Pile Construction Issues at the P-700 Aircraft Carrier Wharf Project

The paper summarizes the results of pile installation during construction of the $50 million P-700 Aircraft Carrier Wharf. The project was undertaken by the Navy to homeport a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier at the North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, California. The existing berthing facilities were modified by creating a new land reclamation area, a new containment rock dike, and a new wharf. The wharf is supported by 450 concrete and steel pipe piles driven through the rock dike and into a dense bearing layer. A major concern during design and construction was the drivability of the piles through the rock dike and into the dense bearing layer. Results of the indicator and production pile programs are presented as they relate to construction issues. A discussion of the construction sequencing and construction difficulties encountered during pile installation are also discussed.