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Evaluating The Condition of Seawalls/Bulkheads: Typical Bulkhead Under Construction

The document discusses seawalls and bulkheads, which provide shoreline stabilization. It describes the difference between seawalls, which protect from waves, and bulkheads, which primarily retain soil. The document outlines elements that must be considered in wall design, such as soil properties and water levels. It also discusses common materials like concrete, steel, aluminum and timber, and their performance in the marine environment. Special regulatory requirements for seawalls in Florida are noted. Finally, it mentions that the American Society of Civil Engineers provides guidance on evaluating wall conditions.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
87 views8 pages

Evaluating The Condition of Seawalls/Bulkheads: Typical Bulkhead Under Construction

The document discusses seawalls and bulkheads, which provide shoreline stabilization. It describes the difference between seawalls, which protect from waves, and bulkheads, which primarily retain soil. The document outlines elements that must be considered in wall design, such as soil properties and water levels. It also discusses common materials like concrete, steel, aluminum and timber, and their performance in the marine environment. Special regulatory requirements for seawalls in Florida are noted. Finally, it mentions that the American Society of Civil Engineers provides guidance on evaluating wall conditions.

Uploaded by

vinoth kanna
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Volume 2

Evaluating the
Condition of
Seawalls/Bulkheads
By: Coastal Systems International, Inc.

Seawalls and bulkheads (walls) provide shoreline


stabilization for many coastal and waterfront
properties throughout Florida and the
Caribbean.The walls provide an economical
approach for vertical shoreline stabilization,
allowing owners to maximize upland property
area, as opposed to other shoreline stabilization
methods such as revetments or natural wet-
lands/mangroves. Existing walls were construct-
ed of many different structural configurations,
and at various time periods. Coastal and water-
Typical bulkhead under construction
front properties are in high demand in Southern
Florida and the Caribbean with an increasing
coastal population. Developers and property
owners are looking to rehabilitate existing prop-
erties, and the condition of a coastal seawall or
waterfront bulkhead can significantly impact the
total cost of property development. Also, many
waterfront property owners may have experi-
enced problems with their existing structures, or
have concerns regarding the structural integrity
of their walls.

This perspective will


explain:
·Difference between Seawall & Bulkhead
·Introduce Elements of Wall Design
·Present Materials of Construction with a
·Discussion ·of Material Performance
·Address Special Regulatory Issues with Seawalls
·Discuss Wall Structural Evaluation Methodology
·Present Frequently Asked Questions Regarding
·Seawalls and Bulkheads

Typical coastal seawall


Seawall
vs.Bulkhead?
Many people refer to all vertical shoreline
structures as “seawalls,” but there is a differ-
ence between a seawall and a bulkhead.

Seawall: structure that provides shoreline


protection from waves but also retains soil.

Bulkhead: vertical shoreline stabilization


structure that primarily retains soil, and pro-
vides minimal protection from waves.

Seawalls are typically located on the coast


fronting beaches, and are subject to storm
surges with pounding surf, eroding shorelines Typical oceanfront seawall
and wave overtopping from coastal storm
events. Some localized waterfront properties
may be subject to significant wave activity,
even though they are not exposed to ocean
waves. A coastal engineering study can pro-
vide seawall design information to ensure
that they are designed properly to withstand
the dynamic loading and overtopping effects
of waves. The “rule of thumb” in bulkhead
design is to account for wave impacts if the
significant wave height at a project site is
expected to be in excess of three feet (1
meter). Unfortunately, many existing walls on
the coast were simply designed as bulkheads,
and did not account for coastal storm
impacts.
Cross-section of typical seawall: Note use of
boulders against wave overtopping

Typical Concrete Bulkhead

Typical bulkhead cross section


Elements of
Wall Design
Prior to evaluating a bulkhead or seawall, the
following design considerations need to be
addressed to be able to properly assess the
condition.

Topography: elevations, grading, etc.

Soil Properties: unit weight of soil, clay


vs. sand, etc.

Embedment/Stability: depth of wall for


stability

Water Table: differential water levels behind


and in front of walls can introduce additional
loading on the wall

Wall Material Properties: strength and per-


formance in the marine environment

Surcharge: live loads behind the wall such as Failed bulkhead due to inadequate embed-
vehicles ment of wall.

These additional design considerations need


to be addressed for seawalls:

·Wave Forces
·Toe Scour
·Wave Overtopping
·Storm Surge

If a wall is damaged or deteriorated, the orig-


inal design may not have accounted for the
above-listed design considerations. Original
or “as-built” plans can provide a wealth of
information including the age of the structure
and many of the design elements listed in the
above paragraphs. The deteriorated condition
of a wall may also be an indication that the
wall is in need of maintenance, or that it has
fulfilled its service life.

Deteriorated concrete pile/panel bulkhead.


Note storm sewer outfall through bulkhead.
Materials of
Construction
Seawalls and bulkheads are constructed of
similar materials. The material of the wall
must be properly identified prior to assessing
the condition. The following table presents
common wall construction materials with
comments regarding availability, construction
issues, and general performance in the
marine environment:

Material Comments

Concrete Pile/panel and sheet piling configurations


common in South Florida. Most common
wall material in South Florida due to the
locally available aggregate; provides
service life of 30+ years if correct mix
design and proper marine structural
design implemented.

Steel Steel sheet piling commonly used for


bulkheads/seawalls. Material provides
excellent strength characteristics for
high wall exposure applications. Provides Damaged timber seawall
interlocking seal, and generally easy to
install, even in harder substrate. Must
be properly coated and maintained for
long service life of 25+ years.

Aluminum Sheet piling provides good corrosion


resistance, but lighter sections allow for
minimal exposed wall height. Recognize
corrosion potential of dissimilar metal
hardware, do not use in waters with low
Ph or backfill with clay-mucky soils.
Difficult to install in hard substrates.

Timber Not often used in South Florida, but


occasionally seen on inland waterways.
Timber pile/wale/sheet system is com-
mon structural configuration. Generally
economical material, but limited
strength characteristics for high wall
heights. Preservative treatment is essen-
tial for marine organisms. Difficult to
install in hard substrates.

Vinyl/ Relatively new economical product with


Plastic service life of 50+ years. Available in
different colors. Limited strength cha-
racteristics for wall heights. Difficult to
install in hard substrates. Typical vinyl sheet pile bulkhead (Picture cour-
tesy of Materials International)
Seawall - DEP
Requirements
Seawalls on the coast of Florida come under
the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP). In addition
to evaluating the structural condition of a
seawall, the DEP has special requirements
for seawalls at or near the Erosion Control
Line (ECL). A coastal engineering analysis is
required to determine if an existing seawall
will be affected by a 30-year coastal storm
event. If the existing wall is within the 30-
year Erosion Projection, then the property
owner must “provide scientific and engi-
neering evidence that the armoring struc-
ture (seawall) has been designed, construct-
ed, and maintained to survive the effects of
a 30-year storm and provide protection to
Coastal engineering analysis
existing and proposed structures from the
erosion associated with that event.” The DEP
requires certification by a professional engi-
neer that the seawall was designed, con-
Structural
structed, and is in adequate condition to Evaluation
meet the following criteria:
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
1. The top of the seawall must be at or Underwater Investigations Standard Practice
above the predicted maximum wave crest Manual was released in 2001 and provides guid-
elevation, considering the eroded beach pro- ance for the evaluation of walls. Procedures are
file, of the 30-year design storm. also applicable for above-water structures. Most
bulkheads are along the waterfront, and should
2. The seawall must be stable under the 30- be evaluated above and below the water, where-
year design storm including localized scour, as seawalls typically are not exposed to water on
with adequate penetration and toe protec- a regular basis.
tion to avoid settlement, toe failure, or loss
of material from beneath or behind the The following topics are covered related to struc-
armoring. tural bulkhead/seawall evaluation:

3. The seawall must have sufficient continu- · Qualifications of Inspection Personnel


ity or return walls to prevent flanking under · Types and methods of inspections
the design storm from impacting the pro- · Typical forms of deterioration
posed construction. · Condition Rating
· Frequency of Inspection
4. The seawall must withstand the static and
hydrodynamic forces of the 30-year design A comprehensive report is essential to document
storm. a proper bulkhead or seawall evaluation. All of
the above items should be included along with
photographs and sketches of the observed con-
figuration with notes regarding deterioration.
Comparison of previous reports provides an indi-
cation of the rate of deterioration.
Repair recommendations, along with con-
struction cost estimates, should be included
to provide the property owner with sound
engineering advice so they can plan for main-
tenance or repairs as necessary. The report
should be sealed by a registered professional
engineer experienced in the evaluation of in-
service marine structures.

FAQ Regarding
Bulkheads and
Seawalls
Can I raise the grade of my property with the
existing bulkhead?

The bulkhead must be evaluated by an engi-


neer to determine if the structure can with- Exploratory excavation to evaluate condition of
stand the additional loads from fill and struc- the tie backs.
tural modifications. Deterioration can severely
weaken the structural capacity of the bulk-
head, and the bulkhead was most likely
designed for the existing conditions.

What is the best material for bulkheads and


seawalls?

Material selection is site-specific and depend-


ent on design conditions. Concrete (if
designed appropriately) generally provides a
long service life, but it is not favorable from a
first-cost basis. Vinyl sheet piling and other
composite materials, where applicable, should
be considered due to their resistance to the
harsh marine environment and 50+ year
service life.

How long can I expect my wall to last?

Answers to this question are generally subjec-


tive. An experienced marine structural engi-
neer can provide general assumptions as to
Underwater photograph of steel sheet piling
the “expected remaining service life” of a
marine structure. Comparisons with observed
deterioration over time can also provide an
indication of material performance. Certain
non-destructive and/or partially destructive
materials testing can provide additional
information for the assessment. Conclusions
What regulatory permits are required? 1. There is a difference between a bulkhead
and a seawall.
Bulkheads typically require an environmental
resource permit from several agencies 2. Bulkhead and Seawall design is site-
including the county environmental resource specific and the design elements of a
management agency, the DEP, and the U.S. particular structure should be understood prior
Army Corps of Engineers. Depending on the to evaluation.
jurisdiction, the local water management
district may also issue a permit. Seawalls 3. Bulkhead materials of construction exhibit
require a permit generally from the state various forms of deterioration in the marine
agency such as the DEP. environment. Proper material identification
is essential to assess structural performance.
How often should I inspect the wall?
4. Seawalls in Florida come under the juris-
The ASCE Manual provides guidance for the diction of the DEP, and require coastal
frequency of inspections. Generally, seawalls engineering studies to assess predicted per-
and bulkheads should be evaluated every 5 formance.
to 6 years.
5. ASCE recently released a standard practice
How do I repair my wall? manual to provide guidance for the above/
below water assessment of marine structures.
A qualified marine structural engineer should
be consulted to evaluate the existing wall 6. Bulkhead and seawall evaluations should
and to determine if rehabilitation or replace- be conducted by qualified personnel under the
ment is required. Options can generally be supervision of a licensed professional engineer.
provided to provide an economical approach
to meet budget constraints.

Who can build a wall?

Marine structures are specialized structures,


often requiring water-based construction
equipment and techniques. The costs for
waterfront construction are generally higher
than for upland structures such as buildings.
Bulkhead or seawall work should be reserved
for a qualified and experienced marine con-
tractor.
Notes

References
Boone, W. M., “Bulkheads: Materials of
Construction,” Public Works, May 1985

Underwater Investigations Standard Practice


Manual, ASCE Manuals and Reports on
Engineering practice No. 101, 2001.

MIL-HDBK-1025/4, Seawalls, Bulkheads and


Quaywalls, Department of the Navy, Naval
Facilities Engineering Command,
September, 1988.

MIL-HDBK-1025/6, General Criteria for


Waterfront Construction, Department of the
Navy, Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
May, 1988.

Disclaimer: The material presented in this perspective


is for general information only. The information should
not be used without first securing engineering advice
from qualified personnel with respect to its suitability for
any application. Utilization of this information assumes
all liability arising from such use.

Coastal Systems International, Inc.


464 South Dixie Highway
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Tel: 305-661-3655 Fax: 305-661-1914
www.coastalsystemsint.com
[email protected]

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