2026 Volume 21 Issue 3 Pages 347-357
Kobe Airport Island is a large artificial island constructed on a seabed at a water depth of 15–17m. Significant differential settlement was anticipated because the seabed elevation, the depth and thickness of the alluvial clay and diluvial clay layers, and their geotechnical properties vary considerably in the east–west and north–south directions. The major geotechnical challenges in the construction of Kobe Airport Island included the establishment of a reliable settlement prediction method, the control of differential settlement of major facilities after the airport opening, and the stability of the gently sloping rubble mound seawall. To address these issues, several measures were implemented, including the development of settlement prediction methods for both the construction stage and long-term performance, ground improvement of the alluvial clay layer and stiffness enhancement of the reclaimed fill, and continuous observational monitoring in detailed instrumented zones. The results obtained provide a basis for ensuring the long-term serviceability of Kobe Airport Island and offer valuable insights for the future construction of artificial islands on deep-water soft ground.
