COFFERDAMES Instructor- AZMACH LOLE

1. Introduction
Cofferdams are flexible retaining structures and temporarily constructed for a period during
which the construction inside the water body is to be carried out. Thus the function of a
cofferdam is to separate and safeguard the construction area from the water body in a river,
lake and sea in order that the excavation work for a bridge or other structure may be carried
out in dry condition. These are constructed by interlocking the numbers of steel sheet piles in
series in the form of interconnected cells which are then filled with coarse-grained material.
Cofferdams of this type are to enclose vast area and are used in marine works (Fig 1). The
cells with the fill inside are heavy units which make it gravity retaining structure. A
cofferdam should not collapse, should not boil dangerously, should not permit water to come
in the construction area faster than it can be pumped out, and is dry enough to permit the
construction of the work within its walls.

Fig1. A view of the coffer dams construction with steel sheet pilling extensively for
deepwater port facilities

Cofferdams can be constructed in several forms. However, two major types are:
(1) Braced cofferdams
(2) Cellular dames
Braced cofferdams have features common to braced supporting systems for cuts and therefore
shall not be discussed in this class. We shall discuss only the cellular cofferdams here.

A circular cofferdam consists of interconnected cells where each cell is made up of

interlocking steel sheet piles (Fig 2). The cells are filled with a coarse-grained material.
Cofferdams of this type are used to enclose vast areas and are mainly used in marine work.
The cells with the fill inside are heavy units which make it a gravity retaining structure and
therefore the geotechnical phase of its design takes the form of a stability analysis

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2. Cellular Cofferdam
There are following two types of cellular cofferdams
(a) Circular type
(b) Diaphragm type
(a)Circular type Cellular Cofferdams (Fig 3)
This type consists of complete circles connected by short circular arcs. The stability analysis
in this case should give B, the effective width, which is related to the radius r as shown in
figure 2, and which fully defines its geometry.

Fig 2. Cellular Cofferdam Fig 3. Cellular cofferdam- circular Type

(b)Diaphragm type Cellular Cofferdams

This type consists of a series of circular arcs connected by straight diaphragms. The two
forms that this type takes are: (i) large width and small radius (Fig 4) and (ii) small width and
large radius (Fig 5). As before the stability analysis gives, B, but it is the structural analysis
which gives r, radius. From B and r, A is obtained the sign of which determines which of the
two forms is possible in a given situation.

Fig 4. Cellular Cofferdam-Diaphragm type with Fig 5. Cellular Cofferdam- diaphragm

Large width and small radius. Type with small width and large radius.

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3. Stability Analysis of Cellular Cofferdams
Let us consider the stability of a cellular cofferdam which is resting on rock bed. The analysis
that follows is common to both the types i.e., for circular and diaphragm types; it is only in
the end of the analysis when we shall be in position to know which forms are possible under
the given set of data.
We shall now consider various aspects of stability and determine the value of B, width, under
each which will satisfy the corresponding requirement of stability. Let us consider a case
where the cells are dry and there is no berm inside (Fig 6).

Fig 6. Cellular cofferdam-stability analysis. Fig 7. Cellular cofferdam-shear at center.

3.1 Stability in Overturning

Let the resultant of the water pressure and the submerged soil pressure be P, acting at a height
h.While this pressure produces a tendency for the cell to overturn about the point A on the
base, the weight of the cell tends to stabilize or restore it.
Taking the moments about A,
P.h  M   .D.B. B 2
Where  = unit weight of the fill material. It is to be noted that in considering the weight of
the cell we ignore that of the sheet piles, being too insignificant compared to that of the fill.
 .d .B 2
Therefore, factor of safety against overturning =
2M
Let us consider that minimum value of factor of safety is 2, then,
 .d .B 2
=2
2M
4M
Or B (1)
 .D

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3.2 Stability against Tension at the base
The limiting condition for no tensile pressure at the base is obtained when the resultant of the
horizontal and vertical forces intersects the base at B 6 from the center. Let this point be C.
The horizontal force P and the vertical force W are the two components of the resultant force.
Since the moment of the resultant about point C is zero, the algebraic sum of the moments of
the components must be zero. Thus taking moment about C,
M   .D.B. B 6 =0
6M
From which B  (2)
 .D
It is seen that since B required in the present case is more than the same under (1) above,
determination of B against overturning becomes superfluous. In quantitative terms it also
means that B for no tension at the base automatically ensures a factor of safety of 3 against
overturning.
3.3 Stability against Sliding at the base
The tendency for the cell to slide at the base created by P is restricted by the friction
contributed by the self-weight of the fill. Considering a conservative value of 0.5 for the
coefficient of friction between the fill material and the rock, and setting,
P  0.5. .D.B , we get
2P
B (3)
 .D
3.4 Stability against Shear Failure at the base
Under this we are investigating the possibility of the cell failing by rupture at its middle due
to the shear created by the moment due to the horizontal forces.
Referring to Fig 7, the moment M  P.h acting at the base produces an antisymmetric
pressure diagram, the resultant of each half of which acting as a couple resisting this moment.
If we denote the resultant pressure due to a triangular half as V, we can state,
2
M  V . .B , which gives
3
3M
V (4)
2B
It may be noted that we are not concerned with the uniform base pressure produced by the
self-weight of the fill in this analysis.

Fig 8. Fig 9.

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V acts as a shear force on the central plane of the cell tending to cause a rupture which is
prevented by the shear strength of the fill material and the friction in the sheet pile interlock.
For the purpose of this analysis we shall take a representative length, r, of the diaphragm type
of cellular cofferdam shown in Fig 8. We shall now examine how the total shear, V.r, acting
over this representative length is resisted. The following factors arise in this connection
1.The total normal soil pressure developing in the central plane under active conditions
 .D 2  
= K a .r where Ka  tan 2  45  
2  2
 .D 2
Hence the shear strength at the central plane over the length, r,= K a .r. tan 
2
2. The friction resistance in the sheet pile interlock in the diaphragm at the center of the
representative length r is obtained as
 .D 2
= K a .r. f where f is the coefficient of lock friction. Adding the two, we can now write,
2
 .D 2  .D 2
V .r  K a .r. tan   K a .r. f
2 2
Simplifying and substituting for V from equation 4, we get
3M 3M
B = (5)
 .D .K a tan   f 
2 2 
 .D . tan  45  tan   f 
2
 2
Figure 9 indicates that the above analysis applies approximately also in the case of the
circular type. The different aspects of stability discussed above are independent and each one
gives a minimum value for width, B. Therefore the minimum B to be adopted in the design
should be the maximum of all the four values of B obtained as above. Further, we have to
consider the structural aspect of design which is described below.
4. Tension in the Sheet pile interlock
The radial pressure exerted by the fill on the curved parts of the sheet pile wall subjects to
hoop tension. Since the interlock is weaker in tension than the section of the sheet pile, we
have to ensure that the tension so developed in the interlock is limited to the permissible
value for the same. At the base where the radial pressure is maximum, we have,
p   .D.K a
The hoop tension, t  p.r   .D.K a .r from which

t t
r  (6)
 .D.K a 2 
 .D. tan  45  
 2
Where, t is the allowable tension in the interlock per unit length.
It must be noted that r obtained as above is a maximum value to be ensured in the design.
5. Proportioning of cells
(a) Circular type
From Bmax ,determine rmin .
i.) If r min  rmax , the circular type is possible and use a value of r by rounding off the
rmin upward ( subject to being  rmax ).
ii.) If on the other hand r min  rmax , it means that the circular type is not possible.
(b)Diaphragm type

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In the diaphragm type the Bmin and rmax are to be used independently. As stated earlier, one
determines A the sign of which decides the form, i.e., whether it is of the long or short
diaphragm type. Only one type will be possible under a given set of data and that possible
type is one for which A is positive. For design round off A to the higher and r to the lower
values. Note that rounding off is done on A and r, these being the construction parameters,
and not on B, which is only a design (conceptual) parameter.

6. Stability Analysis of the Cellular Cofferdam under Partial Submergence

Because of the presence of water on the outer side and to the extent the interlock are not
water-tight, it will be unrealistic to assume that the cell material remains dry. There will be
constant seepage through the cell as a result of which at least a portion of the fill will be
saturated and one has to enter the submerged unit weight of the material for this height in the
stability calculations. It is obvious that to the extent the unit weight is reduced by
submergence, higher values of B will result in the analysis.
If it is assumed that the cell is submerged to a height nD, (Fig 10) the following expressions
will result under each aspect of stability, by superimposing buoyancy in each case, on the dry
condition by invoking the assumption:  sat   dry .

Fig 10. Cellular cofferdam under partial submergence.

6.1Overturning
Restoring moment about A =  .D.B. B 2   w .nD.B. B 2
B2
= D  n w .
2
Equating it to the overturning moment, M
4M
Fo  (7)
D  n w 
6.2 Tension at the base
Moment due to vertical component about C
=  .D.B. B 6   w n.D.B. B 6

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 = D  n. w . B 2 6
Equating to moment,
6M
B= (8)
D  n. w 
6.3 Sliding at the base
Setting P = 0.5 .D.B   w .nD.B 
2P
B= (9)
D  n w 
6.4 Shear at the centre
Due to partial submergence, the pressure at the base reduces by  w .nD.K a (Fig 9). Hence the
normal thrust developing in the central plane under active conditions
  .D 2 nD 
= K a   w .nD.K a . .r
 2 2 

D2
=
2

K a .   n 2 . w .r
Adding (1) the shear strength of the central vertical plane, and (2) the friction at the interlock,
the total resistance to V.r

=
D2
2
 
K a .   n 2 . w .r tan   f 
Equating to V.r
3M
B =
 
D 2   n 2 . w .K a tan   f 
(10)

6.5 Tension in the sheet pile interlock

At the base
P =  .D.K a   w .nD.K a
= D.K a .  n w 
Equating the hoop tension to t,
 
t = D.K a .   n. w .r
From which
t
r = (11)
D.  n. w .K a

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Example
Design cellular cofferdam of possible types for the data shown in the figure, assuming that
the cells and the berm remain perfectly dry.