoir des structures durables, ainsi que pour leur conception même et leur entretien.
La conduite de la Boar River qui achemine une partie de l’approvisionnement en eau de Kingston, a été endommagée par un coulée de débris qui s’est déclenchée sur la pente orientale de la Bromley Hill, suite au passage du cyclone Gilbert sur la Jamaïque le 12 septembre 1988. Des études géotechniques à l’échelle de la région et du site montrent que les glissements de terrain sont très répandus dans la région, en particulier sur les pentes orientées vers l’Est, et que le glissement qui a endommagé la conduite est relativement superficiel. Le glissement pourrait se stabiliser de lui-même avec le temps pourvu qu’el ne se produise pas d’événements météorologiques extrêmes. Des mesures de stabilisation de pente sont recommandée comme solution à court terme. Cependant, comme la pente tout entière est affectée de glissements et que des conditions favorables au déclenchement de nouvelles ruptures existent dans tout le secteur, la meilleure solution serait d’éviter l’ensemble de la pente et de réimplanter la conduite dans un autre site.
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AHMAD, R., Earle, A.H., Hugues, P. et al. Landslide damage to the board river water supply pipeline, Bromley Hill, Jamaica: Case study of a landslide caused by hurricane Gilbert (1988). Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 47, 59–70 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639594
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02639594