COFFERDAMS

Cellular cofferdams are basically two types:

(1) Circular type
(2) Diaphragm type

Circular type: Circular type consists of individual

large diameter circles connected together by arcs of
smaller diameter. These arcs usually intersect the
circles at a point at 30o or 45o with the longitudinal
axis of the cofferdam.
Advantages of the Circular type:
1. The circular type can be used singularly in a group or at
end.
2. It will not collapse in the event of failure of adjoining cells
(due to interlock damage, sudden floods etc.)
3. Each cell can be filled independent of the other without
hampering the progress of work
4. It requires less number of piers per linier meter of cofferdam
as compared with the diaphragm type of an equal design..

Diaphragm type: It consists of two series of arcs connected
together by diaphragm perpendicular to the axis of the cofferdam.
Generally the radii of these arcs are made equal to the distance
between they arcs of smaller diameter.

Advantages of the Diaphragm type:

1. It has uniform interlock stress through the section at any
given level. The stress is smaller than at the point of circular
cell of comparable design.
2. It can be widen readily by increasing the length of the
diaphragm if it is required by stability. This will not increase
the interlock stress which is a function of the radius of the
arc.
Components of cellular cofferdams:
1. Steel cells
2. Cell fill

Steel cells: Steel cells are fabricated out of steel sheet piles.
In large diameter cells any two adjacent piles are
almost on a straight line. In smaller cells, however,
each sheet pile must deflect at a relatively large angle
from the straight line in order to form the desired circle.
Cell fill: The material used for the cell fill should have the following
properties-
1. The fill should be free-drainage granular soil with little fine
particles.
2. It should be posses high angle of friction.
3. The fill should be as dense as possible.
4. It should possess large resistance to scour and leakage.

Well graded soils are most suitable. Normally, natural deposits

of mixed sand and gravel posses all of these desirable
properties and as such are the best materials for the cell fill
Fig. 17.1: Cellular Cofferdam
PROB: Design a cellular cofferdam, diaphragm type with the
dimension given in Fig. 2

Given:
Frictional co-efficient of fill on rock fr = 0.57
Interlock friction f = 0.3
Interlock tension allowed T = 1450 kg/cm
Frictional co-efficient of steel on fill f = 0.4
Allowable steel tensile stress ft = 1500 kg/cm2.
STEP-1

b A 1.82r
Where
b = average width of cell
A = Distance between the centers of curvature
r = Radius of the curved portion of cell
STEP-2: SLIDING STABILITY

W W W 1 2

1 b 1 b
W 1.7 (1 1 ) b 1.1 (15 15 ) b
2 2 2 2
W 18.2b 0.025b 2

Frictional resistance due to cell weight at rock level,

F W f
t a

(18.2b 0.025b ) 2

1
Total water pressure
1
P 115 15 P h h
w w

2
w
2
112.5 tonnes
Total active pressure due to soil
1 1
P 1.1 6 6 0.33
a
2 P h h K
a s a

6.5 tonnes 2
Total passive pressure due to soil
1 1
P 1.1 6 6 tan (45 45 / 2)
P h h K
2

p
2 P s P
59 tonnes 2
Total driving force
P P P
d w a

112.5 6.5
119 tonnes
Total resisting force

P F P
R t P

F P
F .S t p

P d

0.57(18.2b 0.025b ) 59.4

2

1.25
119
156.75 18.2b 0.025b 2

b 728b 6270 0
2

b 8.717 m
b 8.8m
STEP-3: OVERTURNING STABILITY
15
Overturning moment M P P 2 P 2
0 w a p
3
15 6 6
112.5 6.5 59.4
3 3 3
456.7 m tonnes
b
Maximum allowable eccentricity is e
6
w e
For stability F .S .
M 0

b
(18.2b 0.025b ) 2

or 6 1.25
456.7
By trial & error b 14 m
CHECK OVERTURNING FROM SHEAR OFPILLING ON CELL
FILL

Summing moments about toe, we obtain

P f b
w
F .S .
M 0

112.5 0.4 b
or , 1.25
456.7
or , b 12.68m (14m)
STEP-4: CHECK FOR CELL SHEAR

Assume the radius of cell, r = L

Total weight of soil in the cell per meter length,

W W
18.2b 0.025b

A h
2
ave

18.2 14 0.025 14 14 250

249.9 tonnes

14 16
1.116 tonnes / m 3

1.12 tonnes / m
3
The lateral pressure co-efficient for =30o,
cos
2

K
2 cos
a
2

0.75

2 0.75
0 .6
The soil shear resistance Sr along the center line of the cell is
1
S H K tan
r a
2

A
2
1
1.12 16 16 0.6 0.577
2
49.63 tonnes
50 tonnes
 Total depth Depth of W .T . above dredge level
H
c
2
16 9

2
12.5

Interlock shear

3
F HH K f
c a c a
8
3
1.12 16 12.5 0.33 0.3
8
8.316 tonnes
Shear on the center line of the cell due to over turning is

1.5M Sr Fc
V F .S .
o

b V
1.5 457.5 50 8.31

14 49
49.01 1.19
49 tonnes. 1.2 O.K .
STEP-4: CHECK FOR INTERLOCK TENSION

The depth at which maximum pressure occurs on the cell wall is

H 3 Hc H w 9.0 (10 9.37)

4
8.37
3 12.5
4
9.375
9.38 m
q HK H w
a s a w

1.12 9.37 0.33 1 8.37

11.833 tonnes / m 2
Fig. 17.1: Cellular Cofferdam
Fig. 10.31 : Box caissons