RELIABILITY-BASED DESIGN OF ANCHORED BULKHEADS
Abstract
A study was undertaken to investigate the fundamental behavior of the anchored bulkhead system by using the finite element method. The effects of the flexural rigidity of the pile, the rigidity of the anchor system, and the depth of embedment have been clarified. The effects of nonlinear behavior of both the soils and the soil-pile-anchorage interaction have been included. The validity of the assumptions of classical methods of bulkhead design were examined. It was found that the assumptions of the Tschebotarioff hinge-at-dredge-level procedure for the depth of embedment and upon the location of the point of contraflexure are very close to the results of the finite element simulation. Because of its simplicity, the Tschebotarioff hinge-at-dredge-level procedure was adopted as a starting point for design; the normalized results of the finite element simulation are used as correction factors to compensate for the inability of the Tschebotarioff procedure to account for effects of sheet pile flexibility and anchor yield. In addition, the procedure also treats uncertainties created by non-uniformities and variabilities in components of both loading and material resistance. The effects of these uncertainties are included with reliability procedures. The end result is a design procedure that is believed to be an improvement over present practice.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Civil engineering
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