International Concrete Abstracts Portal

Offshore and marine concrete structures have not received enough attention in the recent past, at least in the United States. The complexity and safety concerns associated with these structures are such that they probably need more attention compared to many other types of concrete structures. Also, offshore and marine concrete structures are so global in nature that there is a higher need for better coordination and synchronization of design, construction, inspection, and maintenance practices in different parts of the world. A two-part session, titled “Offshore and Marine Concrete Structures: Past, Present, and Future,” was held at the Spring 2019 ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition on March 24-28 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The session, sponsored by ACI Committee 357, Offshore and Marine Concrete Structures, highlighted accomplishments of the past, current state-of-the-practice, and a path for the future. This ACI Special Publication (SP) is a compilation of select papers presented at the session. The efforts of all the reviewers in assuring the quality of this publication is greatly acknowledged.

The Hebron platform is the latest major offshore integrated oil drilling and production platform supported by a concrete gravity-based-structure (GBS). It was successfully installed in the Grand Banks (offshore Newfoundland) in June 2017. The design of the platform was challenged by arctic-like and extreme metocean conditions. This paper presents development of extreme loads on the GBS such as 10,000-year iceberg impact and wave loads. It also describes novel design and construction techniques used, which resulted in a capitalefficient platform.

From an analysis and design perspective, in addition to linear-elastic finite element analysis typically used in design of offshore concrete GBS, the innovative use of non-linear finite element analysis (NLFEA) technique to calculate internal forces is presented. Such analyses more accurately capture the structural behavior and result in more realistic internal forces. In addition, a new crack-width calculation method accounting for the effect of a significant number of layers of transverse reinforcement was implemented. Also, a novel method to assess the complex interactions between solid ballast, embedded pipes, and concrete structures was applied.

From a construction perspective, the use of slipforming panels that are taller than those used in past GBSs and a system to allow slipforming of the shaft wall with a complex geometry and curvature, that is much larger than that employed in the past GBS, are presented. A novel method to minimize the risk of concrete adhering to slipforming panels by cooling the panels with cold water is presented. An innovative method to ensure that highstrength grout completely filled the space underneath one of the largest Topsides footings is discussed. Full-scale constructability tests of various complex GBS components, which provided invaluable information for design, increased execution certainty, and improved construction safety, is presented.

An offshore concrete Gravity-Based-Structure (GBS) is a massive concrete structure placed on the seafloor and held in place strictly by its own weight, without need for anchors. This paper focuses on concrete GBSs used as the base of integrated oil drilling and production platforms. The summary of key distinct structural features of several major GBSs, since the first Ekofisk GBS (installed in the North Sea, offshore Norway, in 1973) until the latest Hebron GBS (installed in the Grand Banks, Canada, in 2017), is presented. This paper also discusses several unique loads that GBSs have to resist. An overview of structural analysis and design methodology is described in detail. Key considerations for preliminary sizing of GBS structural components are presented. Typical construction phases, methods, and the importance of constructability are explained. Finally, potential future research topics that would result in a more cost-effective offshore concrete GBS are discussed.

The purpose of the LaGuardia Runway Extension Project is to extend existing runways 4-22 and 13-31 into Flushing Bay, at the inshore end of Long Island Sound, to support Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) - a crushable material installed at the end of each runway to reduce the risk of a plane overrun during takeoff.

The new runway deck extensions are marine concrete structures which utilize precast prestressed pile caps with a pre and post-tensioned composite precast deck and cast-in-place concrete topping slab. The concrete decks are supported by 250 ton (227 tonnes) 24 inch (61cm) diameter epoxy coated closed end concrete filled steel pipe piles with specialized wraps and sacrificial zinc anodes for corrosion protection. The piles are approximately 100 feet (30m) long and driven in about 30 feet (9m) of water through soft organic clay and dense glacial soils and founded on bedrock.

This paper provides an overall description of the runway extensions and a detailed account of both the technical and logistical challenges. Challenges included a prestressed composite deck design for both the aircraft impact and braking loads. Maintaining and replacing the lightbars of the Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) used to visually identify the runways was required, along with optimizing the pile hammer selection and driveability with wave equation analyses and dynamic pile driving PDA testing. Extensive coordination was necessary with the PANYNJ, FAA and various other stakeholders involved in this fast-paced design build project.

This paper discusses the structural assessment and repair of a waterfront concrete pier. This paper also discusses the responsibilities of the construction team through the investigation and repair process. The apron around the pier is an exposed concrete deck supported on steel beams and concrete caissons. The concrete apron exhibited various deteriorated conditions, including cracking and spalling. The pier owner requested a structural condition survey of the pier apron to determine the extent of the damage and to develop a repair program.

The design team proposed an investigation and repair program in accordance with various industry standards, including ACI 357, ACI 562, and ACI 364.1R. The challenge of this project was the limited budget and time allocated by the owner to perform the investigation and repair. As a result, the investigation was limited to visual observations only, and the repairs were restricted to repairing unsafe conditions only. Despite the investigation and repair construction limitations, the design team work around the needs and budgets of the owner and managed to restore the structure to a safe condition. However, the effects of insufficient evaluation of the structure before rehabilitation, had an adverse effect on the project schedule and extent of repairs performed. Also, due to the project budget limitations, the responsibilities of the design team were challenged.