Cofferdam 2019 PDF

Cofferdam
Dr S S Chandrasekaran
• During the construction of bridges , dams or any other
structure where the foundation part of the structure is
most likely to lie underwater, we have to opt for
underwater construction
• Construction in water poses many difficulties especially
in the places where there the depth is considerable.
• During underwater construction our main objective is
to create dry and water free environment for working in
such a manner that the structural stability of the
structure is not compromised.
3
• A cofferdam is a temporary structure designed to keep
water and/or soil out of the excavation in which a
bridge pier or other structure is built.
• When construction must take place below the water
level, a cofferdam is built to give workers a dry work
environment.
• Sheet piling is driven around the work site, seal
concrete is placed into the bottom to prevent water
from seeping in from underneath the sheet piling, and
the water is pumped out.
• The word "cofferdam" comes from "coffer" meaning
box
Cofferdams
• Temporary structure
• Built within or in pairs across a body of water
• Allows the enclosed space to be pumped out, creating a dry
work environment .
• Enclosed coffers are commonly used for construction and
repair of oil platforms, bridge piers and other support
structures built within or over water.
• A cofferdam involves the interaction of the structure, soil,
and water. The loads imposed include the hydrostatic forces
of the water, as well as the dynamic forces due to currents
and waves.
• Used for shallow constructions having depth less than 10m. 5
• In cofferdam construction, safety is a paramount concern,
since workers will be exposed to the hazard of flooding and
collapse.
• • Safety requires that every cofferdam and every part
thereof shall be of suitable design and construction, of
suitable and sound material and of sufficient strength and
capacity for the purpose for which it is used.
• Proper construction, verification that the structure is being
constructed as planned, monitoring the behavior of the
cofferdam and surrounding area, provision of adequate
access, light and ventilation, and attention to safe practices
on the part of all workers and supervisors, and shall be
properly maintained.
Braced Cofferdam
• It is formed from a single wall of sheet piling
which is driven into the ground to form a
“box” around the excavation site.
• The box is then braced on the inside and the
interior is dewatered.
• It is primarily used for bridge piers in shallow
water (30 - 35 ft depth)
Working inside a cofferdam
DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING GCET JAMMU 8

Components of cofferdam:
• Sheet pile
Sheet pile is a manufactured
construction product with a
mechanical connection
“interlock” at both ends of the
section. These mechanical
connections interlock with one
another to form a continuous
wall of sheeting.
• Bracing frame
Bracing frame
• Concrete seal
Sheet piles
9
Forces acting on Cofferdam
1. Hydrostatic pressure
Hydrostatic forces on partially dewatered cofferdam
• Hydrostatic pressure
Earth pressure
• Current Forces on Structure
• Wave forces
• Ice forces
• Seismic Loads
• Accidental loads
COFFERDAM CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE
• 1. Pre-dredge to remove soil or soft sediments and level the area of the
cofferdam (Fig. 6a).
• 2. Drive temporary support piles (Fig. 6b).
• 3. Temporarily erect bracing frame on the support piles (Fig. 6b).
• 4. Set steel sheet piles, starting at all four corners and meeting at the center
of each side (Fig. 6c).
• 5. Drive sheet piles to grade (Fig. 6c).
• 6. Block between bracing frame and sheets, and provide ties for sheet piles
at the top as necessary (Fig. 6c).
• 7. Excavate inside the grade or slightly below grade, while leaving the
cofferdam full of water (Fig. 7a).
• 8. Drive bearing piles (Fig. 7b).
• 9. Place rock fill as a leveling and support course (Fig. 7b).
• 10. Place tremie concrete seal (Fig. 7c).)
Figure 6 – Cofferdam construction
sequence (I). (a) Pre-dredge. (b)
Drive support piles; set
prefabricated bracing frame and
hang from support piles. (c) Set
sheet piles; drive sheet piles;
block and tie sheet piles to top
wale.
Figure 7 Cofferdam
construction
sequence (II). (a)
Excavate initial and
final grade. (b)
Drive bearing piles
in place. (c) Place
tremie concrete.
• 11. Check blocking between bracing and
sheets (Fig. 8a).
• 12. Dewater (Fig. 8a).
• 13. Construct new structure (Fig. 8a and b).
• 14. Flood cofferdam (Fig. 8b).
• 15. Remove sheet piles (Fig. 8c).
• 16. Remove bracing (Fig. 8c).
• 17. Backfill (Fig. 8c).
Figure 8 – Cofferdam
construction sequence (III). (a)
Check blocking; dewater;
construct
footing block; block between
footing and sheet piles. (b)
Remove lower bracing;
construct
pier pedestal; construct pier
shaft. (c) Flood cofferdam; pull
sheets; remove bracing; backfill.
Cofferdam for the Sidney Lanier
Bridge, Oregon
Installation of wale and strut system
Installation of wale and strut system and driving the sheet piles
ADVANTAGES OF COFFERDAM
• Allow excavation and construction of structures in

otherwise poor environment.
• Provides safe environment to work.
• Steel sheet piles are easily installed and removed.
• Materials can typically be reused on other projects.
23
• Double Wall cofferdam
– The double wall cofferdam consists of two lines of
sheeting tied to each other. The space between the walls
being filled with soil
– The sheeting in the cofferdam may be of steel with
proper interlocking arrangement or timber properly
joined.
• Cellular Cofferdam
– A cellular cofferdam is made by driving sheet piles to
form a series of cells which are later filled with soil.
– These cells are interconnected for watertightness and
are self stabilising against lateral pressure from soil and
water.
– There are two types namely
• Cellular cell type connected by arcs inside and outside
• Disphragm type in which the arcs inside and outside are
connected by means of diaphragms.
• There are other two types, one is large circular cells
subdivided by straight diaphragms. These are called clover-
leaf cofferdams. The other types are modified circular and
diaphragm types.

Cofferdam 2019 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cofferdam 2019 PDF

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cofferdam 2019 PDF

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Cofferdam

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING GCET JAMMU 8

• Allow excavation and construction of structures in

You might also like