Speaker
Description
This abstract presents further development and evaluation of a novel reusable passive energy dissipation system designed to protect bridge piers and offshore structures from ship collisions. Growing maritime traffic, increasing vessel sizes, and recent bridge allision incidents have highlighted the need for more effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient protection systems. Existing solutions, such as dolphins and artificial islands, are often expensive, non-reusable, and limited in their ability to provide comprehensive protection.
The proposed concept combines pneumatic fenders, solid rubber fenders, and a structural containment barrier to absorb and dissipate impact energy while also reducing peak collision forces. The system utilizes controlled deformation and increased stopping distance to minimize structural damage and distribute loads over a larger area. A modular design approach enables adaptation to various bridge geometries and impact scenarios.
This concept has been evaluated through theoretical analyses, a bridge case study, and scaled experimental impact testing using a pendulum setup. Results demonstrated a significant reduction in peak impact forces compared to direct impacts, confirming the effectiveness of combining pneumatic and solid rubber components. The findings indicate that the proposed system has strong potential as a reusable and sustainable alternative to conventional collision protection methods.
| Topic Area | Structural Safety, Integrity Management and Life Extension of Structures |
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