Governing Seismic Design Scenarios for Graving Docks

There is no modern design code specific to the seismic design and evaluation of graving docks. However, many of these facilities are in regions of high seismicity. Consequently, there is a need to develop resources providing guidance to engineers engaged in the seismic assessment or design of these docks. This paper presents the results of a study evaluating three design scenarios (Empty, Docked Vessel, and Flooded) that have the potential to govern the seismic performance of graving docks. These scenarios are evaluated for three generic docks defined for the study, including a gravity dock and two pressure-relieved docks. The evaluations identify the scenario that is likely to govern each type of graving dock. In general, the Empty scenario is found to be the most likely to govern seismic performance; however, for certain pressure-relieved graving docks, the Flooded scenario governs instead.