| Abstract | This study involves an unnamed offshore export terminal in Australia. The berth is more than 40 years old, and consists of a series of concrete gravity caisson structures which support a steel superstructure and shiploader. The offshore facilities were originally designed to Working Stress principles, for a lower average recurrence interval event and a smaller maximum wave than is now recommended under modern Ultimate Limit State standards. A large-scale physical modelling study was undertaken to assess the design wave climate, the immunity of the berth, and potential structural mitigation measures. The 1:35 scale model structures were tested in several configurations for extreme wave conditions associated with return periods up to 1,000 years and for various incident wave headings. A large amount of high quality information on waves, water levels, forces, moments, pressures, and wave-structure interaction was obtained to inform the assessment of wave immunity and guide the design of reinforcement to mitigate higher wave loads. |
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