Doha Metro Phase 1 is Qatar’s major infrastructure project consisting of three metro lines with a total length of 164 km. The first phase involves the construction of the Red, Green, and Gold lines and their major stations. It is part of the US$36 billion Doha Metro Rail Network Project, aiming to reduce the city’s road traffic congestion while facilitating the connection between Qatar and other Gulf countries.

The required completion period for this project is extremely short, with excavation starting in mid-2013 and operations expected by 2019. Given the project’s constrained timeline, highly innovative solutions are required to complete the building of underground structures in minimal time.

Dextra’s FRP Active Anchors as Temporary Tie-backs in Retaining Walls

Composite materials have been used for over 20 years as temporary reinforcement in concrete structures. In Doha Metro Phase 1, both Dextra’s post-tensioned carbon-FRP (CFRP) Active Anchors and glass-FRP (GFRP) Active Anchors have been used in retaining walls.

When used as temporary tie-backs, CFRP material offers the most advanced technical solution due to its superior tensile strength, creep resistance, and durability, while GFRP Anchors offer a cost-effective solution without technical compromise.

GFRP anchors can advantageously replace steel removable anchors to prevent encroachment on neighboring plots. As a result, GFRP anchors now account for more than 90% of the FRP anchors installed in the region.

For the first phase of the Doha Metro Rail Network project, Dextra has supplied 150 CFRP Active Anchors and 700 GFRP Active Anchors to date.

ASTEC Soft-Eye for Improved TBM Penetration

Dextra’s ASTEC Soft-Eyes is a unique technology using cuttable GFRP reinforcement as a replacement for conventional steel rebars. Since 1996, this solution has become a standard concept in the design of shafts and subway stations.

More than 10 sets of Dextra’s ASTEC Soft-Eyes had been supplied and used in the Doha Metro construction project as of May 2018.