New concept in analysis of floating piers for ship berthing impact

In this paper, special behavior of floating piers in the berthing event is assessed, and a new approach is presented for the analysis of these kinds of piers for berthing impact. Accurate estimation of berthing force is an important matter for appropriate design of mooring piles in these piers. In the pier design references, the traditional approach used in the design of fixed piers is extended to floating piers, ignoring distinctive response of these piers to berthing impact. In this paper, the fact of mobility and flexibility of structural system of floating piers are taken into consideration, and it is proved that energy absorption mechanism in these piers is different from that of fixed piers. Thus a new analytical approach and corresponding closed form formulations are presented in this paper for evaluating impact energy and induced berthing forces in these piers. The validity of presented method is shown by numerical simulations. Comparison of results of analysis by new and traditional methods in two typical piers shows that the traditional method underestimates berthing force in floating piers.

► Traditional approach for design of floating piers considers them fixed and rigid.
► They are not rigid due to small mass of floated pontoons and flexible piles.
► Impact energy is absorbed by mooring piles deflection, not the fenders.
► Traditional approach underestimates impact force.
► A new approach is formulated and verified. Several examples are given.