GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE KARST AREAS IN DALMATIA (CROATIA)

Abstract

The paper deals with engineering geological characteristics of karst (karstified) terrain, with problems caused by the presence of caverns and small caves with thin vaults, and the possibilities and methods of studying such phenomena. The paper also presents a possible method of solving the interaction between underground caves located immediately below the surface and the construction of roads by applying the finite elements method, with the solution illustrated by an actual example. In addition, the second example presents a solution for the road location and its basic structure above the cave in the slope of the road cut.

Keywords

• cavern
• road
• karst
• limestone
• collapse
• finite element method
• modeling