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BRIEF SNAPSHOT OF PROJECT REPORT
This report covers the geotechnical investigations, geotechnical characterization and modeling of the "significant volume" for the designed project, and the investigation on the soil-structure interaction to correctly design the propose foundations. This was prepared by the engineer on the basis of data from a testing campaign and/or laboratory tests.
The project involve massive concrete and steel construction works. it is a cradle slipway meant for dry docking of marine vessle within safe sevice load of the vessel self weight and gross tonnage.
The slipway structure is service by an electrical powered winch capable of launching the 7,000 tonnage vessle by the pulley block with optimum water draft and gradient.
The following finite element analysis programme has been used for plotting, accurate data acquisition and to perfectly simulate horizontal and vertical member loadings and reactions, please see a short summary of the design approach below:
All member design and analysis has been from first principle theory, anchoring on the ultimate and serviceability limit state loading with bias for proper load factoring to allow for longer life span of the structure ensuring that all loaded structure are in equilibrium of forces without any undue external effect.
The loading on the concrete slipway platform has been properly simulated with a moving load at interval of one meter which is coming from the support roller of the cradle compartment or carrier.
The vertical reactions and the resolve component force was used for axial support consideration while the horizontal reactions has been applied against the winch foundation structure and are free due to sliding effect by the pulling force from the winch.
The moving load is applied over the entire lenght of the concrete slipway which is directed at the support strip foundation beam and is equally distributed over the foundation plate and subsoil.
The same moving load magnitude had been applied on the steel beam extending into the river but only at the region within the creek as this is the region receiving full cradle support load because upthrust or bouyancy effect acting on vessel has been lost.
Every other region along the cradle rail line under the river is receiving the full upthrust load on the vessel which will equally cancel out the effect of the gravity load on the cradle. Hence, the entire cradle slipway structure was analyse and properly simulated by the help of the below listed finite element analysis programme.
1. Dlubal - Structural and Foundation design analysis programme
2. GEO5 - Geotechnical Analysis programme
3. NoVoLab & Labsuite - Geotechnical Laboratory programme
All design, also had been carried out by the European code of practise as enshrined in the following:
1. EN1990 - Member loading
2. Eurocode 2 - Concrete design
3. Eurocode 3 - Steel design
4. Eurocode 7 - Foundation design
