Innovative design and construction of the Euromax Container Terminal Rotterdam

Abstract

The “Euromax Container Terminal Rotterdam” project was started in 2005 on
the last available area of the Maasvlakte I in the port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At the
terminal Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGV’s) transport containers from vessel to stack over
the so-called AGV-area. This AGV-area was tendered as a D&C(M) contract.
The composition of the pavement consists of a grouted macadam surface layer, applied on
two layers (bind and base) of polymer modified asphalt concrete, on top of a Cement Treated
Base (CTB).
The pavement structure was designed by means of amongst others the linear elastic
multilayer program APSDS4 and the Finite Elements Modelling program CAPA-3D. The
pavement structure specifications were set regarding rutting, evenness, drainage, skid
resistance, bearing capacity, cracking and surface damage (ravelling, potholes, popouts, etc.).
Laboratory testing of the sand subbase, CTB, asphalt concrete, tack coat and grouted
macadam was performed to determine the optimum material properties for the design.
The design life of the pavement is 20 years during which a maximum of 4,000,000 AGV’s
will pass the normative location. The lateral wander of the AGV’s is very limited because
transponders, which are drilled into the surface layer, guide them automatically.
The final state-of-the-art pavement design was both competitive in costs and quality when
compared to reinforced concrete or concrete brick pavements. During the design proces focus
was on the use of locally available materials as much as possible, because of their economic
and environmental benefits. Some interesting product and process innovations were applied.
The container terminal is operational for more than 5 years and no significant damage has
been reported yet.