A nonlinear finite-element model of a gravity block quay wall developed to investigate how lateral demand is transferred through stacked concrete blocks, shear-keyed joints and contact interfaces under pushover loading.
Gravity block quay walls do not resist lateral demand by self-weight alone. Their response also depends on the interaction between individual blocks, the geometry of the joints, friction and contact pressure, mechanical interlock at shear keys, and the development of sliding or rocking mechanisms.
The finite-element representation is built to capture the structural mechanisms that occur between successive blocks rather than treating the quay wall as one monolithic body.
The model provides a framework for investigating how the wall mobilizes resistance as lateral demand increases and where local interface behaviour begins to govern the global response.
Gravity block quay walls can be built in different geometric arrangements. The visuals below pair each conceptual render with its corresponding engineering section so the geometry represented in the numerical model is immediately clear.
The finite-element mesh shown below belongs to the stepped quay-wall configuration above. Local refinement is concentrated around changes in block geometry and the interlocking interfaces, where contact state, local bearing and shear transfer require closer numerical resolution.
The value of the analysis is not limited to a single capacity number. The same nonlinear model can be used to inspect the internal mechanics that produce the global response and to identify which interfaces or block movements deserve closer engineering attention.
Track where blocks remain in compression, where contact redistributes and where frictional resistance is mobilized.
Identify interfaces that tend to open, slide or transfer increasing shear demand during lateral loading.
Evaluate how individual block movements contribute to the deformation mechanism of the complete wall.
Interpret principal stress trajectories, local bearing zones and the route by which lateral demand is transferred through the structure.
Develop the global base-shear–displacement response and relate changes in stiffness to evolving local mechanisms.
Use nonlinear lateral analysis to investigate structural reserve, governing mechanisms and sensitivity to joint details.
For a gravity quay wall, the decisive behaviour may occur inside interfaces that cannot be understood from geometry or self-weight alone. A detailed finite-element model provides a way to connect the global capacity of the wall with the actual mechanisms developing between its blocks.
Share the geometry, loading scenario and engineering question. We can develop a numerical modelling strategy for structural assessment, capacity evaluation and mechanism identification.
This short project video presents the quay-wall concept together with selected nonlinear finite-element outputs, illustrating the type of structural behaviour that can be explored through detailed numerical modelling.
