Sains Malaysiana 47(1)(2018): 59–66

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4701-07

Stability Assessment of Limestone Cave: Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia

(Penilaian Kestabilan Gua Batu Kapur: Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia)

GOH THIAN LAI^1*, WONG JIA MANG¹, ABDUL GHANI RAFEK², AILIE SOFYIANA SERASA³, NUR AMANINA MAZLAN¹, AINUL MARDHIYAH MOHD RAZIB¹, AZIMAH HUSSIN¹, LEE KHAI ERN⁴ & TUAN RUSLI MOHAMED⁵

¹Geology Program, School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Department of Geosciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

³School of Engineering (Petroleum), Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU),
Technology Park Malaysia, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

⁴Institute for Environment and Development (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁵Department of Mineral and Geoscience Malaysia Perak, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 18 November 2016/Diterima: 21 Jun 2017

ABSTRACT

The limestone hill of Batu Caves is slowly being turned into a recreation park for slope climbing, base jumping and cave exploring. Quantitative assessment on the stability of the cave is essential to ensure the safety of tourists and visitors. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the stability of Gua Damai, Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia by using the Q system for rock mass classification, together with other factors such as cave width and thickness of the cave roof. The stability of the limestone cave wall was evaluated using Slope Mass Rating (SMR). A discontinuity survey conducted along the slopes beneath the opening of the cave showed that the rock mass comprised of four major joint sets labeled as J1, J2, J3, and J4 with the dip directions and angles of 110?/73?, 325?/87?, 243?/39? and 054?/30?, respectively. The result of kinematic analysis showed that the dip direction/dip angle of a potential wedge failure was 051?/59?. By referring to the ratio of cave roof thickness with cave width, the results showed that the cave is stable. Based on the relationship between Q system and the cave width, the stabilities of Section 4 of Gua Damai is stable while Section 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 require supports. Based on SMR, the cave walls stability at Portion c, d, and f were not stable while Portion a, b, e and g were stable. Overall, the most stable part of the cave is Section 4 followed by Sections 5 and 2. Sections 1, 3 and 8 are moderately stable while Sections 6 and 7 have poor stability.

Keywords: Cave stability assessment; limestone; Slope Mass Rating (SMR); Q system

ABSTRAK

Bukit batu kapur Batu Caves dijadikan sebagai taman rekreasi secara perlahan perlahan bagi aktiviti mendaki cerun, lompat tinggi dan penerokaan gua. Penilaian kuantitatif kestabilan gua adalah penting bagi menjamin keselamatan pelancong dan pengunjung. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menilai kestabilan Gua Damai, Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia secara kuantitatif menggunakan Sistem Q untuk pengelasan jasad batuan dan faktor lain seperti kelebaran gua dan ketebalan bumbung gua. Kestabilan dinding gua dinilai menggunakan Perkadaran Jasad Cerun (SMR). Satu survei ketakselanjaran telah dijalankan di sepanjang cerun di bawah bukaan gua menunjukkan jasad batuan mengandungi empat set kekar utama iaitu J1, J2, J3 dan J4 dengan arah dan sudut kemiringan masing-masing bernilai 110?/73?, 325?/87?, 243?/39? dan 054?/30?. Keputusan analisis kinematik menunjukkan arah dan sudut kemiringan kegagalan baji yang berpotensi ialah 051?/59?. Merujuk kepada nisbah antara ketebalan bumbung gua dengan kelebaran gua, keputusan menunjukkan bahawa gua adalah stabil. Berdasarkan kepada hubungan antara sistem Q dan kelebaran gua, Bahagian 4 Gua Damai adalah stabil manakala Bahagian 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 dan 8 memerlukan sokongan. Berdasarkan SMR, kestabilan dinding gua pada Bahagian c, d, dan f adalah tidak stabil manakala Bahagian a, b, e dan g adalah stabil. Secara keseluruhan, bahagian gua yang paling stabil ialah Bahagian 4 diikuti oleh Bahagian 5 dan 2. Bahagian 1, 3 dan 8 adalah sederhana stabil manakala Bahagian 6 dan 7 mempunyai kestabilan yang rendah.

Kata kunci: Batu kapur; penilaian kestabilan gua; Perkadaran Cerun Batuan (SMR); sistem Q

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