Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-01/1733-S 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date TEXAS GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (GIWW) DREDGED September 2000 MATERIAL: BENEFICIAL USES, ESTIMATING COSTS, DISPOSAL 6. Performing Organization Code ANALYSIS ALTERNATIVES, AND SEPARATION TECHNIQUES 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Robert Randall, Billy Edge, John Basilotto, David Cobb, Sara Graalum, Qi Report 1733-S He, and Michael Miertschin 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project No. 0-1733 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Project Summary Construction Division September 1996- August 1998 Research and Technology Transfer Section 14. Sponsoring Agency Code P.O. Box 5080 Austin, Texas 78763-5080 15. Supplementary Notes Research performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. Research Project Title: Alternative Dredging and Disposal Methods for the Texas Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) 16. Abstract A two-year project, Alternative Dredging and Disposal Methods for the Texas Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, investigates the cost and engineering of long distance pumping, beneficial uses of GIWW-dredged material for the Texas coastal zone, separation techniques for GIWW-dredged material, optimum slurry flow, and alternatives for analyzing dredged material disposal. A cost-estimating program incorporates fuel costs, dredge crew labor costs, routine maintenance and repairs, major repairs, overhead costs, depreciation, profit, mobilization and demobilization, and capital investment cost for a cutter suction dredge. The Cutter Suction Dredge Cost Estimation Program (CSDCEP) estimates the production rate and cost of dredging projects. Comparisons with actual production rate and costs show CSDCEP is accurate. An attractive beneficial use of dredged material from the GIWW is manufactured soil, which can be manufactured using dredged material, recyclable organic waste materials (sewage sludge), and bio-mass (cellulose or saw dust). Researchers estimate the manufacturing and transportation costs at $13 to $20 per cubic yard depending on the blending method, mode of transportation, and ease of excavation. Another beneficial use is thin-layer disposal, spraying dredged material on adjacent wetlands. A geotube filled with dredged material placed along the Texas GIWW could provide a beneficial use while preventing further inundation of wetlands due to erosion. Dewatering wheels and hydrocyclones have been identified as two potential separation techniques. Results from the CD-CORMIX software show that the reduced flow from smaller dredges can reduce turbidity during the dredging process. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Beneficial Uses of GIWW-Dredged Material, Cost No restrictions. This document is available to the public Estimating, Manufactured Soil, Geotube, Thin-Layer through NTIS: Placement, Separation Techniques, Dewatering Wheel, National Technical Information Service Hydrocyclone, Cutter Suction Dredge, Turbidity 5285 Port Royal Road Reduction Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 304 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized TEXAS GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY (GIWW) DREDGED MATERIAL: BENEFICIAL USES, ESTIMATING COSTS, DISPOSAL ANALYSIS ALTERNATIVES, AND SEPARATION TECHNIQUES by Robert Randall, Ph.D., P.E. Billy Edge, Ph.D., P.E. Center for Dredging Studies Ocean Engineering Program/Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-3136 John Basilotto, P.E. Center for Ports and Waterways Texas Transportation Institute Galveston, Texas 77553-1675 and David Cobb Sara Graalum Qi He Michael Miertschin Center for Dredging Studies Ocean Engineering Program/Civil Engineering Department Texas A&M University College Station, Texas 77843-3136 Report 1733-S Project Number 0-1733 Research Project Title: Alternative Dredging and Disposal Methods for the Texas Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration September 2000 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), or the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The engineer in charge of the project was Dr. Billy L. Edge, P.E., Virginia 21484. The United States Government and the state of Texas do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was funded by TxDOT as project 0-1733 through the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The TTI project number is 417337. The project director was Mr. Raul Cantu of the Multimodal Operations Division of TxDOT, and his assistance and guidance during the two-year project is very much appreciated. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was also a sponsor of the project. The data provided by Mr. Tim Baumer and Captain Truesdale of the Galveston District and from the Detroit District was invaluable for the completion of the project. Ms. Joyce Hyden and Christa Keiper, Technical Secretaries, in the Ocean Engineering Program of the Civil Engineering Department assisted in the final report preparation. The editing by Ms. Dolores Hott and her staff with the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University is appreciated. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................xvii LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................xxi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS .............................................................xxiii IMPLEMENTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................xxvii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1-1 ORGANIZATION..............................................................................................................1-1 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................1-1 CHAPTER 2 COST AND ENGINEERING OF LONG DISTANCE PUMPING (TASK 1) ...........................................................................................................2-1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................2-1 ENGINEERING OF A CUTTER SUCTION DREDGING PROJECT.............................2-1 PRODUCTION...................................................................................................................2-2 DREDGE COST COMPONENTS.....................................................................................2-3 PRINCIPLES OF HYDRAULIC DREDGING..................................................................2-4 Difficulties Associated with the Development of Cost Estimation Software .................2-6 PREVIOUS RESEARCH...................................................................................................2-7 Estimating Cost ...............................................................................................................2-7 Estimating Production .....................................................................................................2-8 METHODOLOGY FOR ESTIMATING PRODUCTION ................................................2-9 Determination of Critical Velocity..................................................................................2-9 Determination of Head Losses ......................................................................................2-10 Dimensionless Pump Characteristics Curves ................................................................2-11 The Production Estimate ...............................................................................................2-12 Specific Gravity of the Mixture ..................................................................................2-13 Impeller Diameter ......................................................................................................2-13 Pump Speed................................................................................................................2-13 Discharge Rate...........................................................................................................2-13 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Method of Production Estimation ...............................2-14 Other Factors Affecting Production ..............................................................................2-16 METHODOLOGY