A large development of several thousand new homes is being built next to an existing town in southern England. The project is expected to take several years to complete. During the original site investigation, boreholes suggested a uniform geology with Chalk (limestone) rock at depth, overlain by clay and then sand. Based on this, the site was classified after Eurocode as Category 1 (low risk). Three years into the project, a collapse sinkhole occurs in the first area of housing to have been built and occupied. The sinkhole has damaged a road called Quarry Close but, fortunately, no houses or the nearby primary school have yet shown signs of subsidence. Road access to several houses and the school is now impossible. A number of broken pipes are visible in the sides of the hole. Several cracks have developed in the area around the sinkhole. An engineer working nearby quickly assesses the site and sends the sketch plan and cross-section provided in Figure A1 below to a company that specialises in sinkholes for advice. a. Discuss what factors may have caused a sinkhole to occur at the site and suggest what immediate action should be taken. b. The development company is concerned that the original site investigation was not conducted properly and there is a risk of more sinkholes in the next area where houses will be built. Discuss how the risk can be properly assessed and what long term solutions might be possible.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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A large development of several thousand new homes is being built next to an
existing town in southern England. The project is expected to take several years
to complete. During the original site investigation, boreholes suggested a uniform
geology with Chalk (limestone) rock at depth, overlain by clay and then sand.
Based on this, the site was classified after Eurocode as Category 1 (low risk).
Three years into the project, a collapse sinkhole occurs in the first area of housing
to have been built and occupied. The sinkhole has damaged a road called Quarry
Close but, fortunately, no houses or the nearby primary school have yet shown
signs of subsidence. Road access to several houses and the school is now
impossible. A number of broken pipes are visible in the sides of the hole. Several
cracks have developed in the area around the sinkhole.
An engineer working nearby quickly assesses the site and sends the sketch plan
and cross-section provided in Figure A1 below to a company that specialises in
sinkholes for advice.
a. Discuss what factors may have caused a sinkhole to occur at the site and
suggest what immediate action should be taken.
b. The development company is concerned that the original site investigation was
not conducted properly and there is a risk of more sinkholes in the next area
where houses will be built. Discuss how the risk can be properly assessed and
what long term solutions might be possible.
Transcribed Image Text:A large development of several thousand new homes is being built next to an existing town in southern England. The project is expected to take several years to complete. During the original site investigation, boreholes suggested a uniform geology with Chalk (limestone) rock at depth, overlain by clay and then sand. Based on this, the site was classified after Eurocode as Category 1 (low risk). Three years into the project, a collapse sinkhole occurs in the first area of housing to have been built and occupied. The sinkhole has damaged a road called Quarry Close but, fortunately, no houses or the nearby primary school have yet shown signs of subsidence. Road access to several houses and the school is now impossible. A number of broken pipes are visible in the sides of the hole. Several cracks have developed in the area around the sinkhole. An engineer working nearby quickly assesses the site and sends the sketch plan and cross-section provided in Figure A1 below to a company that specialises in sinkholes for advice. a. Discuss what factors may have caused a sinkhole to occur at the site and suggest what immediate action should be taken. b. The development company is concerned that the original site investigation was not conducted properly and there is a risk of more sinkholes in the next area where houses will be built. Discuss how the risk can be properly assessed and what long term solutions might be possible.
Figure A1: For question A1. Plan view and cross-section sketches of the sinkhole
site and the surrounding area
Plan view:
5
B
SNKHOLE
4
SCHOOL
3
CAACKS
Cross-section view:
WEST
EAST
Position of
STE INVEST atat
SCHOOL
BUILONG
ROAD SURFACE
SAND
COACKS
CLAS
10m -
DRAINAGE
CHALK
Transcribed Image Text:Figure A1: For question A1. Plan view and cross-section sketches of the sinkhole site and the surrounding area Plan view: 5 B SNKHOLE 4 SCHOOL 3 CAACKS Cross-section view: WEST EAST Position of STE INVEST atat SCHOOL BUILONG ROAD SURFACE SAND COACKS CLAS 10m - DRAINAGE CHALK
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