A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls

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dc.contributor.advisorKalumba, Denisen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHolmwood, Andrew Grahamen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-22T11:58:48Z
dc.date.available2017-09-22T11:58:48Z
dc.date.issued2017en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe objective of this study was to determine whether rigid inclusions are suitable for reinforcement of the foundation of a caisson quay wall functioning as a container terminal. Apart from their brittle behaviour under lateral loading, rigid inclusions are well suited to the large uniform loads and stringent post-construction deflection tolerances associated with container terminal structures. Their inherent strength and stiffness means they have certain advantages over other stiffening columns commonly used for ground reinforcement in port expansion projects. Their mechanical properties allow construction to unrestricted heights at any construction rate and, in theory, RIs can be applied to all soil types. Additionally the locations of many ports coincide with rivers, deltas and estuaries which are associated with poor soil conditions often requiring ground improvement. Their suitability is of practical significance to port planners and engineers who are faced with the challenge of providing satisfactory foundation performance that is cost effective. The addition of RI ground reinforcement for this structural application would allow for greater flexibility in meeting these challenges. The literature review for this study was broad in its scope with emphasis placed on describing the mechanics of the problem, analysis methods and suitable installation methods for execution in the marine environment. One of the key outcomes of the literature review was identifying the problem of lateral loading due to "free-field" lateral ground movements. In light of this, suitable strategies for limiting and accommodating lateral loading of the RIs were proposed. A numerical study of the proposed ground improvement scheme was undertaken using the 3D finite element method. The key model outputs were caisson deflections and RI forces, moments and stresses, for the various simulated construction phases up to operational conditions. The model results were assessed in terms of the key foundation performance criteria which were related to STS crane rail tolerances and limiting tensile stresses in the RIs. This study found that for a firm clay subsoil condition the proposed RI ground reinforcement scheme met the foundation performance criteria for this structural application provided (i) strategies to limit lateral loading were implemented and (ii) the RIs were reinforced over the length where they were not fully compressed. While this study provided insights into the behaviour of RIs for this structural application, ultimately suitability is a function of range of factors, in addition to the limited technical performance criteria derived for this study.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHolmwood, A. G. (2017). <i>A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Civil Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25283en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHolmwood, Andrew Graham. <i>"A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Civil Engineering, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25283en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHolmwood, A. 2017. A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Holmwood, Andrew Graham AB - The objective of this study was to determine whether rigid inclusions are suitable for reinforcement of the foundation of a caisson quay wall functioning as a container terminal. Apart from their brittle behaviour under lateral loading, rigid inclusions are well suited to the large uniform loads and stringent post-construction deflection tolerances associated with container terminal structures. Their inherent strength and stiffness means they have certain advantages over other stiffening columns commonly used for ground reinforcement in port expansion projects. Their mechanical properties allow construction to unrestricted heights at any construction rate and, in theory, RIs can be applied to all soil types. Additionally the locations of many ports coincide with rivers, deltas and estuaries which are associated with poor soil conditions often requiring ground improvement. Their suitability is of practical significance to port planners and engineers who are faced with the challenge of providing satisfactory foundation performance that is cost effective. The addition of RI ground reinforcement for this structural application would allow for greater flexibility in meeting these challenges. The literature review for this study was broad in its scope with emphasis placed on describing the mechanics of the problem, analysis methods and suitable installation methods for execution in the marine environment. One of the key outcomes of the literature review was identifying the problem of lateral loading due to "free-field" lateral ground movements. In light of this, suitable strategies for limiting and accommodating lateral loading of the RIs were proposed. A numerical study of the proposed ground improvement scheme was undertaken using the 3D finite element method. The key model outputs were caisson deflections and RI forces, moments and stresses, for the various simulated construction phases up to operational conditions. The model results were assessed in terms of the key foundation performance criteria which were related to STS crane rail tolerances and limiting tensile stresses in the RIs. This study found that for a firm clay subsoil condition the proposed RI ground reinforcement scheme met the foundation performance criteria for this structural application provided (i) strategies to limit lateral loading were implemented and (ii) the RIs were reinforced over the length where they were not fully compressed. While this study provided insights into the behaviour of RIs for this structural application, ultimately suitability is a function of range of factors, in addition to the limited technical performance criteria derived for this study. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2017 T1 - A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls TI - A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25283 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25283
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHolmwood AG. A numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay walls. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Civil Engineering, 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25283en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Civil Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherCivil Engineeringen_ZA
dc.subject.otherStructural Engineeringen_ZA
dc.titleA numerical study of the suitability of rigid inclusion ground reinforcement beneath caisson quay wallsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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