Case History
Geotechnical Design of Transition Structures for the Port
Botany Expansion
James McIlquham
Golder Associates, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Abstract:-
The Port Botany Expansion (PBE) project involves the construction of an extension to the existing port in Sydney, Australia. The transition between the new structures and the existing Brotherson Dock (EBD) structures is a critical aspect of the geotechnical design. The Client, Sydney Ports Corporation (SPC), specified tight differential movement and settlement limitations for the transition between the new and old structures, including a stringent 5mm differential movement limit (horizontal and vertical) up to 20 years after handover of the new terminal. The subsequent geotechnical and structural design of transition structures included measures to comply with these movement limits. The Main Contractor, Baulderstone Hornibrook – Jan de Nul (BHJDN) are carrying out construction trials, in-situ testing and movement monitoring to assess performance against Golder Associates’ (Golder) design predictions. This paper describes the key design issues, design approach and verification processes established to confirm the predicted behaviour of the structures and surface infrastructure in order to satisfy criteria extending up to
50 years following handover.
Introduction
The PBE project comprises a new container terminal on the north-eastern shore of Botany Bay, about 12 kilometres south of the Sydney CBD. The new terminal lies between the existing port and the parallel runway at Sydney International Airport, extending approximately 550 metres west and 1,300 metres north of the northern quay of the EBD container terminal and covering an area of approximately 63 hectares. The project includes reclamation of the terminal area from Botany Bay and construction of 2 kilometres of berth structures, breakwaters, bridges, access corridors and revetments associated with the port facility.
In this paper the writer discusses the geotechnical design of the transition structures that connect the new and existing container terminals. Two anchored caisson structures weighing 2100t (Main Blockwork) and
684t (Infill Blockwork) form the transition with the EBD. Geotechnical analyses and design work included all aspects of geotechnical stability and serviceability design of retaining structures, including assessing the effect on the existing structures.
Figure 1: Plan View of Port Botany Expansion Project
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