Experience with weak rock

The first tidal power station in North America is founded in a weak sandstone. Geotechnical engineering during design and construction was of a practical nature. Only limited quantitative data was collected on the quality of the sandstone prior to design and construction. Considerable reliance was placed on a subjective appraisal of the engineering properties of the sandstone. The paper outlines the geotechnical engineering involved, the nature of the sandstone and the geotechnical design parameters selected.