Constructability opportunities in the engineering design of marine pier structures: a case study

Abstract

This case study identifies design decisions that generated significant constructability benefits on a concrete pier project at San Diego, California. The new 152 m (1,500-foot) pier was built to support the utility needs of multiple stationed ships. The project was design-build with a fixed-price contract. Based on their experience with similar projects, the engineer and contractor incorporated several new design features to reduce the difficulty of the work, improve the productivity and safety of the operations, and reduce project cost and schedule. The engineer and contractor identified nine design features as most important in improving the constructability of the new pier: (1) Design of plumb rather than battered piles; (2) Optimal and uniform pile spacing; (3) Increased depth of pile dowel tubes; (4) Use of T-headed dowels over angled dowels; (5) Pile caps embedded in concrete deck; (6) Design of flush deck soffit; (7) Reduced variety of rebar sizes; (8) Increased depth of concrete rebar cover; and (9) Minimizing expansion joints.