Proceedings, International Conference on Disaster Risk Mitigation,

Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 23 - 24, 2017

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF AN EXISTING JETTY AT CHITTAGONG

DOCKYARD

A. Khair1, S. M. Muniruzzaman2, M. S. Rahman3, K. S. Ahmed4, N. Islam5, R. Ahsan6, and K. Islam7

ABSTRACT

The current study presents a detailed assessment of an existing jetty in the Chittagong Dockyard through the
‘non-destructive’ and ‘visual-inspection’ method. The damaged structural elements were classified into four
different grades namely very severe, severe, moderate and acceptable (i.e. Grade A to Grade D). It was
observed that the damaged structural elements were mainly the girders, secondary beams, fender piles and
springs. 51% of girders and 44% of secondary beams were severely damaged. The most probable causes of
the damage of different structural elements were mainly due to inadequate clear cover and harsh
environment resulted in corrosion of reinforcement. However, the main piles, floor beams (pre-cast unit)
and deck slab were in better condition in comparison with the girders and secondary beams. The findings of
this study will facilitate the authority to take quick decisions on repairing, retrofitting or replacement of the
damaged structural elements based on its level of severity.

Introduction

Jetties with fender piles are designed to withstand the lateral ship vessel impacts. Most of these fenders are
properly embedded on the nearby soil deposit with appropriate lateral cushions, e.g. spring mass system.
However, case histories (Chenna et al., 2017, Goulburn-Murray Water, 2012, Nam, 2015, Ramancharla,
2014) suggests that, adverse climatic conditions, such as: cyclones or tidal variations may bring significant
damages on jetties and its nearby structures due to the unspecified lateral impacts from the sea wave actions.
This makes the jetties vulnerable to further applied lateral loads due to the ship impacts. The two analyzed
jetties located at Dockyard, New Mooring, Chittagong were constructed as reinforced concrete (RC)
structures in the year of 1978 and 1984 respectively. Recently, the naval authority noticed significant
damages in different structural elements of those two jetties. Structural cracking and concrete spalling were
observed in various places that was likely to hamper the serviceability of these jetties. The objective of the
study was to identify and classify the degree of damage incurred by the jetties based on the ‘non-destructive
test’ and ‘visual inspection’ methods.

Structural Description of Assessed Jetty

The key structural elements are foundation pile, fender pile, girder, secondary beam and floor beam (pre-
cast). These two jetties were constructed in a way that it gives an impression to be a monolithic structure.
However, the entire unit is separated by five expansion joints that divides the two jetties into six separate
structures. Length and width of these two jetties are equal in size (420 ft. × 40 ft.). The deck slab rests on
floor beams which are supported by main/secondary beam and foundation pile framing system. The
diameter of main and fender piles are 24 and 18 inches, respectively. These piles are constructed with a
peripheral steel casing having 12 mm thickness. The size of girders and secondary beams are 24" × 30" and
15" × 36" respectively. The thickness of the deck slab was found to be 3.5 inches. Moreover, the jetties also
facilitate important utility services such as fuel, water, electricity and telephone from shore to the ship.

Methodology for Damage Evaluation

The damage categorization was done based on ‘visual inspection’ and ‘non-destructive’ testing method
(Schmidt hammer and concrete core). Damages were classified as per their severity, existing rebar
condition, spalling of concrete and expected longevity. In the process of identification, rebound hammer
test, core cutting and ferro-scanner were utilized. The main and fender piles were checked by diver
1
Commandant,2Professor,3Assistant Professor, 4Assistant Professor, 5Assistant Professor, Contact: +88-
01712-866-797; E-mail: naveel.islam@mun.ca; 7Assistant Professor, E-mail: kamrul1@ualberta.ca;
Department of Civil Engineering, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Mirpur, Dhaka-
1216.
6
Professor, E-mail: raquibahsan@gmail.com,Department of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of
Engineering & Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000.
 Vulnerability Assessment of an Existing Naval Jetty for Ship Vessel Impacts Due to Adverse Climatic
Conditions
A. Khair1, S. M. Muniruzzaman2, M. S. Rahman3, K. S. Ahmed4, N. Islam5, R. Ahsan6, and K. Islam7

following touch and feel method. It is observed from core test results that the average concrete strength was
more than 4500 psi. As per visual inspection, no salt attacks were observed in the concrete. In addition to the
tests, concrete spalling, corrosion of main rebar, crack width higher than the allowable limit, excessive salt
content (efflorescence), excessive deformation were the criteria considered to determine the degree of
damage of the structural elements. It is to be noted that, the maximum allowable crack widths recommended
by ACI Committee 224 (1972) for marine environment is 0.15 mm to protect the reinforcing bar against
corrosion.
Based on the severity of damages, structural elements were categorized chronologically into four basic
grades namely: A, B, C and D, which are represented by Red (very severe), Yellow (severe), Blue
(moderate) and Green (acceptable) colors respectively. Concrete spalling, corrosion of main reinforcements
and stirrups and cracks were taken into consideration during the classification. For example: if 40% of any
structural element like girder or secondary beam is damaged in all ways, it was marked as Damage Grade A.
Similarly, other grades are also determined basing on the conditions of damages. Typical photograph for the
classification of Damage Grades A, B, C and D are presented in Figure 1 respectively.

(A) (B)

Cracks on top and bottom of the beam

Concrete spalling

(C) (D)

No significant cracks on the beam

Small cracks on beam

Figure 1: Typical Photograph for Damage Grade Classification.

Damage Assessment Result

Figure 2. illustrates the damage grades on the different structural elements (majorly the beams) of the jetties.
The color codes on the beams represents the level of severity of damage. The color code A (in red) indicates
the beams with major damage thereby needs to be fully demolished along the entire length. Irrespective of
the damage, as can be visualized from Fig. 2, the Jetty-1 was more vulnerable to further applied loads
compared to Jetty-2. The second section of the Jetty-1 had the highest severity damage grades (A and B)
with vertically deflected fender and main piles. However, for brevity, the piles had not been shown in the
present analyses. The beams in the four causeways were also affected even though they were at distant
location form the loading area. The total situation signifies that the damages on the structures were mainly
because of the gradual deterioration of the clear covers of the RC beams rather than the ship impacts at
distant locations.
The quantification of the damage assessments is shown in Table 1. As per the assessment, fourteen (14)
fender piles, 1163 ft. girders and 947 ft. secondary beam are severely damaged (Grade A). Moreover, 593 ft.
girders, 807 ft. secondary beam were partially damaged (Grade B). The structural elements under damage
Grade A and B needs to be replaced and/or retrofitted immediately. However, minor cracks (Grade C) were
observed in the region of 673 ft. girder and 1190 ft. in secondary beam. Rubber pad, springs and tie beams
for fender piles (46) were found to be damaged or missing in various locations. The main piles, battered
piles and floor beams (pre-cast units) of the jetties were in good condition. However, the girders, secondary
beams, fender piles, springs and rubber pad were damaged at various locations.
 Proceedings, International Conference on Disaster Risk Mitigation,
Dhaka, Bangladesh, September 23 - 24, 2017

(b) Jetty-2, Section-3

(a) Jetty-1, Section-1

Causeway-1

(c) Jetty-1, Section-2

Causeway-4

(d) Jetty-2, Section-2

Causeway-2

(f) Jetty-2, Section-1 Causeway-3

(e) Jetty-1, Section-3

Figure 2. Illustration of Damage Grade Classification on Structural Elements of Jetty-1 & Jetty-2.
 Vulnerability Assessment of an Existing Naval Jetty for Ship Vessel Impacts Due to Adverse Climatic
Conditions
A. Khair1, S. M. Muniruzzaman2, M. S. Rahman3, K. S. Ahmed4, N. Islam5, R. Ahsan6, and K. Islam7

Table 1. Summary of Survey Results for Structural Elements with Damage Grades

Structural Damage Grades Remarks

Unit Total
Elements
A B C D
Main Pile/Column Nos 341 -- - 02 *Concrete spalling
Battered Pile/Column Nos 60 -- -- - -

Fender Pile Nos 60 14* 46 *deflected/sway

Girders (%) ft. (%) 3410 1163 593 673 981
(100%) (34%) (17%) (20%) (29%)
Secondary Beam (%) ft. (%) 3957 947 807 1190 1113
(100%) (24%) (20%) (30%) (26%)
Rubber Pad with Fender ft. 960 960 - - -
Pile
Spring with Fender Pile Nos 296 88* - - - *Missing
+208

Conclusions

It is observed that, most of the damage described in this study are mainly due to corrosion of reinforcement
and inadequate concrete clear covers which made the jetties vulnerable to future functionality. Damage of
unserviceability of these jetties are likely to hamper the operational, training and maintenance aspects of
Chittagong Dockyard significantly. The following conclusions can be drawn based on the findings:
• Damaged structural elements were mainly the girders, secondary beams, fender piles and springs. 51%
of girders and 44% of secondary beams were categorized as damage grade A and B.
• Main piles, floor beams (pre-cast unit) and deck slab were in better condition in comparison with
girders and secondary beams.
• Fourteen (14) fender piles were deflected laterally which were categorized as damage grade A due to
the impacts from loading area, however no severe damage was observed due to the presence of steel
encasement around the piles.
• Structural elements categorized as damage grade A & B should be replaced or demolished whereas C &
D should be retrofitted or repaired to make the jetties functional.
Further investigations are under process, to assess the severity of the damaged portions of such structures
to applied lateral loads that demands complex numerical modeling of the different structural elements
incorporating soil-pile interaction effect.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Centre of Advisory and Testing Services (CATS)-MIST.

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