FLORIDA WATERWAY ENGINEERING
FLORIDA WATERWAY INSPECTION PHOTOS
Bolted Connections - Undersized single bolt connections are a major cause of dock failures. When the entire weight of the dock is supported by a single bolt, it can easily tear through or split the wood girder. Adding a second bolt helps distribute the weight more evenly, reducing the risk of sudden failure.
Seawall Cap Surface Corrosion - The reinforcement inside this seawall cap is corroding from the inside out, expanding up to ten times its size and causing cracks and spalls in the concrete. This process is inevitable in marine environments but is accelerated when subpar concrete is used or steel is placed too close to the edge.
Undermined Seawall - The photo shows a seawall improperly embedded into the waterway, with a noticeable gap at its base. This gap allows land to erode into the waterway during tidal changes and heavy rains, causing upland subsidence.
Timber Pile Deterioration - Treating timber piles with Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) and applying vinyl pile wraps in the tidal splash zone is essential for protecting them. The untreated timber piles shown here have completely deteriorated in the tidal zone.
Damaged Pile & Tieback Anchor - Both the tieback anchor connection and the concrete pile exhibit severe corrosion and deterioration. Tieback anchors are crucial for seawall stability, as they prevent the seawall from sliding or rotating towards the waterway.
Galvanized Hurricane Straps - These galvanized hurricane straps have corroded in less than a year. For saltwater waterways, stainless steel hardware should be used instead of galvanized to prevent corrosion.
