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Geotechnical Features of Sochi Olympic Facilities Project Designs
Les aspects géotechniques de la conception des installations olympiques de Sochi
Petrukhin V.P., Kolybin I.V., Budanov V.G., Isaev О.N., Kisin B.F., Bokov I.A.
Gersevanov Research Institute of Foundations and Underground Structures (NIIOSP), Moscow, Russia
ABSTRACT: The key facilities of the XXII-th Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi have been erected on the Imeretin lowland,
characterized by complicated geological environment and high seismicity. Leading Russian organizations have been invited to tackle
the related geotechnical issues. The paper describes specific aspects of geotechnical design of the Olympic facilities. There have been
reviewed project design solutions for the footings of buildings, structures and underground service lines, developed either by NIIOSP
or with its participation.
RÉSUMÉ : Les importantes installations des XXII
èmes
Jeux Olympiques de Sochi en 2014 ont été réalisées dans la plaine d’Imeretin,
caractérisée par un environnement géologique complexe et une sismicité élevée. Les autorités Russes ont été invitées à résoudre les
problèmes géotechniques posés par ce projet. Cet article présente les particularités de la conception géotechnique des ouvrages
Olympiques: les solutions adoptées pour les projets de fondations, de bâtiments et de lignes des services, développés par le NIIOSP
ou avec sa participation.
KEYWORDS: OLYMPIC FACILITIES, IMERETIN LOWLAND, DESINGING, FOOTINGS, SOFT SOILS, SEISMICITY.
1
INTRODUCTION
In 2014 Russia will host the XXII-th Winter Olympic Games
and the XI-th ParaOlympic Games to be held in Sochi which
has humid subtropical climate.
The Olympic sports and infrastructure facilities are divided
into two clusters: coastal and mountainous. The paper is
dedicated to the geotechnical issues of Olympic facilities
erection in the coastal cluster, which includes 6 main sport
palaces, IOC quaters, hotels and tourist attractions. The coastal
Olympic cluster is located on 1240 Ha up to 2 km wide Imeretin
lowland terrain that extends 7 km along the coast (Fig.1).
Тhe terrain is protected against cold winds by the Greater
Caucausus Mountain Ridge so the winters here are not cold.
The area features subtropical climate of Mediterranian type.
Mean annual air temperature is + 13,7º С. The coldest month is
January with mean air temperature + 5,3º С.
The mountainous cluster, where ski and biathlon
competitions will be held and a ski jump and a bobsleigh center,
are located at 48 km from the main Olympic facilities.
The seaside cluster terrain is a flatland, transferring into a
gently sloping hillside piedmont. The geological survey of
deposits down to 50 m (Fig. 2) depth revealed occurrence of
several lithological features, represented by soft soils (peat, silt,
including peat-containing clay soils of liquid-plastic
consistence), sand loams, sands (from fine to coarse-grained
composition), by gravel and pebble containing soils. Young
modulus of soft soil which is present in most of the seaside area
rarely exceeds 5 MPa value. Ground water table is just 1...3 m
below ground surface.
The area seismicity magnitude is 9 i.e. extreme seismic risk.
The soils on the site belong to seismic class II (sand loams,
gravel pebble soils) and class III (water-saturated sands and soft
clays).
More than 100 various buildings and structures are being
built within the area.
The main Olympic sports facilities are erected on 240 Ha.
area of “Olympic Park”. This is the 40000 seats central Olympic
stadium, a 12000 seats Big ice hockey arena, 12000 seats Ice
sports palace with 60 х 20 m arena, a training rink for figure
skating and for short track skating with 60 х 30 m arena, 8000
seats Indoor skating center, 7000 seats Ice hockey area, Ice
arena for curling (see Fig.1). Auxiliary facilities are being built
on the western side of the “Olympic Park” – IOC hotel, hotels
for the Olympic family and ParaOlympic committee, technical
and international zones, a service center. Media Center, 3*, 4*,
5* hotels and various auxiliary buildings are located to the east
of the Olympic Park.
The lowland ground is slightly above the sea level, 1,5…4,0
m on the average. Large areas are subjected to flooding and
waterlogging. Prior to construction works it was planned to
protect the area from waterlogging and preserve existing ground
water table. Thus the area was filled up to 2,5 ÷ 3,5 m average
level with drainage at the bottom of the fill. The drainage
ensures an excess of the fresh ground water table above the sea
level that prevents sea water intrusion into the deposit rock. In
order to avoid salination of ground water the depth of drainage
is limited by at least 0.6 m level above the sea. This condition
is maintained by limiting fresh water consumption especially in
summer and autumn periods, which may be compensated from
water supply system or other sources in the event of
overconsumption.
Upfilling the terrain level prior to construction activities in
the areas of soft clay soils, peat and peat-containing soils results
in long-term settlements due to soft clayey soil consolidation.
