Khalifa harbour (UAE)

Khalifa port expansion

Clients: ADEC Engineering Consultancy - National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC)

Scales: 1/31,5 (2D) - 1/31,7 et 1/41,3 (3D)

Several project and physical modeling phases were successively conducted in the Laboratory for :

• development of an offshore terminal in the port of Khalifa. Facility created on a reclaimed area seaward of the existing revetment,
• construction of a detached breakwater.

3D physical modeling of port extension protection

• Study of the protection including the two corners to investigate hydraulic stability and overtopping for 3 wave directions
• Assessment of the overall stability of the armour, crest and toe under oblique wave attacks, especially at the elbows
• Overtopping measurements along the revetment at different locations and distance from the crest
• Measurement of wave-induced pressures at three critical locations for the crownwall configuration

Specific features of the project

• Extension of approximately 2,400 m long and 100 m wide reclaimed from the sea.
• Existing revetment, armoured with ACCROPODE™ blocks, to be removed in the areas that will be reclaimed, and re-use of the blocks in the new revetment
• Study of two distinct layout alternatives
• Methodology including a preliminary phase of sensitivity tests to identify the location of most severe hydraulic solicitations to place overtoppings and pressure measurements

Wave stability of a detached breakwater

A wave flume model (2D) of the trunk section of the breakwater was produced, followed by a model of the entire structure in a wave basin (3D).

Physical modelling aims at :

• studying the overall stability of the detached breakwater armour, crest, toe and rear side under frontal wave attack for the 2D model and under oblique wave attack for the 3D model and especially at the roundheads;
• measuring the wave transmission due to wave overtopping behind the detached breakwater (2D).

3520 m long structure protected by a riprap and ACCROPODE™ armor for the most exposed parts