Performance based design of retaining structures – part II: case study of a gravity quay wall

This paper presents a brief case study investigating the performance of the Kalamata quay wall that exhibited permanent displacement following a M_w 5.9 earthquake. The aim of the investigation was to attempt to predict the observed damage to the wall using available analysis techniques – chiefly simplified analytical rigid block models. Finally a simple dynamic finite element analyses is considered. Results indicate that simplified models provide useful order of magnitude displacements for carrying out performance based design, but may misinterpret the actual mode of wall displacement. Dynamic numerical analyses provide compelling advantages in terms of modelling dynamic response, however results are dependent on model set-up, and accuracy is dominated by uncertainty with the ground motion.