Why do the coastal sabkhas of Qatar, such as Sabkha Dukhan, pose specific geotechnical challenges for urban construction and infrastructure engineering?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. High salt crystallisation pressure, gypsum dissolution, and soil collapse
- Step 1: Sabkhas are coastal and inland supratidal evaporite mudflats saturated with hypersaline brines.
- Step 2: They contain high concentrations of halite, gypsum, and anhydrite.
- Step 3: Changes in water tables cause mineral dissolution, severe loss of bearing capacity, salt expansion that cracks concrete foundations, and rapid corrosion of reinforcement steel.
Answer
High salt crystallisation pressure, gypsum dissolution, and soil collapse.
Why not the others: Qatar lies on a stable platform with little seismic activity; frost heave needs freezing temperatures; clay swelling is not the main sabkha hazard, which is salt and gypsum chemistry.
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