Retrofit Analysis of Bridge Fender Systems
Publication: Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering
Volume 127, Issue 6
Abstract
Several accidents in which vessels impacted bridges have led to significant improvement of design procedures for impact protection of bridge piers. However, the guidelines usually call for such expensive solutions as piers that can withstand a design force derived from local waterway standards. This paper presents an idea for retrofitting a certain class of existing bridge fenders to serve more efficiently as protective structures against such impacts. Computational analysis was conducted using the nonlinear, dynamic computer code LS-DYNA. The research concentrated on analysis of a collision of a Jumbo Hopper barge with a bridge fender consisting of concrete piles. Several impact scenarios were considered, and four different retrofit solutions were compared with the original design. The analyses performed were used to assess the crashworthiness performance of the fender system, and specific retrofit recommendations, allowing for more efficient kinetic energy absorption, were developed and compared with the original design. The numerical results from 3D computational mechanics were also compared and interpreted using a simple special-case, two-body analytical approach.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
AASHTO. ( 1991). Guide specification and commentary for vessel collision design of highway bridges. Final Rep., Vol. I, Washington, D.C.
2.
Gilbert, C., Kreja, I., and Wekezer, J. W. ( 1998). “Computer impact simulation in retrofit analysis of concrete bridge barriers.” 12th Engrg. Mech. Div. Conf., ASCE, New York, 150–153.
3.
Habibagahi, K., and Langner, J. A. ( 1984). “Horizontal subgrade modulus of granular soil.” Laterally loaded deep foundations: Analysis and performance, Langner, Mosely, and Thompson, eds., ASTM Publ. Code No. 04-835000-38, ASTM, Philadelphia, 21–34.
4.
LS-DYNA keyword user's manual. (1999). Nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures in three dimensions. Livermore Software Technology Corporation, Livermore, Calif.
5.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). ( 1992). Atlantic Coast of North America tidal current tables. National Ocean Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C.
6.
Plaxico, C. A., Patzner, G. S., and Ray, M. H. ( 1998). “Response of guardrail posts under parametric variation of wood and soil strength.” Transp. Res. Board 77th Annu. Meeting, Washington, D.C.
7.
Ray, M. H., and Patzner, G. S. ( 1997). “A finite element model of the modified eccentric loader breakaway cable terminal (MELT).” FHWA vehicle crush analysis, Conf. Proc., Publ. No. FHWA-RD-96-212, Washington, D.C., 33–53.
8.
Reid, J. D., and Sicking, D. L. ( 1998). “Design and simulation of a sequential kinking guardrail terminal.” Int. J. Impact Engrg., 21(9), 761.
9.
Seaward International Inc. ( 2000). “Seapile and seatimber composite products: Sizes and specifications.” Available: 〈www.seaward.com/sp-spec.htm〉 Clearbrook, Va.
10.
Shames, I. H. ( 1996). Engineering mechanics—Dynamics, 4th Ed., Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J.
11.
Wekezer, J. W., Gilbert, C., and Kreja, I. ( 1996). “Conceptual analysis of an aesthetic bridge barrier.” Proj. No. WPI-0510750, Final Rep., Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, Fla.
12.
Wekezer, J., Wuttrich, R., and Ramaley, M. ( 2000a). “A study on a retrofit of the breakaway cable terminal.” Int. J. Crashworthiness, 5(4), London, 405–416.
13.
Wekezer, J., Wuttrich, R., and Ramaley, M. (2000b). “Performance problems and structural retrofit analysis of existing BCTs.”J. Perf. Constr. Fac., ASCE, 14(3), 118–125.
14.
Whirley, R. G., and Engelmann, B. E. ( 1993). DYNA3D, a nonlinear, explicit, three-dimensional finite element code for solid and structural mechanics—User manual. UCRL-MA-107254, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.
15.
Wilson, C. M. D. ( 2000). “Investigation of bridge fender systems for barge impact.” MS thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee.
16.
Wuttrich, R., Wekezer, J., Yazdani, N., and Wilson, C. (2001). “Performance evaluation of existing bridge fenders for ship impact.”J. Perf. Constr. Fac., ASCE, 15(1), 17–23.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Received: Sep 13, 2000
Published online: Dec 1, 2001
Published in print: Dec 2001
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.