Calculus and experimental investigations on the caissons models used in construction of mooring keys

Abstract

The special quay infrastructure for mooring heavy boats is made of reinforced concrete caissons, in the form of thin-walled structures. These caissons are placed on the bottom of the sea, by means of radiators and filled with stone quarry. On these structures are built access roads for heavy trucks, rolling paths for rotary cranes and railways. The behaviour of these structures under service tasks has been investigated both by MEF and experimentally, using two combined techniques (reflexion-photoelelasticity and resistive strain gauge technique). The results of the researches carried out on two models of caissons showed that the maximum stresses recorded in their walls are below the allowable limit, and there is a good agreement between the calculation and experimental data.