The Airport is Sinking!Valerie Burris & Julia Littlefield

Kansai International Airport

Background InformationBuilt to reduce noise pollution from current Osaka AirportBuilt on Existing LandfillFirst airport built on manmade islandIsland construction began in 1987Terminal Construction began in 1991Architect: Renzo Piano

Expected RisksEarthquakes: 1995 Kobe Earthquake nearly unscathyedExtreme High TidesProtests from Fishermen

Potential ProblemsTotal estimated sinkage: 11.5 meters over 50 yearsTwo years after the island was completed, sinkage was 8 meters

Why?Soft clay under the ocean floor could not support the islands weight

How could this have occurred?

Flashback Time

Construction Timeline1987-Start of the airport island seawall construction (January)

1987Start of the airport island seawall construction (January)

1991Completion of reclamation work on the airport island (December)

1994Completion of the Passenger Terminal Building (June)

Later in 1994Opening of the airport (September 4)

But Wait There is MoreThe Airport was sinking faster than expected.

The airport ha reportedly sunk 10 meters after the first 3 years of its construction. This is much faster than the initial expected rate of 11.5 meters in 50 years.

Total sinkage to date is 12.18 meters. Sinking has slowed. In 2003, total sinking was just 14 centimeters

Another concern is that the airport is also sinking unevenly which my cause the entire foundation to buckle.

What was to be done?The airport's operator is planning to spend 27 billion yen to protect the terminal buildings and refueling tanks from underground flooding. Pumps will also be installed in case flooding does occur. To counteract the uneven sinking columns supporting the building will be raised or shortened.

To absorb the sink a special hydraulic cylinder was made, with an ordinary length usually calculated

An intermediate support for the cylinder was made to slide, and the thimble rod is adjustable as a measure for the top clearance, since the wire rope length also varies

These are just some of the many actions being taken over time.

Cool Fact!After many counter measurements against sinking were made after 1994, KIX was awarded "Monuments of the Millennium" by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1999.

Whats Happening Now?This is a photo of the new terminal

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