ABSTRACT
Coastal constructions are subjected to sea actions, like wind, waves and currents, which are indispensable loads for such structure’s design. In Brazil, there is a lack of information about the wave actions, the most significant phenomenon in the structure, and that shortage may lead in to an inadequate design.
At the United States of America, cyclone’s waves resulted into huge ravages. In 2005, the hurricane Katrina, one of the biggest examples, formed itself above the Bahamas’ Islands and reached the country’s South coast.
Even though Brazil does not suffer from events of such magnitude, due to its coast’s huge extension, it is unjustifiable not to have a specific standard to assist on the wave’s load determination.
Big complexity calculation methods may be utilized for that ascertainment, which treat the structure’s dynamics; or some more simplified ones, which construe the dynamic stresses into static, siring satisfying results. Typical Hold-Down Device. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315207681/cd556cd4-4dcf-4efe-8e29-56fc67b8bfbd/content/fig217_1.tif"/>
Due to the difficulties that could occur when using a dynamic model, like a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), the AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) released, in 2008, a guide that would help in standardizing the procedure.
The book contains several formulas that convert the water’s dynamic actions into static loadings at the structure.
This work’s main idea was to elaborate an access bridge’s structural model that resists a wave’s big impact. That bridge would be located in a harbor region, where the significant design wave heights are relevant for a 100 years return period.
From this model, an analysis of the stresses that act on piles considering the permanent actions and variables was firstly made, and then the accountancy of the action of the wave was added along with the permanents.
As the stresses were obtained by the structural model, several retrofit options were evaluated and an optimal solution was found. A tie-down device would keep the superstructure from leaving the infrastructure, while the resulting tension forces would be resisted by an improvement at the piles’ reinforcement.
