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D LLL LIL TLL 14.1 INTRODUCTION Accofferdam is a temporary structure. Its normally constructed to divert water ina river or to keep, away water from an enclosed area in order to construct a permanent structure. A bridge pier in a standing water may be constructed by first constructing cofferdam around the site and then pumping. ‘out water from the site to enable the construction work to go on in a dry condition. During the entire period of construction a certain amount of pumping is constantly needed to keep away the water that leaks through the dam and foundation, Cofferdams are of many types. The relative merits of the various types are: 1. Cantilever sheet pile cofferdams (Fig. 14.1 a). They are suitable in eases where the height of dam is very small. Such dams are normally subjected to lage leakage and flood damage. Braced cofferdams [Fig. 14.1 (6). They are economical for small to moderate heights, They are also susceptible to floods damage. 3. Earth embankments. There is no limitation to height bu the construction occupies more time and space 4. Double-wall cofferdams (Fig, 14.1 ()). They are suitable for moderate height. 5. Celhularcofferdams (Fig, 14.1 (¢)]. These dams are suitable frm moderate to large heights. ‘They can constantly be used in excavation in water. When the excavation isin large area overlain by water, asin a river or lake bottom, cellular cofferdams are generally used to provide a water barrier. This typeof structure is widely used to provide a dry work area where dams are constructed in rivers, and for waterfront construction. ‘The cellular structure shown in Fig. 14.2 is economical since stability is achieved by using a soil cell fill for mass, which is relatively cheap. The intemal bracings which would obstruct the work area are avoided, The shect piling may be pulled out and reused. It is not usually necessary to drive the piling to great depths in the natural soi, thus avoiding damage to the piles during driving. To achieve a cell which is stable against bursting it is necessary thatthe sheet piling be driven so that continuity of interlocks is maintained. The cellular type is more watertight than the braced cofferdam. The construction problem is relatively simple. The design procedures of double-wall cofferdams and cellular cofferdams are fundamentally the same. The basic principles of design of these dams are discussed in this chapter 594 Advanced Foundation Engineering Strut TS Ti Sheet pile I Anchor rod KF sheeting Backiil wale |" z @ © © @ © Diaphragms Granular fill Tie-rods Inner sheet Outer sheet Pile wall pile wall ® @ Fig. 14.1 Use of shoot piles: (a) Cantilever sheet ples, (b) anchored bulk head, (c) braced sheeting in cuts, (4) single cell cofferdam, (e) celular coferdam, () cellular cofierdam, laphragm type, and (g) double sheet pile walls 142 CELLULAR COFFERDAMS Cellular cofferdams are basically of two types as shown in Fig, 14.2. They are 1. Circular type. 2. Diaphragm type. Circular Type Circular type consists of individual large diameter circles connected together by ares of smaller diameter. These arcs usually intersect the circles at point at 30° or 45° with the longitudinal axis of| the cofferdam. They are often perpendicular tothe circle, but occasionally different angles may be used. Advantages of the Curcular Type 1. The circular type can be used singularly ina group or at end, 2. Itwill not collapse in the event of failure of adjoining cells (due to interlock damage, sudden floods, etc.) vutar Cotterctams 595 Bor orase B= 0.785 0875 D (@ Circular ype (©) Diaphragm type Fig. 14.2 Colluiar cotterdams 3. Each cell can be filled independent of the other without hampering the progress of work, 4, Itrequites less number of piles per lineal metre of cofferdam as compared with the diaphragm type of an equal design, Diaphragm Type It consists of two series of arcs connected together by diaphragms perpendicular to the axis of the cofferdam. Generally the radii of these arcs are made equal to the distances between the diaphragms. At the intersection point the two arcs and the diaphragm make an angle of 120° ‘between each other. Advantages of the Diaphragm Type 1. Ithas uniform interlock stress throughout the section at any given level. The stress is smaller than atthe point of circular cell of comparable design. 2. It cam be widened readily by increasing the length of the diaphragm if it is required for stability, This will not increase the interlock stress which is a function of the radius of the arc, 14.3 COMPONENTS OF CELLULAR COFFERDAMS A.cellular cofferdam is made of: 1. Steel celts 2. Cell fil, 596 Advanced Foundation Engineering Steel Cells ‘Steel cells are fabricated out of stell sheet piles. In large diameter cells any two adjacent piles are almost on a straight line, In smaller cells, however, each sheet pile must deflect ata relatively large angle from the straight line in order to form the desired circle. Cell Fills ‘The material used for the cell fill should have the following properties. 1, The fill should be free-draining granular soil with little fine particles, 2. It should possess high angle of friction, 3. The fill should be as dense as possible. 4. Itshould possess large resistance to scour and leakage. Well graded soils are most suitable. ‘Normally, natural deposits of mixed sand and gravel possess all of these desirable properties and as such are the best materials for the cell fll 14.4 DIMENSIONS OF CELLULAR COFFERDAM ‘The height ofa cofferdam is fixed on the basis ofthe maximum flood level inthe river whete it is to be constructed. Its diameter is based on the safety requirements. The desigh ofthe cofferdam begins ‘with a tentative proportion which is subsequently analysed for stability and other safety requirements, ‘The design is usually made on the basis ofa section onc metre long with a uniform average width B hich is used in the design calculations. For the design purposes, a simple procedure may be used ‘whereby the average widih is determined such that the area in the rectangular section and that in the actual cofferdam are equal Let, B= Average width L = distance centre to centre of cell ‘Then, 1 ~ 222 ofmsin cll + Area of connecting cll L ‘The average width B of cells ranges from 0.785D to 0.875D where D is the diameter of cell 14.5 STABILITY OF CELLULAR COFFERDAMS There area few methods of design of cellular cofferdams available in technical literature, The method. that is described in this book is the one that is largely used by TVA (1957) engineers. The tentative dimensions that are initially assumed are to be checked for their safety requirements. The preliminary dimensions assumed for cofferdams should satisfy the following stability requirements, Cofferdams on Rock 1. Resistance to sliding ‘The lateral and vertical forces that at on acellular cofferdam are shown in Fig. 14.3 (a). The forces P= The lateral pressure due to water and the submerged weight of soil below the river ‘bed, This pressure tends to push the cell away from its position. W = Effective weight ofthe fill material which isa sum ofthe submerged weight below the saturation line (assumed at 2 1 slope) and the total weight above the saturation line, a Coottular Cotterdams 597 P,, = Passive pressure. If there is no berm on the wall side, the passive pressure which resists the movement ofthe cell is duc to the soil below the river bed level. Ifa berm is provided to add to stability, the passive pressure duc to the berm should also be taken into account, = The frictional resistance that is developed at the base of the cell, This is equal 10 W tan 6 for soil to soil sliding atthe base. A cofferdam should provide adequate resistance to sliding on the base caused by the lateral pressure P (taken per unit length of cell) acting on the cell face on the river side. The factor of safety, F,,, against sliding may be written as Pt ky P The factor of safety should be greater than 1. Amaximum value of 1.25 may be used inthe analysis, aay 2. Resistance to Overturning ‘The cofferdam should be stable against overturning, The stability to overturning may be checked by two methods. (@ Check for the resultant weight to fall within the middle-third of the base of cell Fig. 143 0) “The overturning moment Mp due othe lateral pressure P is My = PF (14.2) ‘Where 7 is the point of application of P above the base. ing Moment M, due to reaction atthe base is M, © We yHBe (143) Where 1 = effective unit weight of th fill material, jcight of fill, erage width of cell, a oa 4. THB (4a) Since soil cannot take tension, the safety requirement is -77 <2 © Tp 6 as) Equation (14.5) indicates that the width of the cell should be increased as the height of the cell increases so thatthe reaction may fall within the middle third. (®) Check for frictional resistance of the steel piling on the cell fil material ‘The resistance to overtuiming may be analysed in a different way as shown in Fig. 14.3 (c). One ‘may argue that as the cell tends to tip over, the soil will pour out atthe heel. For this to occur the 598 Advanced Foundation Engineering frictional resistance of the steel piling on the cell fills to be fully developed. On this side of the cell the water pressure P,, is pushing the piling against the fll so thatthe friction force per unit length of cell is P,, tan 8 where 6 is the angle of wall friction between soil and the pile, The resisting shear force acts downward on the wall ofthe pile as shown-in the Fig. 14.3 (). The overturning moment about the toe of the cell (point 4 in the figure) is My = Py" 04.6) The resisting moment is M, = PyBrand 47) Ifthe cofferdam is o be stable, the resisting moment should be more than the overturning moment or factor of safety F, may be written as PBtand Brand BY y (148) A factor of safety of 1.1 to 1.25 is generally suggested. 3. Cell Shear Overtuming moments on a cell develops shear stress on a vertical plane through the centre line of the cell as shown in Fig. 14.3 (@) For stability te shearing resistance along this plane which isthe sum of sol shear resistance and resistance in the interlocks, must be equal to or greater than the shear due to overtuming effets. Refering 1 Fig 143 (d) and assuming a linear pressure distribution across the base of the cell, the overturning moment due tothe overturning shear force developed at the base is My = 2/3. BY (149) Where 2/3 B= lever arm of the shearing force V acting as a couple. Solving for the overturning shear on the plane through the centre line, we have = 1540 (14.10) The total resisting shear, ‘The resisting shear in the sol. 5, sisting shear S, inthe soil, + Resisting shear in the locks, F, is given by the expression S= Fur Rang aan where K , = Coefficient of earth pressure which is found to be greater than the active earth pressure coefficient K;, The expression for determining Kas proposed by TVA (1987) is 0s? } 2-cos? > ca) where $ = angle of the intemal friction of the fill material ‘The frictional force in the interlock is computed as follows: Hoop tension per unit depth of wall in the interlock at any depth from the surface T= p,r where, p, = Lateral pressure on the wall at any depth = from the surface of fill, 1 Radius of the cell Cantar Cottertams 599 L Santon ine [~ ? —} he @ © Fig. 143 Stabiliy of cofferdams Since p, increases with the depth, the total hooptension force for cell of total depth His 1 T= Sy HaKur (14.13) where, y= effective unit weight of fill material, K, = Coefficient of earth pressure due to Rankine or Coulomb. Ifa sheet pile rests on a rock bed ors embedded in sila restraining force preventing the lateral ‘movement ofthe cell is developed at the base. This effect causes the maximum pressure to be developed at a depth H’ ~ 0.75 H= height ofthe sheet piling above the point of fixity, or embedment. ‘The depth ofthe point of fixity from the opis taken. Fora practical purposes a the average ofthe total height ofthe cll and the depth of water above 0.75 #, the riverbed, The triangular distribution of earth pressure p forthe entre eight of shee piling is shown in Fig. 144). When fixity condition prevails, the soil pressure distribution will be as shown in Fig. 144 (. The area of this triangle gives the total lateral earth pressure acting onthe cell. If we assume the pressure distribution onthe entire height H of piling with the fixity condition prevailing at depth, the ftal lateral earth pressure is 600 Advanced Foundation Engineering ot 1 H L @ HK, ©) Fig. 14.4 Earth pressure distribution on the sheet-piling wall 1 Py = 5 YH(O.TSH,) Ky (14.14) Therefore, the adjusted hoop-tension force is 1 T= Pyr= 5 YH (OSH) Kar = 318 HH.Kyr (4.5) The friction force in the interlock i, therefore Fy = 1 318y HH. Ky (14.16) where f= Coefficient of interlock friction which may be taken as 0.3, Since the analysis is usually performed on a unit length of cell (say 1 metze length), the shear resistance per unit length of cel is Fo Be seyan.x, st (4.ayy where = distance between cross-walls for diaphragm type cellular dams, and [.~r, the radius, for circular cells. ‘The hoop tension per unit length of circular cell is, therefore 318 yHH,K, f (14.18) The total cell shear resistance, F,, is, therefore, for a circular cell type cofferdam «tan 6+ 3/8 y HH, Ky f (14.19) 1 Fas 3m ‘The factor of safety, F for the overturning shear force may be written as Fa 0% -= (14,208) ee eotutar Cotterctzms 601 2B “ © 3Mp (14.200) The factor of safety recommended varies from 1.1 t0 1.25, 4, Resistance to Bursting ‘The cell should be stable against bursting pressure. The critica locations ar inthe interlock points and in the T's and Y's used forthe connecting area. The bursting pressure is the maximum hoop- tension developed inthe interlock at a depth H’ from the surface of ill. The maximum pressure p, at depth H’ = 0.7511 as shown in Fig. 14.4 (b) i equal to Pa = TH’ Ky The bursting pressure Tat depth H’, is therefore T= par + Yq”, per unit depth of wall (1421) where ‘Ye = Unit weight of water, HI" = Depth of water above the point of maximum pressure p, Te allowable value forthe interlock tension 7, depends onthe size and shape of the rolled steel pile sections. The computed maximum interlock tension, should not exceed the maximum stress specified by the manufacturers of ste! sheet piles. ‘According to the Tennesse Valley Authority (TVA), the stress 7” in a 90°-Tee, used for the connecting arc, can be obtained as an approximation from r cos where 'is obtained from Eq, (14.21), and @ is the angle of intersection of the connecting arcs as shown in Fig. 14.2 (a) Cofferdams on Deep Layers of Sand or Clay The principle of analysis cofferdams founded on deep layers of sand or clay is the same as that applied to cofferdams on rock, fn addition, the following requirements must be saisied. 1. ‘The shect pling must be driven to such a depth at which level the bearing capacity of the soil should be atleast 1.5 times the maximum vertical pressure transmitted tothe sol by the cellfil “The maximum pressure transiitted tothe soil by the ellill when the sheet pile is subjected to lateral force may be writen as F,- ure, tan (i423) where F, = Vertical pressure per unit length of sheet of piling, ‘y © Effective unit weight of cell fill, H = Height of cell, K, = Coefficient of active earth pressure, 5 = Angle of friction between cell fill and pling. 602 Advanced Foundation Engineering 2. Cellular cofferdams to be founded on sand bed should be designed to prevent boiling at the toc due to seepage of water, Figure 14.5 gives the section of a cellular cofferdam founded on sand with the flow nets drawn, Due to high permeability of the soil, water retained.on behind the dam percolates below its base at a relatively large velocity and rise up in front of the toe, If the seepage pressure in front of the toc is more than the buoyant weight of the soil, boiling of sand or quick sand condition develops. The danger of boiling can readily be eliminated by the use of loaded filter. As an alternative, the sheet piling may be driven to a great depth in order to eliminate the boiling condition. The depth of shect piling below the bed level required for this purpose is approximately equal to 0.67 H where HY is the height sheet pile above bed, Saturation line Graded fiter Fig, 14.5 Seepage in cellular cofterdam is sand 3. Cellular Cofferdams founded on clay should be investigated for the bearing capacity ofthe clay atthe toe end ofthe dam. The maximum height of the Cofferdam above the bed evel is a function of the undrained shear strength of clay. The equation for the critical height H, may be waitten as A, =5.7 « (14.24) where cy = undrained shear strength of clay, = effective unit weight of cell fill Ifa minimum factor of safety of 1.5 is used, the allowable height of cofferdam above the clay bed is 1-38 % (14.25) Cellular Cotferdams 603 14.6 EXAMPLES Example 14.1 Design a cellular cofferdam diaphragm type, with the dimensions given in Fig, Ex. 14.1: The other available data are (0 Unit weight of fill above saturation line, yard? (i Submerged unit weight of fill and soil outside the cell, yr dla (ii) Angle of intemal friction of fill and soil, = 30° (iv) Frictional co-efficient of fill on rock, f= 057 (9) Interlock friction, s03 (vi) Interlock tension allowed, T= 1450 kg/cm (vid) Frictional coefficient of steel on fill, feos (vit) Allowable steel tensile stress, f= 1800 kg/em? Solution Let B= actual width of cell +b = average width of cell = A+ 1.82r 4 = distance between the centres of curvature radius of the curved portion of cell, 1. Sliding stability: The average width bis used in the stability analysis, Weight of fill above rock level per unit length of cell = Wome, where, WF, = weight of fill above saturation line, Ws, = Weight of fill below saturation line, m= petra +1 + 5/2) b tonnes, 1 Wy = 5 * 1d (IS + 15~b/2)b tonnes, 604 Advanced Foundation Engineering Therefore W = 18.26— 0.0256? ‘The frictional resistance due tothe cell weight at the rock level (neglecting the weight of the steel pole wall) is Fy = FW = 0.57 (18.26 ~ 0.02567) Passive pressure lod 7 WHPKp= 5 * 1 x62 % tan? (45° + 30/2) = 59 tonnes The driving force Py is Py = Py + Py Saturation Tne | Fig. Bx. 14.1 Total pressure due to water, Active pressure due to soil, 1 «1 * 152= 112.5 tonnes, 1 2 = Se 1x6 x03: tonnes, Poa xl S tonnes, P= 112.5 + 6.5= 119.0 tonnes. Cellular Cotferdams 605 057(1826~00256°) +59 i The quai uation nb maybe wrens 0,014b? - 10.4 + 90 = 0 Solving for b, we have bo 88m 2. Width to satisfy overturning with a factor of safety 1.25 overturning moment Mg, My~ Pax Bryn Sor $ = 1125 %5+65* 2-592 457.5 m-tonnes “The maximum allowable eccentricity is a) 6 For stability, we may write the equation = MF, Therefore, (18.26~0.0256%) 2 = 4515 «1.28 572 ‘The value of 6 = 14 m by trial and error method. Next check overturning from shea of piling on cot fi Summing moments about the toc, we obtain POP y= MoF, Mok, _ 4575x125 Pe” 04x15 ‘The controlling width, b= 14 m. = 127m 3. Check shear along centre line of cell and interlock friction. Assume the radius of Cell r = the distance between diaphragms. ‘The total weight of soil inthe cell per metre length = 18.2 14- 0.025 « 147 = 250 tonnes ‘The average unit weight of the fill in the cell ae) “Ye Texia = 1.15 tonnes/m? 606 Advanced Foundation Engineering The lateral pressure coefficient for = 30° is - cos? 0.75, Ram at - Paco 2-078 06 where, tan § = 0.577 The soil shear resistance S, along the centre line ofthe cell i (assuming average unit weight Yall? Kg tang bias. 16°06 «0577-31 ames 6+9 2 For computing interlock shear F., assume H,= RSm Fe V8 yy HHK Sf 3/8 « 15 * 16 125 033 «03 = 8.6 tonnes. ‘The shear on the centre lin of the cell due to overturning is 1SMy _ 1.5%4575 o 4 9 tonnes Sith _ s1+86 7 0 = 1.22% 1.25 4. Check for interlock tension: The depth at which maximum pressure occurs on the cell wal is HY = WA H,= 314% 125 =9.37 mi; Hi, = 9.0~(10-9.37)= 837 m Ge = YaH'Ky + YH! 15 «9.37 x033-41%*837 = 356+ 8.37~= 11.93 tonness/m? The safety factors F, = gor Interlock tension, 4° sonnes/em, where isin metres US8r = 0.1193; i Tog, 70-1193" tonnes em For T'less than or equal to 1.45 tonnes /cm te eames 0.1193 meiam ‘The interlock tension T= 0.1193 12= 1.43 Tem Cellular Cotterdams 607 Assuming thickness of web = 1.25 em, the web stress 1.43 = Tag ol tonnes/99, em < 1.5 tonnes em 2 ‘The final cell dimensions are (Fig. Ex. 14.1) The distance between diaphragm L. = 12m. Actual width of cell, Be 14=A+2r Average width of cel, b= 14=4+1.82r = A+21.84 Solving for B, we have B = 16.16m with B Example 14.2 Design a circular type cofferdam by making use of the data given in Ex, 14.1 Solution Al computations remain the same as in Ex, 14.1. The diameter D of the cell is obtained from bw 0875” 0875 i pe Mo M93 x16 foope tension ig 7 0x2 = 0.95 tonnes/em < 1.45 Tiem The stress in the Tee is 095 © Gos 45° = 1,39 tonnes/om ‘The final dimensions for a circular cell are b= 14m, 14.7 QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 14.1 What are the different types of cellular cofferdams? Discuss their advantages and disadvantages. 14.2. Whatare the components of acellular cofferdam? What are the desirable properties of fill in acell? 14.3 Find the depth of embedment of a diaphragm type cofferdam of total width B = 7 m and height above ground level = 7 m. Provide a factor of safety of 1.2, Use the other data given in Ex. 14.1, The dam retains water on one side up to the top.

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