Impact of Dredging as an Adaptive Measure for Caspian Sea-Level Decline on Berthing Structures

Berthing structures in the Caspian Sea face significant challenges due to sea-level decline, with dredging being a critical measure to prevent vessel grounding in the shallow seabed. However, dredging can increase the free length of quay walls, potentially amplifying forces and displacements experienced by berthing structures during operations. This study evaluates the impact of dredging on the structural adequacy and geotechnical stability of berthing structures in Amirabad Port, a southern port of the Caspian Sea in Iran. The port includes fourteen quay walls, where main concrete piles are anchored to a passive wall (dead-man) using tie rods, and scouring protection measures prevent backfill erosion into the basin. Finite element and limit equilibrium-based simulations are employed to assess the static and seismic performance of the quay walls under dredging conditions. Various geotechnical and structural failure modes associated with dredging are identified and analyzed. The results indicate that the likelihood and type of failure depend on quay wall characteristics, including pile dimensions and reinforcement, scouring protection, and anchoring systems. In addition, the potential failure modes of quay walls due to dredging generally involve the structural inadequacy of the main piles and anchoring systems. However, in some cases, scouring may also pose a significant risk.

کلیدواژه ها:

Caspian Sea-Level Decline ، Dredging Effects ، Quay Wall ، Geotechnical and Structural Performance ، Adaptability