ASCE 61-14 PDF Download

ASCE 61-14 is a standard prepared by the Standards Committee on Seismic Design of Piers and Wharves. This standard provides guidelines for designing piers and wharves to withstand the effects of earthquakes using displacement-based design methods.

Unlike buildings and similar structures, piers and wharves have unique design challenges. Load combinations for these structures include berthing and mooring loads, which may govern the lateral load design in low seismic regions. Geotechnical issues also need to be considered, as pile foundations often need to penetrate weak soil layers. Hazards like liquefaction, lateral spreading, and ground failures must be taken into account.

The standard emphasizes the accommodation of permanent ground deformations within specified performance requirements, as it is often not practical to eliminate these hazards. Displacement-based design methods, which have been widely used for over a decade and are supported by industry-sponsored testing programs, are employed in this standard.

The standard covers topics such as seismic performance requirements, design approaches, geotechnical considerations and soil-structure interaction, force-based design, displacement-based design, design and detailing considerations, and ancillary components.

ASCE/COPRI 61-14 will be valuable to structural and geotechnical engineers, owners, building officials, and researchers involved in marine and waterfront facilities.