%A Kool, J.J. %A de Gijt, J.G. %A Groenewegen, L. %D 2013 %T A COMPARISON OF A 3 DIMENSIONAL PROBABILISTIC METHOD OF BERTHING STRUCTURE DESIGN AND THE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF A BERTHING STRUCTURE DESIGN %K %X Finite element method (FEM) is increasingly applied as a first choice tool for designing structures. The same trend is seen in probabilistic designing. Consequently, the application of the combination of these two methods is discussed in this paper.In this study the presence of potential overcapacity in a structure has been studied. As an example the design of an existing berthing structure has been taken. This structure has been designed using Dutch standards and has been redesigned with a Monte Carlo simulation. Remodeling has been done with the help of FEM. The aim of this study is to optimize the capacity for a more economic design. In the simulation the combination of these methods has been applied on a dynamic berthing process of a bulk carrier into an ongoing berthing structure with the help of a static model in FEM. The following variables has been used and studied in the model: the soil characteristics, the characteristics of the cross sections of the berthing structure, the location of impact and characteristics of the vessel that berth at the structure.In conclusion, a three dimensional model made in FEM Scia-engineer, improves the possibility to indicate the critical variables and overcapacity of elements in a model of the berthing structure. %U http://proceeding.eacef.com/ojs/index.php/EACEF/article/view/297 %J EACEF - International Conference of Civil Engineering %0 Journal Article %P 024%V 1 %N 1 %8 2013-08-01