THE INFLUENCES AND PREVENTION OF THE ANT CAVES ON ONE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ZAMBIA

In Zambia, the activities of ants are intense. The ant caves are everywhere, with different sizes and heights. Cavities exist in the ant mounds above the surface and in the ant caves underground. The cavities underground have great effects on the foundations and the basis of the construction. As only a few large-scaled programs such as the runways of the airport are in Zambia, few researches on the influences and the treatments of the ant caves on the constructions had been done. Therefore, it is rather important to study the impacts of the ant caves on the constructions of the International Airport in Zambia. This essay is based on the materials of investigation and the monographic study on the International Airport in Zambia. Through the field investigation, excavation of the ant caves, field load tests, infiltration tests and the soil tests, we get to find out the categories, the scope of influence and the physical and mechanical properties of the ant caves. As the ant caves have the harmful uneven settlements impact on the construction of the Airport, it is suggested that the comprehensive treatment measures should be taken such as clearing, dynamic compactions, grouting and ant-killed medicines and so on.