Optimum Open Cell Sheet Pile (OCSP) Quay Wall System in Port Said, Egypt-Article

Article

Pdf Summary

The study evaluates an Open Cell Sheet Pile (OCSP) quay wall as a potentially lower-cost alternative to the existing concrete diaphragm wall at East Port Said Port, Egypt. The authors modeled the system in PLAXIS 3D using a hardening-soil model and Port Said soil conditions, examining wall embedment, tail-wall dimensions, bored-pile sizes, structural forces, and deformations.<br /><br />Results indicate that wall movement generally decreases as embedment and tail-wall length increase. An embedment depth of about half the wall height provides an effective balance, while a larger tail-wall area helps limit vertical displacement. The proposed system meets the study’s safety criteria and can accommodate dredging to -22 m LAT—4 m deeper than the analyzed existing level of -18 m LAT. The OCSP wall alone can support deck surcharge, but bored piles are needed to carry the heavy gantry-crane loads. The recommended arrangement uses 1.2 m diameter, 62.5 m long bored piles, selected as a practical, cost-conscious alternative to longer piles that performed somewhat better numerically.<br /><br />The estimated construction cost is approximately EGP 736,540 per meter for the OCSP system, compared with EGP 1,548,507 per meter for the diaphragm wall—about 52% lower. The authors conclude that OCSP is a technically feasible and economical option for this site. They recommend further experimental research, including dynamic-load testing and investigation of alternative pile arrangements and OCSP designs without bored piles.

Keywords

Open Cell Sheet Pile

OCSP quay wall

PLAXIS 3D

diaphragm wall

Port Said Port

embedment depth

tail-wall dimensions

bored piles

structural deformations

construction cost