Boston Harbor Dredged Material Capping Simulation
Abstract
This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) documents geotechnical research performed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) specifically for the Boston Harbor Navigation Improvement Project. Laboratory modeling of the subaqueous sand capping process was conducted to allow a comparison to field performance of sand capping dredged material in a confined aquatic disposal cell. The practice of covering subaqueous contaminated disposed dredged material with a clean isolating material has been conducted since the 1970s, and is a cost-effective alternative to other disposal options (Palermo et al. 1998). Capping has been especially suitable for isolating disposed contaminated dredged material in confined aquatic cells such as pre-existing subaqueous pits where the dredged material is laterally confined. An isolating cap typically composed of clean sand is superimposed on the top of the previously placed dredged material in such a fashion as to encapsulate the exposed surface of the dredged material (Figure 1). Special consideration must be taken to prevent geotechnical instability induced by the addition of an overlying sand cap that often has a greater density than the underlying dredged material. A goal of successful cap design is to preserve geotechnical stability during and after cap placement. To design a cap that achieves this goal, information about the underlying dredged material s strength behavior is needed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA609509
Entities
People
- Landris T. Lee Jr.
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center