ConcreeT

Amazonehaven pile toe failure – Quay wall structure

Extreme folding damage of open-ended tubular piles can occur during piling operations, particularly in onshore projects. In the Amazonehaven, the removal of a quay wall offered a unique opportunity to study king pile toe failures under both static and dynamic loads. While these failures were initially attributed to dynamic loads causing uniaxial extreme deformations, further research revealed that hammer-induced stresses remained below the material’s yield strength in local soil conditions. This indicates that dynamic loading alone cannot fully explain the damage observed. Instead, additional factors such as initial dents and pile inclination play a crucial role in triggering toe failure. Such damage is not merely a technical issue but can compromise the long-term functionality of quay walls. In turn, this may necessitate costly interventions such as replacement, early maintenance, or a reduction in structural capacity.

These consequences not only affect safety and stability but also impose financial risks due to reduced revenues from asset malfunction. To mitigate these risks, proactive countermeasures and process-based improvements in piling practice are essential. By implementing such strategies, the probability of pile toe failure can be significantly reduced, ensuring safer and more reliable quay wall performance.

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