RISK ASSESSMENT OF CONCRETE WALL AT PORT FACILITY

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia

​

Scope: 

• Structural engineering assessment and load rating of deteriorated concrete cope wall.

​

Complexity:

• Active deterioration of the concrete wall.

• Uncertainty about the extent of Alkali Silica Reactivity (ASR).

• Field tests indicating substantial variation in concrete strength.

• ​

Approach / Value

• Nonlinear finite element (NFE) model of the wall was developed.

• Over 50 patterns of concrete properties and degradation mechanisms were analyzed using a specialized approach to model the spatial variation across the NFE model.

• Steel-concrete bond strength (governing parameter for capacity prediction) was evaluated using extracted specimens in collaboration with Dalhousie University.

• Long-term testing plan developed in collaboration with client to quantify deterioration in infrastructure over time.

• Risk based analysis is to determine the minimum concrete strength required for the wall to function safely.

• Load limits that meet an acceptable risk limit were provided for short-term operation.