Abstract of the proposal

It is well known that groundwater in coastal areas fluctuates frequently due to tidal seawater. However, it is not so well recognized that air pressure in the subsurface soil near the coast may also fluctuate in response to sea tides. If the soil is well capped by impermeable materials such as concrete or asphalt, which is common in the extensively urbanized coastal areas in Hong Kong, abnormally high pressure may be produced when the sea tide rises rapidly during heavy rainfall periods. Under some circumstances, the pressure may be large enough to cause geotechnical problems such as surface heave. The objectives of this project are: 1) to explore air flow caused by tidal fluctuation with a case study in a coastal area in Hong Kong, 2) examine various unfavorable conditions which may lead to abnormally high air pressure in subsoil. Understanding air flow induced by tidal fluctuation is of not only theoretical significance but also engineering implications.

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