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Types of foundation and the Marriott Hotel
DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to Mr. Sohan’s letter in KN dated 25/02/14, re: Mr. Allsopp’s earlier letter about the recent flooding in Georgetown and the location of new Marriott Hotel, and to state that it would be more appropriate for Mr. Allsopp as a soil expert to comment on the type of foundation designed for this structure by the Chinese, rather than dabbling in D and I where he has little experience.
This type of foundation known as caissons are normally designed and built on rock foundation and not on a clay foundation. I believe in the Marriot’s case it is probably founded on the coropina clay below and I have doubts in my mind about the piling bearing ability to sustain the loadings if this is the case.
Normally in Guyana timber or concrete piles are designed to be supported by adhesion and some end bearing in the coropina clay. I would like to comment more if I can see the drawings and know how the piling works were carried out.
As the engineer who was involved in the construction of the Georgetown Sea Defence in 1972, if you have erosion in front of the Marriott all you have to do is continue the sea defence construction westwards.
I would also welcome comments from other soil experts in Guyana as well.
Malcolm Alli
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