Characterization and Geotechnical Properties of Penang Residual Soils with Emphasis on Landslides

Abstract

Abstract:The predominantly hilly terrain of Penang Island combined with average maximum daily temperatures ranging between 27-35 o C and peak rainfall as high as 647 cm makes the overall area potentially susceptible to landslips. Over the recent past construction industry has shown a rapid growth mainly due to increase in the inflow of international tourists and other economic reasons. Eventually, the magnitude of disaster associated with landslides has also increased and that is one of the major concerns of engineering geologists and geotechnical engineers. With this background this paper attempts to characterize the largely granitic residual soils of Penang Island by discussing the nature, structural features, engineering behavior and field properties of soil samples extracted from 8 sites. These sites are distinctly chosen from a database of 31 sites for they are located over different prime geological formations. The mean values of various design properties at different depths are calculated and plotted to identify the property trend with depth and important behavioral features relevant to landslides are discussed. Similarly, compression index values are plotted against initial void ratio and liquid limit separately and resulting correlations are compared with the established ones. Correlations given by Azzous are found to hold good. Lastly, in the light of the lessons learnt from the past landslides and the current characterization results some improvements regarding slope instability problem are discussed.

Unusual developing sites of dengue vectors and potential epidemiological implications

“…albopictus has adapted to indoor environments in Penang State in 2009, a change likely to improve its capacity to spread disease, Aedes surveys have been conducted during the second half of 2010 in some parts of the island part of Penang State. Located in northern Malaysia, Penang Island has an area of 293 km 2 and lies between north latitudes 5曘8', 5曘35' and east longitudes 100 曘8', 100曘32' [24] . The island has a typical tropical equatorial climate with an average annual rainfall varying from 267 to 624 cm [24] .…”

“…Located in northern Malaysia, Penang Island has an area of 293 km 2 and lies between north latitudes 5曘8', 5曘35' and east longitudes 100 曘8', 100曘32' [24] . The island has a typical tropical equatorial climate with an average annual rainfall varying from 267 to 624 cm [24] . Penang Island has two typographically different landscapes-more than half of the west side of the island is forest and hilly, running north and south down the center of the island; a minor plains area with lowlands in the eastern side of the Island is occupied by human populations.…”

The biology and demographic parameters of Aedes albopictus in northern peninsular Malaysia

“…The climate of this region is typically equatorial, with a mean annual rainfall of about 2 600 mm. The mean maximum daily ambient temperature and relative humidity are 35 曟 and 96%, respectively, while minimum values are 23 曟 and 60% [22] . The premise comprises administrative buildings, parking sites, restaurants and is associated with wooded areas formed of trees and herbaceous plants.…”

Prediction of Soil Anisotropic Stress-Strain Behaviour Incorporating Shear Strength Using Improvise Normalised Stress-Strain Method

“…Collapsible soil deposits, share two main features mainly loose cemented deposits, and naturally quite dry. Collapsible soil can bear a large applied vertical stress with small amount of compression, but then showed larger settlement when wet, with no rise in vertical stress [2].…”