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MarCom WG 225
SEISMIC DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR PORT
STRUCTURES
Terms of Reference
1. Background
Seismic design methods have been continuously developed, particularly after several
large earthquakes. Techniques had been conventionally based on a force–balance
approach, where structures are designed to resist a static horizontal force. However,
after the 1995 Kobe, Japan earthquake which caused a tremendous amount of
damage to port and harbour structures, the limitations of force-balance approach
were recognized and performance-based design was introduced. The existing PIANC
seismic design guidelines (Seismic Design Guidelines for Port Structure WG34-2001,
hereinafter referred to as PIANC 2001 Report) reflect lessons obtained from the 1995
earthquake and was “the state of the art” report at that time. However, new codes
and standards reports have been published over the following 18 years, including the
Japanese standards (Technical Standards and Commentaries for Port and Harbor
Facilities in Japan, 2007 & 2018 (both in Japanese)) and the American standards (ASCE
Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves, 2014, hereinafter referred to as ASCE Seismic
Design) which include new useful information. It is now appropriate to update the
existing PIANC report taking into account newly published codes and standards and
related technical information.
2. Objectives
The objectives of the proposed Working Group (WG) are to review recently-published
technical information related to seismic design of port structures including codes and
standards, literature, case study documentation, and then incorporate useful
information to the existing PIANC report when appropriate. The WG will especially focus
on technical information published after the current version of the PIANC report.
Lessons learned from recent damaging earthquakes including the 2011 Tohoku
earthquake will also be reviewed and incorporated.
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3. Earlier Reports to be Reviewed
Seismic Design Guidelines for Port Structures, Report of Working Group No.34 of the
Maritime Navigation Commission, PIANC, 2001
Seismic Design Guidelines for Port Structures, Working Group No.34 of the Maritime
Navigation Commission, PIANC, Balkema, 2001
ISO23469, Bases for design of structures -- Seismic actions for designing geotechnical
works, 2005
Technical Standards and Commentaries for Port and Harbour Facilities in Japan, 2009
and 2018(in Japanese, to be translated)
Mitigation of Tsunami Disasters in Ports, PIANC Report 112, 2010
Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves, ASCE/COPRI 61-14, 2014
Tsunami Disasters in Ports due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, PIANC Report 122,
2014
4. Scope
The PIANC WG34 (2001) Report introduced the concept of performance-based design,
and emphasized the importance of viewing the port structure as a soil-structure system.
These important points are basically shared by the Japanese technical standards and
ASCE Seismic Design. Therefore, it will not be necessary to substantially change the
PIANC 2001 Report. However, useful new information is included in the Japanese
technical standards and ASCE Seismic Design. For instance, Japanese technical
standards introduce a sophisticated method to evaluate design ground motions,
based on the analyses of strong motion data. In the ASCE Seismic Design, detailed
information is supplied about piers and wharves from experiences of damage to batter
piles by earthquakes in the United States. Careful considerations on pile-to deck
connections are also very informative. In addition to these reports, technical
information from all over the world related to seismic design of port structures will be
reviewed by the WG. Furthermore, technical information published in conferences and
academic papers will also be reviewed. Codes and standards under development will
also be considered if available. Then, the WG will consider incorporating new useful
information to the existing PIANC report. Lessons learned from recent damaging
earthquakes including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2010 Maule earthquake and the
2011 Tohoku earthquake will also be reviewed and incorporated. The revision of the
book published by Balkema will not be included in the scope of the WG. The WG will
not carry out new basic research. Tsunami resistant design will not be included in the
scope of the WG; however, appropriate links to PIANC tsunami reports (repots of
WG112 and WG122) will be added.
5. Intended Product
The intended product is the revised version of the PIANC 2001 Report. The new report
will be produced within two years of the formation of the WG.
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6. Working Group Membership
To maximize the usefulness of the report, the WG should include experts on the issue of
seismic design of port structures such as marine consultants. Members who can
volunteer technical information such as case study documentation and reports on past
earthquake damage will be welcome. Members who can volunteer information about
the background of existing codes and standards will also be welcome.
7. Relevance to Countries in Transition
The contents of the report will also be useful for countries in transition with high seismic
risk. In particular, the Japanese standards suggest the use of microtremor measurement
for locating important berthing facilities in port planning, which will be useful in
countries in transition. Microtremor measurement can also be used for simplified
evaluation of design ground motions.
8. Climate Change Considerations
The activities of the working group will not be related to climate change.
9. Relevance to 17 Sustainable Development Goals of U.N.
The contents of the report will be related to the 9th goal, “Industry, Innovation and
Infrastructure.” Investments in infrastructure, including the marine transport sector, are
crucial to achieving development. The report will deliver knowledge to improve seismic
design and will enable the building of resilient marine infrastructure.
PIANC
The World Association for
Brussels, 16 July 2019.
Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
To the First Delegates of the
Qualifying Members of PIANC
To the National Sections’
Secretaries of PIANC
To the Platinum Partners of PIANC
To The Sister Associations of PIANC
Subject: Setting up of a new PIANC Working Group 225 on “Seismic design guidelines for port
structures”.
Dear Madam,
Dear Sir,
The setting up of PIANC MarCom Working Group 225 on “Seismic design guidelines for port structures”,
has duly been approved as well as its term of reference, which are herewith enclosed.
We kindly ask you to inform the secretariat of MarCom by 30 September 2019 (copy to the General
Secretariat) about the name, qualification and (e-mail-) address of the expert, proposed by your
country/organisation. Please enclose a brief curriculum vitae of the proposed expert together with some
details about her/his professional experiences.
An additional expert per country/organisation, being a young professional, can participate in the Working
Group activities. Further I would like to remind you that Working Group Members should either be Individual
Member of PIANC, working for a Corporate Member or Platinum Partner, be an invited expert or a be a
member of a Sister Organisation.
We remind you that in accordance with PIANC rules, the costs incurred in taking part in Working Group
activities are borne by the member countries/organizations.
We thank you beforehand for your collaboration.
Yours sincerely,
Geert Van Cappellen,
Secretary-General.
Reply to:
Ms Noelia Gonzalez
[email protected]