Guide Specification and

Commentary for
Vessel Collision Design
of Highway Bridges

Volume I: Final Report

February 1991

©Copyright, 1991, by the American Association of State Highway and

Transportation Officials. All Rights Reserved. Printed in theUnited States of America.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without written permission
of the publishers.

Published by the

American Association of
State Highway and
Transportation
Officials

444 North Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 225

Washington, D.C. 20001

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 PREFACE

This document contains specifications for the vessel • Mr. Joseph Leathem, New York State Highway
collision design of highway bridges. The specifications Department
are the recommendations of a team of internationally • Mr. Wilbur F. Massey and Mr. Julian R. Barks-
recognized experts, composed of consulting engineers, dale, Mississippi State Highway Department
state highway engineers and federal agency representa- • Mr. William J. McAteer, Alabama Highway De-
tives from throughout the United States. The specifica- partment
tions are comprehensive in nature and embody new • Mr. Charles Purkiss, California Department of
concepts which have not been included in previous Transportation
design provisions. They are based on both the observed • Mr. John L. Smith, Jr., North Carolina Depart-
performance of bridges during past vessel collisions and ment of Transportation
on recent research conducted in the United States and • Mr. Allan H. Walley and Mr. Charles S. Gloyd,
abroad. A commentary documenting the basis for the Washington State Department of Transportation
specifications and examples illustrating their use are • Mr. Luis Ybanez, Texas State Department of
included. Highways and Public Transportation
This document was prepared for the Federal Highway • Mr. Allen F. Laffoon, Missouri Highway and
Administration (FHWA), Office of Research, Structures Transportation Department
Division, under pooled fund contract DTFH61-88-C-
00011 and was sponsored by eleven (11) States. The The second review committee consisted of the mem-
Specifications were developed by Greiner, Inc., Irving, bers of the "AASHTO Special Ad Hoc Committee for
Texas, a consulting engineering firm under contract to Pier Protection from Vessel Collision" as listed below:
the FHWA. The principal investigator for Greiner was
Mr. Michael A. Knott. Subconsultants to Greiner were • Mr. William Conway, Modjeski and Masters, Con-
Cowiconsult Ltd., Copenhagen, Denmark (Mr. Ole sulting Engineers
Damgaard Larsen); Rowe Research and Engineering, • Mr. Antonio M. Garcia, Florida Department of
Inc., Alexandria, Virginia (Dr. William Rowe); and Transportation
Mr. Gerhard Woisin, a consulting naval architect from • Mr. Norval P. Knapp and Mr. Louis A. Garrido,
Hamburg, West Germany. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Devel-
To ensure representative input and adequate consider- opment
ation of the many factors involved, two technical • Mr. Thomas Kuesel, Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade
committees were established to review and comment on and Douglas, Consulting Engineers
the Specification as it was being developed. • Mr. Allen F. Laffoon, Missouri Highway and
The first review committee consisted of FHWA repre- Transportation Department
sentative Mr. Eric Munley, and members from each of • Mr. James Rayburn, Illinois Department of Trans-
the pooled-fund sponsoring states as listed below: portation
• Mr. John Robb, New York State Department of
• Dr. T. "Joe" Bhuvasorakul, Florida Department of Transportation
Transportation • Mr. James Roberts, California Department of
• Mr. Donald J. Flemming, Minnesota Department Transportation
of Transportation • Mr. Roiger Svensson, Leonhardt, Andra and Part-
• Mr. Norval P. Knapp and Mr. Louis A. Garrido, ners, Consulting Engineers
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Devel- • Mr. Luis Ybanez, Texas State Department of
opment Highways and Public Transportation

iv

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1-INTRODUCTION

1.1 PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.3 BASIC CONCEPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.4 DESIGN ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.5 nOWCHARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

SECTION 2-SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS 5

SECTION 3-GENERAL PROVISIONS

3.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.2 APPLICABILITY OF SPECIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.3 IMPORTANCE CLASSIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.4 DATA COLLECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.5 VESSEL TYPE AND CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3.5.1 Barge Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.5.2 Ship Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.5.3 Special Vessels .............. . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.6 DESIGN VESSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3. 7 DESIGN IMPACT SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.8 VESSEL COLLISION ENERGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.9 SHlP COLLISION FORCE ON PIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.10 SHIP BOW DAMAGE DEPTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.11 SHIP COLLISION FORCE ON SUPERSTRUCTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.11.1 Bow Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.11.2 Deckhouse Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.11.3 Mast Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
3.12 BARGE COLLISION FORCE ON PIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.13 BARGE BOW DAMAGE DEPTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.14 IMPACT LOAD COMBINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.15 LOCATION OF IMPACT FORCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.15.1 Substructure Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.15.2 Superstructure Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.16 MINIMUM IMPACT REQUIREMENT . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.17 BRIDGE PROTECTION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

SECTION 4-DESIGN VESSEL SELECTION

4.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . 22

4.1.1 Design Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.1.2 Selection of Design Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
[Link] Method I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
[Link] Method I l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
[Link] Method III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.2 WATERWAY CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.2.1 Channel Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.2.2 Water Depths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4.2.3 Water Currents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
vi CONTENTS

4.3 BRIDGE CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ........ 23

4.4 VESSEL CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ...... .. 23
4.5 IMPACT DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ....... . 23
4.6 DESIGN LOADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ...... .. 25
4.7 METHOD I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ....... . 25
4.7.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ...... .. 25
4.7.2 Design VVessel Acceptance Criteria . .. . . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ....... . 25
4.8 METHOD Il . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ....... . 25
4.8.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ..... ... 25
4.8.2 Design VVessel Acceptance Criteria . .. . . .. . . . . . . ...... .. .. . ...... .. 25
4.8.3 Annual Frequency of Collapse . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . . ..... .. .. . ....... . 25
[Link] Vessel Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
[Link] Probability of Aberrancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . ••. 26
[Link] Geometric Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . . . . . . . . . •. 28
[Link] Probability of Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
4.9 METHOD III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . .... .... 28
4.9.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . ..... ... 28
4.9.2 Design Vessel Acceptance Criteria . . .. . . .. . . . . . . ........ .. . .. .. .... 30
4.9.3 Disruption Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . .. . . . . . . . .... .. . .. . ..... ... 30

SECTION 5--SUBSTRUCTURE PROVISIONS

5.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
5.2 ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
5.3 FOUNDATION DESIGN . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . ....... .. ...... .. 32

SECTION 6-CONCRETE AND STEEL DESIGN

6.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.2 REINFORCED CONCRETE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
6.3 STRUCTURAL STEEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

SECTION 7-BRIDGE PROTECTION DESIGN PROVISIONS

7.1 GENERAL...... ...................... ...................... 34

7.2 DESIGN LOADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.3 PHYSICAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.3.1 Fender System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
[Link] Timber Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
[Link] Rubber Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
[Link] Concrete Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
[Link] Steel Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.3.2 Pile Supported Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.3.3 Dolphin Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
7.3.4 Island Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.3.5 Floating Protection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.4 MOVABLE BRIDGE PROTECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.5 MOTORIST WARNING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.5.1 Hazard Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.5.2 Verification Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.5.3 Traffic Control and Information Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.6 AIDS TO NAVIGATION ALTERNATIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
7.6.1 Operational Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7.6.2 Standard Navigation Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 CONTENTS vii

7.6.3 Electronic Navigation Systems 39

SECTION 8--BRIDGE PROTECTION PLANNING GUIDELINES

8.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.2 LOCATION OF CROSSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.3 BRIDGE ALIGNMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.4 TYPE OF BRIDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.5 NAVIGATION SPAN CLEARANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.5.1 Horizontal Clearances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.5.2 Vertical Clearances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8.6 APPROACH SPANS............................................ 41
8.7 PROTECTION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8.8 PLANNING PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
8.8.1 Route Location Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8.8.2 Bridge Type, Size, and Location Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8.8.3 Preliminary and Final Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

COMMENTARY

SECTION Cl-INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
HISTORICAL COLLISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
DATA BASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
ACCURACY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

SECTION C3-GENERAL PROVISIONS

C3.2 APPLICABILITY OF SPECIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

C3.3 IMPORTANCE CLASSIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
C3.4 DATA COLLECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
C3.5 VESSEL TYPE AND CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
C3.5.1 Barge Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
C3.S.2 Ship Vessels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
C3.6 DESIGN VESSEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
C3.7 DESIGN IMPACT SPEED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
C3.8 VESSEL COLLISION ENERGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
C3.9 SHIPCOLLISION FORCE ON PIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
C3.10 SHIP BOW DAMAGE DEPTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
C3.11 SHIP COLLISION FORCE ON SUPERSTRUCTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
C3.12 BARGE COLLISION FORCE ON PIER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
C3.13 BARGE DAMAGE LENGTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
C3.14 IMPACT LOAD COMBINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
C3.15 LOCATION OF IMPACT FORCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
C3.15.1 Substructure Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
C3.1S.2 Superstructure Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
C3.16 MINIMUM IMPACT REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
viii CONTENTS

SECTION C4-DESIGN VESSEL SELECTION

C4.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C4.2 WATERWAY CHARACTERISTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C4.5 IMPACT DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C4.7 METHOD I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C4.7.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C4.7.2 Design VVessel Acceptance Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
C4.8 METHOD II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
C4.8.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
C4.8.2 Design VVessel Acceptance Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
C4.8.3 Annual Frequency of Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
C4.8.3.l Vessel Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
C4.8.3.2 Probability of Aberrancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
C4.8.3.3 Geometric Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
C4.8.3.4 Probability of Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
C4.9 METHOD III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
C4.9.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
C4.9.2 Design VVessel Acceptance Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
C4.9.3 Disruption Cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
SECTION CS-SUBSTRUCTU RE PROVISIONS

CS.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

SECTION C6-CONCRETE AND STEEL DESIGN

C6.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

SECTION C7-BRIDGE PROTECTION DESIGN PROVISIONS

C7.1 GENERAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
C7.2 DESIGN LOADS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
C7.3 PHYSICAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
C7.3.1 Fender Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
C7.3.1.l Timber Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
C7.3.1.2 Rubber Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
C7.3.1.3 Concrete Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
C7.3.1.4 Steel Fenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
C7.3.2 Pile Supported Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
C7.3.3 Dolphin Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
C7.3.4 Island Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
C7.3.5 Floating Protection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
C7.4 MOVABLE BRIDGE PROTECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
C7.5 MOTORIST WARNING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
C7.6 AIDS TO NAVIGATION ALTERNATIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

SECTION CS-BRIDGE PROTECTION PLANNING GUIDELINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 CONTENTS ix

APPENDICES A & B-WORKED EXAMPLES USING THE SPECIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

APPENDIX A-METHOD I WORKED EXAMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
APPENDIX B-METHODII WORKED EXAMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
X CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1.5-1. Design Procedure Flow Chart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Figure 1.5-2. Sub Flow Chart for Methods II and m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Figure 3.5.1-1. Typical Barge Characteristics. ............................... 10

Figure 3.5.1-2. Typical Barge Tow Configurations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Figure 3.5.2-1. Typical Ship Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Figure 3.5.2-2. Common Ship Bow Shapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Figure 3.5.2-3. Typical Ship Bow and Vertical Clearance Dimensions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Figure 3.5.2-4. Typical Ship Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Figure 3.5.2-5. Typical Ship Mast Clearance Heights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Figure 3.5.2-6. Typical Ship Deckhouse Clearance Heights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Figure 3. 7-1. Design Impact Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Figure 3.15.1-1. Ship Impact Concentrated Force on Pier (For Foundation Design
& Overall Stability) • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Figure 3.15.1-2. Ship Impact Line Load for Local Collision Force on Pier (For
Structure Check & Design) • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Figure 3.15.1-3. Barge Impact Line Load for Local Collision Force on Pier (For
Structure Check & Design) • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Figure 3.16-1. Broadside Barge Impact on Pier• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Figure 4.2.1-1. Single Transit Path in Channel Through Bridge. ................... 24

Figure 4.2.1-2. Passing Vessel Transit Paths in Channel Through Bridge. . ........... . 24

Figure [Link]-1. Waterway Regions for Bridge Location. 27

Figure [Link]-1. Geometric Probability of Pier Collision. 29

Figure [Link]-1. Probability of Collapse Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Figure 8.5.1-1. Bridge/Waterway Planning Geometry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Figure C3.5.2-1. Typical Mast Height Clearance Data for Loaded Freighter/
Container Ships. (See Figure 3.5.2-5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 CONTENTS xi

Figure C3.8-1. Portion of Collision Energy to be Absorbed by the Ship or Bridge

Structure in Relation to the Collision Angle and the Coefficient of
Friction [11). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Figure C3.9-1. Elevation View of Set-up for Woisin's Ship Model Collision Tests
at Howldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Hamburg [12). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Figure C3.9-2. Schematic Representation of Ship Impact Force History from

Collision Tests Conducted by Woisin, adapted from [15). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Figure C3.9-3. Impact Force, P, and Energy, E, in Relation to the Vessel Damage
Depth, a, adapted from [16). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Figure C3.9-4. Average Impact Force, P(t), for Bulk Carriers, adapted from
[12). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Figure C3.9-5. Probability Density Function of Impact Force Showing 70%

Fractile used for P8 , adapted from [12). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Figure C3.12-1. Dimensions of European Barge Type Ila, adapted from (9). . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Figure C3.12-2. Barge Impact Force (PB) and Deformation Energy (EB) Versus
Damage Length (aB)for European Barges Types II and Ila,
adapted from (9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Figure C3.15.1-1. Collapse of Pier 2S of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge Subsequent to

Impact by the Bow Overhang of the M/V Summit Venture,
adapted from [22). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Figure C3.15.1-2. Plan of Ship Bow Overhang Impacting Pier Behind Fender. . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Figure C3.15.1-3. Elevation of Barge Overhang Impacting Pier Behind Fender. . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Figure C4.8.2-1. Risk of Fatalities from Natural Events [4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Figure C4.8.2-2. Risk of Failure of Selected Engineering Projects (4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Figure C4.8.3.4-1. Fujii's Distribution Function for Damage Rate for Ships [2). . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Figure C4.8.3.4-2. Distribution Function for Relative Magnitude of the Collision Force
for Ships (22). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Figure C4.9.1-1. Typical Criteria for Acceptance Levels of Cost Effectiveness of

Risk Reduction (2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Figure C4.9.3-1. Illustrative Model of the Effectiveness of Dolphin Protection

Around a Bridge Pier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Figure C7.2-1. Damage to the Newport Bridge Main Pier After Collision with the
M/V Maersk (1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Figure C7.3.1.1-1. Timber Fender System on the Commodore John Barry Bridge,
New Jersey [6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
xii CONTENTS

Figure C7.3.1.2-1. Rubber Fender System of Passyunk Avenue Bridge, Philadelphia

[7]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Figure C7.3.1.3-1. Crushable Concrete Box Fender on the Francis Scott Key Bridge
Main Piers, Baltimore, Maryland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Figure C7.3.1.4-1. Framed Steel Fender System for Bisan-Seto Bridge, Japan [9]. . . . . . . . . . . 87
Figure C7.3.1.4-2. Load-Deformation Relationship of Framed Steel Fender Wall
[10]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Figure C7.3.2-1. Plan of 1961 Ship Collision with the Tromso Bridge, Norway
[11]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Figure C7.3.2-2. Detail of Destroyed Pile Supported Fender on the Tromso Bridge
due to a 1963 Ship Collision [11] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Figure C7.3.2-3. Pile Supported Protection System for the Tromso Bridge, Norway
[11]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Figure C7 .3.2-4. Plan of Pile Supported Pier Protection System Evaluated for the
Tasman Bridge, Australia [12]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Figure C7.3.2-S. Section of Pile Supported Pier Protection System Evaluated for the
Tasman Bridge [12]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Figure C7.3.2-6. Typical Pile Structure Geometry for Derucher's Dynamic Analysis
[2]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Figure C7.3.3-1. Collision Energy Absorbed by Dolphin Rotation and Sliding, and
by Crushing of Vessel Bow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Figure C7.3.3-2. Typical Dolphin Protective Cell on the Outerbridge Crossing, New
York, after [4]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Figure C7.3.3-3. Plan of Dolphin Protection System for the Outerbridge Crossing
of the Arthur Kill Waterway, New York [SJ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Figure C7 .3.3-4. Damage to Dolphin No. S of the Outerbridge Crossing due to Ship
Collision in 1987 [15]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Figure C7 .3.3-S. Dolphin and Island Protection System Plan for the Sunshine
Skyway Bridge, Tampa Bay [16]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Figure C7.3.3-6. Typical Dolphin Details for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge [16]. . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Figure C7.3.3-7. Dolphins Evaluated for Use on the Zarate-Brazo Largo Bridge,
Argentina [18]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Figure C7.3.3-8. Typical Dolphin Structure Geometry for Elastic Analysis [9]. . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Figure C7.3.4-1. Vertical Force Distribution of Ship Impact Force Through

Protective Island [24]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 CONTENTS xiii

Figure C7 .3.4-2. Horizontal Distribution of Ship Impact Force Thtough Protective

Island [24]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Figure C7.3.4-3. Island Collision Forces on Vessel and Bridge Pier from Impact of
150,000 DWT Tanker with 32.8-Foot Draft. Great Belt Bridge
Model Results [27]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Figure C7 .3.4-4. Great Belt Bridge Island Test Results for Bow Track of 250,000
DWT Tanker with a 32.8-Foot Draft [27]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . 106

Figure C7 .3.4-5. Comparison of Island Horizontal Forces for Rigid and Deformable
Bow Models of 250,000 DWT Tanker Head-on Collision. Great
Belt Bridge Study [27]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Figure C7.3.4-6. Sunshine Skyway Bridge Protective Island Typical Section (24). . . . . . . . . . . 107

Figure C7.3.4-7. Physical Model Test Layout for Ship Collisions Against the
Sunshine Skyway Bridge [28). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Figure C7 .3.4-8. Comparison of Great Belt and Sunshine Skyway Island Collision
Test Results [24]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Figure C7.3.4-9. Mathematical Model Result of an Empty, Trimmed, 850,000 DWT

Vessel
Impacting the Skyway Bridge Island at 10 Knots in Extreme
High Water [24] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Figure C7.3.4-10. Physical Model Results of 11,000 Ton VesselImpact with the
Orwell Bridge Protective Island (26]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Figure C7.3.4-11. Protective Island Typical Section for the Orwell Bridge, England
[26]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Figure C7 .3.4-12. Plan and Elevation of Annacis Island Bridge Protection Island
System, Vancouver, Canada [29) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Figure C7.3.5-1. Cable System Protection of Temporary Drilling Rig in the Akashi
Channel, Japan [30). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Figure C7 .3.5-2. Cable System Protection Proposed for the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge
Piers Across the Akashi Straits, Japan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Figure C7 .3.5-3. Cable System Evaluated for Use on the Tasman Bridge, Australia
[31]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Figure C7.3.5-4. Cable Capture of Vessel Depends Upon the Shape of the Vessel
Bow [31) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Figure C7 .3.5-5. Cable System Protecting Piers of the Taranto Bridge Across the
Mare Piccolo, Italy [18]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Figure C7.3.5-6. Force, Speed, Energy Relationships of the Taranto Bridge Cable
Protection System [18]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
xiv CONTENTS

Figure C7.3.S-7. Plan of Anchored Pontoon (Floating Buffer) Protection System

valuated for Use on the Zarate-Brazo Largo Bridge, Argentina
[32). (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Figure C7.3.5-8. Section of Anchored Pontoon (Floating Buffer) Protection System

for the Zarate-Brazo Largo Bridge [32]. (All Units are Metric) . . . . . . . . . . 116

Figure C8-1. Colliding Ship's LOA Versus Main Span of Bridge(s) [3]. ............. 121

Figure C8-2. Colliding Ship's Size(DWT) Versus Main Span of Bridge(s) [2]. . . . . . . . . . 121

Figure A4.2-1. Plan of Waterway/Channel/Bridge Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Figure A4.2-2. Profile of Water Depths in Waterway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Figure A4.4-1. Typical Barge Tow Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Figure A3.7-1. Design Impact Speed Distribution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Figure Bl-1. Bridge Profile for Method II Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Figure B3.7-1. Main Pier Design Impact Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Figure B4.8.3.3-1. Geometric Probability of Vessel Collision with the Main Pier. . . . . . . . . . . . 131

LIST OF TABLES

Table 3.S.1-1. Typical Characteristics of Barges on the Inland Waterways

System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Table 3.S.1-2. Typical Characteristics of Towboats on the Inland Waterways
System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Table 3.S.2-1. Typical Bulk Carrier Ship Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Table 3.S.2-2. Typical Product Carrier/Tanker Ship Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table 3.S.2-3. Typical Freighter/Container Ship Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Table C4.8.3.1-1. Vessel Frequency Data for the Dame Point Bridge, Jacksonville,
Florida (1984 Fleet) [7]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Table C4.8.3.2-1. Summary of Probability of Aberrancy, PA, Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Table C4.8.3.3-1. Computation of Standard Deviation for Normal Distribution of
Historic Collisions with Bridges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Table C4.9.3-1. Main Pier Collapse Disruption Cost Example [7]. 74

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.
 CONTENTS xv

Table 7.3.4-1. Sample Results of 1:50 Scale Model Impact on Skyway Bridge
Protection Island [28]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Table CS-1. Main Span vs. LOA for Historical Bridge Collisions [3]. .............. 120

Table A4.4-1. Annual Barge Frequency Data for the Waterway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Table A3.12-1. Barge Impact Force Distribution Swnmary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Table B4.8.3.1-1. Ship Frequency Data (Yr. 2040) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Table B4.4-1. Ship Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Table B3.9-1 Ship Collision Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Table B4.8.3.4-1 Probability of Collapse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Table B4.8.3-1 Annual Frequency of Main Pier Collapse(Hp=l0,000) 133

Table B4.8.3-2. Annual Frequency of Main Pier Collapse(HP=46,000) 133

© 1991 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

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