Laserfiche WebLink
GEI Consultants | City of Sunny Isles Beach | RFQ 26-07-01 47 <br />Bridge Fender Replacement Designs <br />Dade and Palm Beach Counties, Florida <br />Bedford Technology (now Tangent Materials) and M&J Construction <br />Two fender replacement projects located in South Florida. The William <br />Powell Bridge is located in Dade County and crosses Key Biscayne. The <br />Blue Heron Bridge is located in Palm Beach County and crosses the <br />Intracoastal Waterway. The existing fenders were removed and replaced <br />with new composite piles and fenders made of recycled plastic and <br />fiberglass materials. <br />GEI was responsible for the geotechnical design of the piles and the structural design of <br />the fender system. The analysis and design of the bridge fender systems followed the <br />FDOT Structures Design Guide Volume 1 Section 3.14.D using the computer program, FB- <br />Multipier, developed by the Bridge Software Institute at the University of Florida. This design <br />procedure confirms that the fender system is capable of satisfying the energy requirements <br />identified by the designer for vessel impacts. The process involves the following steps: <br />• Determine the minimum tip elevation for a single pile based on a scour condition which <br />can achieve the maximum pile moment capacity. <br />• Perform a linear analysis to calculate the loading that will satisfy the required energy <br />capacity of the entire fender system. <br />• Perform a non-linear analysis for the fender piles to confirm that the loading results in <br />an acceptable internal bending moment. <br />• Check that the calculated maximum deflection will not encroach on the <br />bridge structure. <br />• Size the terminus piles so that the 3-pile cluster has an acceptable flexural stiffness. <br />• Design fender wale plates so they can transfer shear and moment across the joints. <br />The design of the composite pile and fender system was performed for the supplier of <br />the materials and submitted as a value-engineered alternate system. The system was <br />selected by FDOT. <br />GEI prepared full design drawings and calculation packages submitted to FDOT for their <br />approval and then for construction of the system. GEI also provided engineering support <br />during construction. This involved submittal and RFI reviews and providing calculations of <br />as-built conditions to confirm the design intent was satisfied. <br />DATES <br />2019-2020 <br />CLIENT REFERENCE <br />Available upon request <br />KEY ELEMENTS <br />• Bridge Fender and Pile <br />Design <br />• FB-Multipier Design <br />• Construction Drawing <br />Generation <br />• Construction Support