Ground conditions in al-Madinah al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The Saudi Arabian City of Al-Madinah is situated in a depos-itional basin surrounded by lava plateaus and hills within the western part of the Arabian Shield.

Within a maximum depth of 45 m.

the sub-soil in Al-Madinah consists of nine soil types (one "fill", six natural cohesive and two cohesionless) and three rock types.

The cohesive soils vary from highly compressible organic clay and soft compressible/swelling grey-green clay to hard clay while the cohesionless soils are of medium to very dense relative density.

The rocks vary froin weak limestone to massive gabbrow.

The “fill" and some of the other soils occur at the top while the rocks occur either at depth or as isolated hilly outcrops.

Poor or problematic ground conditions are encountered down to a maximum depth of 15 m in some areas to the south, east and north-east of the Prophet's Mosque due to the presence of weak soils with high compressibility and/or swell potential.

Protective measures for foundation concrete and reinforcement are necessary due to aggressive ground conditions.

Ground water control measures are generally not required for usual constructions.