The influence of geological factors on geotechnical practice in Jeddah, Madinah and Tabuk, western Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

The cities of Jeddah.

Madinah and Tabuk are situated in three different geological settings in Western Saudi Arabia; 1) Jeddah is on the Red Sea coast within the coastal plain, called Tihama, 2) Madinah is in a depositional basin surrounded by lava plateaus within the Arabian Shield, and 3) Tabuk is in a depression north of the Shield.

These settings have led to the ground within the depths of gcotcchnicai interest to consist mainly of cohesion less soils of varying relative density in Jeddah, of clayey layers of varying swell potential in Madinah.

and of expansive shale in Tabuk.

These soils and the aggressive groundwater create certain geotechnical problems and influence the geotechnical practice in these cities in relation to site investigation, and foundation design and construction.

Solution of these problems often leads to appreciable increase in the cost of a project.