Evaluation of a T-Wall Section in New Orleans Considering 3D Soil-Structure Interaction

T-walls in New Orleans survived Hurricane Katrina whereas I-walls obviously failed in several sections. However, it is still unclear whether these T-walls truly survived the hurricane with a fair amount of safety margins or barely survived it with undetected damages. The initial design of T-walls wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering 2011-08, Vol.137 (8), p.731-742
Main Authors: Won, Jinoh, Adhikari, Sudarshan, Song, Chung R, Cheng, Alexander H.-D, Al-Ostaz, Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Buildings. Public works
Computation methods. Tables. Charts
Exact sciences and technology
Geoenvironmental engineering
Geotechnics
Hurricanes
Hydraulic constructions
Numerical analysis
Port facilities and coastal structures. Lighthouses and beacons
Soil structure interactions
Stability
Structural analysis. Stresses
Structural members
Structure-soil interaction
TECHNICAL PAPERS
Three dimensional
Walls
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Summary:T-walls in New Orleans survived Hurricane Katrina whereas I-walls obviously failed in several sections. However, it is still unclear whether these T-walls truly survived the hurricane with a fair amount of safety margins or barely survived it with undetected damages. The initial design of T-walls was based on simplified loading conditions with limited consideration of soil-structure interaction. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) numerical analyses were conducted, incorporating realistic loading conditions and soil-structure interactions but with time-saving techniques to evaluate the detailed behavior of T-walls. This paper addressed the procedure of innovative 3D numerical analyses and important findings by using special structural elements in FLAC3D. From this study, T-walls were found to have adequate stress levels in H-piles and concrete walls. However, it showed that the major factor that may cause the instability of the T-wall was the slope instability-type unbalanced force. This unbalanced force, however, was counteracted by the batter piles so that the overall stability of the T-wall system could be maintained.
ISSN:1090-0241
1943-5606
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0000491