Analytical and numerical evaluation of flexible response of floating piers to ship berthing impact

In this paper, special behavior of floating piers in berthing event is assessed, and a new approach is presented for the analysis of these kinds of piers for berthing impact. Accurate estimation of berthing force is an important matter for appropriate design of mooring piles in these piers. In pier design references, the traditional approach used in design of fixed piers is extended to floating piers, ignoring distinctive response of these piers to berthing impact. In this paper, the fact of mobility and flexibility of structural system of floating piers are taken into consideration, and it is proved that energy absorption mechanism in these piers is different from that of fixed piers. Thus a new analytical approach and corresponding closed form formulations are presented in this paper for evaluating induced berthing forces in these piers. Nonlinear analyses were done to account for nonlinear load-deflection behavior of piles. Comparison of results of analysis by new and traditional methods in two typical piers shows that the traditional method underestimates berthing force in floating piers.