Seismic Design of Rigid Underground Walls in New England

The Mononobe-Okabe equation is still widely used in design practice to estimate earthquake induced soil pressures against earth retaining structures without differentiation of the lateral yielding or non-yielding character of the structure. Where these structures are rigid and non-yielding because of structural restraints (e.g., basement walls, bridge abutments, underground transportation, hydraulic and sanitary structures) the use of Mononobe-Okabe equation would not be appropriate and would be generally unsafe. Alternate design recommendations are proposed, based on the results of recent analytical and experimental studies by other researchers, for a nominal design earthquake expected to be representative of the New England seismicity

Performance of a Pier Consisting of Three Sections

A deteriorated 600 ft. long pier in Quincy, Massachusetts consisting of timber pile supported relieving platform and anchored steel sheet pile bulkhead sections was replaced with a new pier. The majority of the new pier consists of a deadman anchored steel sheet pile bulkhead. Due to the proximity of adjacent structures and another existing pier, two areas along the new pier could not accommodate an anchored bulkhead system. In these two areas, relieving platform and double steel sheet pile wall systems were constructed. Inclinometer data showing horizontal movements in the sheeting during the construction and post-construction periods are presented

Expansion and Rehabilitation of the State Fish Pier in Gloucester, Massachusetts

The State Fish Pier in Gloucester, Massachusetts, has been expanded and rehabilitated to provide an upgraded facility to support the local fishing industry. Expansion consisted of a new Finger Pier and solid fill extension of the existing pier. Rehabilitation consisted of replacing a deteriorated wharf with a new higher load carrying wharf. Subsurface conditions ranged from rock outcrops exposed at low tide at some locations to thick marine deposits overlying rock at other locations. Foundation support for the new Finger Pier and rehabilitated wharf consisted of concrete filled steel pipe piles, a portion of which had to he socketed into bedrock due to lack of soil overburden. Compression and tension load tests were performed to verify the pile design capacities