Structural failure of old reinforced concrete river wharf

Abstract

According to the archival documentation the river harbour wharf was constructed around 1912. The quay was divided into 6 separated segments with a length of 32.0 m each. The structure of the wharf consists of the reinforced concrete frames situated perpendicularly to the riverbed. At ground level, the frames are connected by a reinforced concrete deck and longitudinal beams, located along the side of the river and the quay. The frames are also connected along the riverside by the concrete cap situated at the top of the retaining wall made of prefabricated panels and embedded in the bottom of the river. That wall constitutes a direct strengthening and protection of the embankment against the influence of the flowing river water. Basing on the performed inventory inspections, material examination, structural calculations and hydro-geotechnical analyses, the main reasons for the failure of the reinforced concrete wharf of the Odra River were defined. They were: very poor technical condition of the structure, lack of stabilizing anchors at the level of the wharf structure frames, and sudden fluctuations in water level in the river and their impact on the structure of the wharf. Moreover, from a static point of view, the embankment under the wharf was in an unstable equilibrium and at any time it could be damaged if additional horizontal forces were applied to it. Additionally, the possible impact of anchoring to the piers of the wharf of two river barges on wharf structure capacity was also analyzed.