Surface Transport Master Plan

Addendum 3 Transit Corridor Safeguarding

October 2008

Department of Transport
PO Box 20
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Surface Transport
Master Plan
Addendum 3 - Transit
Corridor Safeguarding
Basis of Design
October 2008

Mott MacDonald Ltd

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List of Contents
1

Page

Introduction

1.1

Abbreviations

Design Codes and Standards

Design Life

Ground Conditions

Structural Analysis and Design

5.1

Limit State Analysis

5.2

Geotechnical Analysis

5.3

Modelling

5.4

Analysis of Vertical Stability

5.5

Analysis of Structural Capacity

Alignment and Rail Systems Design

Fire and Life Safety Design

Architectural Design

Mechanical and Electrical Design

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Conclusion

Tables
Table 1.1: List of Abbreviations

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Introduction

This document outlines the high level design codes and standards that should be used in the
preliminary design of the Abu Dhabi Transit Systems (Abu Dhabi Rail, Abu Dhabi Metro and Abu
Dhabi Trams). This report also gives guidance on the design principles to be adopted in the
preliminary design calculations.
The disciplines which should be considered as part of the preliminary design are:

Alignment;

Civil works;

Structural Works;

Architecture;

Mechanical and Electrical Works;

Safety.

At present, drawing no. 243011/PW/ABU/001 (Rev P01) is being used to safeguard the transit
corridors. Subject to changes from ongoing detailed studies to the proposed scheme, the drawing and
this report will be updated as necessary.
It should also be noted that the Department of Transports Public Transport Planning Guidelines is
currently being updated by a separated study team.
1.1

Abbreviations

The abbreviations listed in Table 1.1 are used in this document:

Axial Force

AFC

Automatic Fare Collection

BM

Bending Moment

GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

LRT

Light Rail Transit

M&E

Mechanical and Electrical

NDIA

New Doha International Airport

NFPA

National Fire Protection Association

OLE

Overhead Line Equipment

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PSD

Platform Screen Door

SLS

Serviceability Limit State

TIS

Technical Specifications for Interoperability

UIC

International Union of Railways

ULS

Ultimate Limit State

Design Codes and Standards

The preliminary design should be carried out in compliance with the requirements of Abu Dhabi
Municipality Guidelines and Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, and in accordance with the following Codes
and Standards. This document outlines the high level design codes and standards as follows:

United Arab Emirates Law and Statutory Regulations and Construction Specifications;

Requirements of the European Standards in the Eurocode family;

Eurocode 0: Basis of Design Structures;

Eurocode 1: Actions on Structures;

Eurocode 2: Design of Concrete Structures;

Eurocode 3: Design of Steel Structures;

Eurocode 7: Geotechnical Design;

Eurocode 8: Design of Structures for Earthquake Resistance;

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 130 - Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and
Passenger Rail Systems;

The International Union of Railways (UIC) Standards;

European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TIS) Standards for Railways.

Each design discipline report will contain a comprehensive list of design codes and standards which
should be used in the future design calculations.

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Design Life

The design life of the permanent civil works including the stations and the tunnel structures shall be
100 years, however for certain replaceable components the life time will be less. The design life of the
temporary structures and support systems will be defined such that the structural stability is not
compromised until all permanent works are completed.

Ground Conditions

Full details of the geology and the geotechnical parameters can be found in the Geotechnical
Interpretative Report, within 2 weeks.

Structural Analysis and Design

5.1

Limit State Analysis

Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS) load combinations should be
analysed for shear, axial force and bending moments based on the expected foundation conditions and
the requirements of Eurocode 7.
The structural behaviour in the ULS shall be analysed with regard to:

Safety against structural failure;

Deformation and rotation capacity against local mechanisms;

Static equilibrium of the whole structure;

The structural behaviour in the SLS shall be analysed with regard to:

Stress limitations;

Crack widths;

Water resistance;

Deflections;

The global design analyses performed to determine the global force effects for the station and tunnel
structures should be based on linear elastic models, using the appropriate material properties.
Local analysis in the Serviceability Limit State shall be based on elastic behaviour. For local analysis
in the Ultimate Limit State, plastic behaviour may be assumed.

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5.2

Geotechnical Analysis

Geotechnical design should be based on the requirements of Eurocode 7, and will cover the following
design activities:

5.3

Temporary embedded retaining wall design;

Design to consider accidental strut removal;

Design to consider unplanned excavation;

Bending Moment (BM), Shear Force (SF) and Axial Force (AF) calculations;

Cut-off wall;

Temporary strut loads;

Bearing capacity and settlement check;

Floatation check, including tension pile design if required;

Provide vertical and horizontal displacement due to excavation;

The global behaviour of the station boxes and tunnel structures will need to be idealised for the
analysis using 2D plane frame and line beam models respectively. The tunnel foundation should be
represented as a series of discrete spring supports. The effects of unevenness of support, and variation
in support stiffness, will need to be investigated.
The effects of friction between the structural walls and the surrounding soil will need to be taken into
account. The frictional resistance at the soil/structure interface under the application of external
loadings or movements which may reduce the beneficial effect of axial compression on section
capacities will have to be considered.
5.4

Analysis of Vertical Stability

The vertical stability of the tunnel structures and the station boxes will have to be considered taking
into account all possible loads throughout the design life of the structures, during construction and in
permanent condition.
The uplift forces due to water pressure should be resisted by a combination of the self-weight of the
structures, the weight of fill above the structures and if required, the extension of the base slabs as toes
into the surrounding soil to mobilise more soil weight. If deemed necessary, tension piles may be
utilised to increase resistance to uplift.
The minimum safety against uplift during construction shall be determined prior to the
commencement of the detailed design, on the basis of an assessment of the actual method and the
uncertainties of the water level.

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In the permanent situation the minimum factor of safety against uplift shall be 1.10.
5.5

Analysis of Structural Capacity

The design of reinforced concrete structures should be in accordance with Eurocode 2 part 1: Design
of Concrete Structures.
The main issues which have to be addressed for the station boxes and the tunnel concrete structures
are:

The design for water resistance and durability;

The calculation and limitation of crack widths;

The inclusion of imposed deformation;

The effects of cracked cross sections on the force distribution.

Special requirements for earthquake analysis should be taken into account as necessary as per the
requirements of Eurocode 8 supplemented by the requirements of the Department of Transport.

Alignment and Rail Systems Design

The alignment and rail systems design should be in accordance with UIC standards. The design will
have to consider the interfaces with the existing infrastructure and the planned infrastructure and
developments in line with the Abu Dhabi 2030 Masterplan.
The design of the Abu Dhabi Rail should be such that it is interoperable with the future GCC railway.
The design of any high speed express line to Dubai should consider what maximum operational speed
is reasonably practicable for the relatively short distance where it will be able to reach its maximum
speed.
The Abu Dhabi Rail gauge should be developed on the basis of the largest European gauge. This
gauge will ensure that the majority of heavy rail rolling stock can be accommodated. In accordance
with the requirements for UIC 505 series and TSI, it is proposed that a maximum cant of 150mm is
adopted. A gauge development study will allow for the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), trackform
and emergency and maintenance walkways to be designed accordingly.
Based on similar principles, the Metro gauge will follow UIC standards and allow for a wide range of
possible rolling stock.
The Abu Dhabi Rail and Metro geometric through alignment, geometry of switches and crossings will
be designed using standards which satisfy the UIC and TSI. The alignment design will need to be
supplemented by concept signalling and controls design to demonstrate that the line speeds are
achievable.

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Fire and Life Safety Design

Fire and life safety requirements in NFPA 130 should be the basis for the design.
The fundamental approach to fire safety in station design is to limit the potential for a fire event in the
public circulation areas by restricting the use of combustible construction and finishes, and to protect
against the spread of a fire that might occur in subsidiary occupancies by requiring automatic fire
suppression and/or fire separation for such areas. These measures will reduce fire risk in station
public and subsidiary areas arising from station construction or contents.
The most significant potential fire event in a station is a train fire. A train fire could involve a larger
potential occupant load in that both the train and station occupants would require evacuation. Based
on this concept, the station means of egress and fire safety systems should be designed to anticipate
evacuation from and response to a train on fire in the station. Additionally, where station
configuration limits natural dispersion of smoke from a train fire to the atmosphere, mechanical smoke
control will be required to maintain tenability of the egress routes.
Based on the above principles, in relation to the conditions arising from a major fire event, the design
will need to consider:

Ease of movement for tunnel and station users during evacuation;

Ease of access for fire fighters;

Availability of safety systems and services during an incident;

Integrity of the fixings of major items of plant, such as ventilation fans;

Integrity of the structures.

Architectural Design

The station designs should focus on the key design principles for a world class rail system. The
designs will need to consider the following:

Design development provision for M&E design to both back of house and front of house
areas. Continuation of detail design for front of house service reticulation and coordination
with structural and architectural design;

Development and refinement of passenger traffic analysis (STEPS, pedroute etc.) including
station sizing, platform widths and circulation, numbers of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC)
gates, escalators, ticket machines etc., in order to verify and confirm the station platform
widths and adequate passenger flow;

Development and refinement of fire and life safety strategy and exiting analysis to verify and
confirm adequate stairs, escalators, and egress path dimensions;

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Design development of the station interior architecture, ventilation shaft structures, urban
design principles and landscape design, together with structural and M&E ventilation design
integration and incorporation of flood protection datum;

Integration of dimensional requirement for vertical circulation elements, escalator machine

Preliminary consideration of maintenance strategy for access to clean and maintainable floors,
walls and ceiling, including vertical circulation and access to concealed service areas of the
station;

Develop artificial lighting design strategy including daylight studies to proposed skylights;

Preliminary room acoustics review identifying area of sound absorption requirements and
impact on materials selection;

Integration of system wide components including Platform Screen Door (PSD) installations
and their support and movement requirements etc., as well as confirmation of dimensions for
ticket machines and AFC gates;

Mechanical and Electrical Design

The design of mechanical and electrical systems for the station box and tunnels will be based on the
life and fire safety and architectural provisions to achieve a safe and comfortable rail system for the
users. The design items to be considered are:

Ventilation system;

Lighting;

Water services;

Drainage;

Communications and controls systems;

Power supply and distribution;

Platform screen doors;

Lifts and escalators;

Operation, inspection and maintenance.

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Conclusion

This document has highlighted the main codes and standards which should be used for the design of
the stations for the Abu Dhabi Rail and Metro system. It should be noted that the list of Codes of
Practice mentioned in this document is not exhaustive and additional standards should be employed
where necessary. In this case, the proposed codes should be deferred and agreed with Department of
Transport prior to adoption.

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