Field testing of axially loaded piles in dense sand

Large areas of the Netherlands are dominated by deep, soft soil deposits, posing a challenge to engineers with respect to the design of axially loaded foundations. The design of these foundations is primarily based on methods which use cone penetration test (CPT) parameters, such as that outlined in the Dutch national standard NEN 9997-1. A...

Finite element-based reliability assessment of quay walls

While reliability methods have already been widely adopted in civil engineering, the efficiency and robustness of finite element-based reliability assessments of quay walls are still fairly low. In this paper, the reliability indices of structural and geotechnical failure modes of two real-life quay walls are determined by coupling...

Time-dependent reliability analysis of service-proven quay walls subject to corrosion-induced degradation

The assessment of service-proven quay walls subject to corrosion-induced degradation is inherently a time-dependent reliability problem. Two major challenges are the modelling of corrosion and taking into account the decrease of epistemic uncertainty throughout the quay wall's service life. The main objective of this study is to examine the...

Enhancing reliability-based assessments of quay walls

In the coming years, thousands of quay walls will approach the end of their intended fifty-year design lifetime and become part of lifetime extension programmes throughout the world. It is presently unclear how reliable these structures are and whether they are still capable of bearing ship and crane loads. An appropriate assessment of a quay...

Some learning cases in the Port of Rotterdam

This paper present several cases in the Port of Rotterdam where both in the design and construction phase several different did not marched as expected. These cases are interesting for both the design as well the construction phase of a project. People will make mistakes however the mistakes describes in this paper have to be judged in time...

Full-scale load testing on long prefabricated concrete piles in the Port of Rotterdam

In 2017 the Dutch national standardization institute (NEN) released a new version of the National Annex to NEN-EN 1997-1 Eurocode 7, including revised reduced pile base factors. This has a significant impact on the dimensions of pile foundations. Consequently, in situ load tests were considered in the Port of Rotterdam. In this study, full-scale...

Relationship between the construction costs and the reliability index of quay walls

Structures, such as quay walls, have to meet a particular level of safety. Consequently, in the Eurocode standards, three reliability classes are distinguished, each corresponding to a target reliability index and set of partial factors. In this study, more insight is acquired into the relationship between the quay wall's construction costs...

Target reliability indices for existing quay walls derived on the basis of economic optimisation and human safety requirements

General frameworks for reliability differentiation have evolved over time and are mainly developed for buildings. However, recommendations for the safety of existing quay walls are lacking. In this study, target reliability indices for assessing existing quay walls were derived by economic optimisation and by evaluating the requirements...

Target reliability indices for existing quay walls derived on the basis of the LQI criterion

General frameworks for reliability differentiation have evolved over time and are mainly developed for new buildings. However, recommendations for existing quay walls are lacking. In this study target reliability indices for assessing existing quay walls were derived by economic optimisation and by evaluating the Life Quality Index criterion ...

Target reliability indices for quay walls, jetties, and flexible dolphins

Structural codes rely on generalised target reliability indices, which are mainly derived for buildings. It is unclear, however, whether these indices are applicable to the specific risk-profile of quay walls, jetties, and flexible dolphins. In this study, target reliability indices for marine structures were derived from various risk...

Risk-based target reliability indices for quay walls

Design codes and standards rely on generalised target reliability indices. It is unclear, however, whether these indices are applicable to the specific risk-profile of marine structures. In this study, target reliability indices for quay walls were derived from various risk acceptance criteria, such as economic optimisation, individual risk ...

Partial safety factors for berthing velocity and loads on marine structures

Design methods for marine structures have evolved into load and resistance factor design, however existing partial safety factors related to berthing velocity and loads have not been verified and validated by measurement campaigns. In this study, field observations of modern seagoing vessels berthing in Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Wilhelmshaven...

Berthing velocity of large seagoing vessels in the port of Rotterdam

While ships evolve constantly, berthing velocity curves developed during the 1970s are still embedded in the design of marine structures. This paper discusses the interpretation of new berthing records of modern large seagoing vessels collected in the port of Rotterdam. Berthing velocities of several types of vessels at various berths and...

Recommendations for assessing and upgrading old urban quay walls