scope:

The barge impact loads that were defined in previously expired USACE guidance are very limited in application as they applied only to rigid walls, loads less than 800 kips, and impact angles less than 30 degree. Therefore, from 2004 to 2009, the design of USACE navigation structures had been evaluated using this very limited empirical method. However, since 2009 there has been no guidance in place to assist design engineers. Based on the need to better define barge impact loads for critical USACE navigation structures, the development of nonlinear DFEMs for specific types of navigation structures have been completed and peer reviewed.

These DFEMs were first calibrated to data from a series of USACE full-scale barge impact experiments and then applied to a wide range of structures at USACE navigation projects. Based on these analyses, empirical equations have been developed to assist in the design and analysis of many common structural components. In addition, a low-order dynamic analysis method has also been calibrated to the finite element models (FEM) and developed to provide the additional capability to calculate impact force and displacement time histories for the design of navigation structures.