Sheet piles

wall

‫ياسر عامر محمد علي‬

‫المرحلة الرابعة‬

-Group-B

‫للدراسة المسائية‬

Introduction: (1)

Sheet pile walls consist of continuously interlocked pile segments embedded in soils
to resist horizontal pressures. Classified as a flexible retaining system, sheet pile walls
can tolerate relatively large deformations. (Stanislav, 2006)

Sheet piles are being used as retaining systems for many years. They are widely used
for several purposes such as:

1. large and waterfront structures

 2. erosion protection
3. stabilizing ground slopes
4. shoring walls of trenches and other excavations, and cofferdams.

They are commonly used for retaining walls, land

reclamation, underground structures such as car parks and basements, in
marine locations for riverbank protection, seawalls, cofferdams, and so on.

Generally sheet piles that used for retaining walls are classified as Anchored sheet
piles or Cantilevered sheet piles. They are made of different kinds of materials such as
wood, concrete, steel or Aluminum.

Sheet piles are designed to interlock with each other. They are installed in sequence
along the planned excavation perimeter. When arranged together, they form a wall for
permanent or temporary earth support, along with anchors to provide extra lateral
support.

Permanent sheet piles are designed to provide a long service life; installed with the

help of vibratory hammers. If the soil is too dense or hard, impact hammers are used.
Depending on the condition of the site, the sheet piles can be hydraulically pushed
into the ground.

Type of Concentrations Material :

Sheet piles are made of different materials such as wood, concrete, aluminium, steel
or vinyl which are briefly explained in the following sections:

1. Wooden sheet pile

wooden sheet piles are the oldest construction materials used for temporary light
structures to prevent cave-ins. All woods degrades over times, especially when
exposed to water and extreme temperatures, where fungus and bugs accelerate
decomposition. Wood sheet piling is still used today, however the wood is either fully
encapsulated, or treated with chemicals like chrome, aluminum or steel plating.

2. Concrete sheet pile

Precast concrete sheet piles are constructed by casting reinforced concrete panel
sheets with tongue and groove or fillable joint at the sheet pile ends. Precast concrete
sheet piles are relatively uncommon and might be used when steel sheet piles are not
available or under very special conditions. They can offer substantial stiffness and
strength capacity but require extensive labor to fabricate, care to transport and handle.
Because of their increased thickness and tip area, precast concrete sheet piles can be
very hard if not impossible to drive. Precast concrete piles might also experience
tension cracks during driving as driving tension stresses travel through the section.

3. Aluminium sheet pile

Aluminium sheet piles have cross-sections similar to those of steel. It is constructed

using 6061 alloy, and often anodized or painted or visible applications. Aluminum is
100 percent recyclable, durable and resistant to corrosion from air, water, extreme
temperature and chemicals, but is more expensive than other types.

4. Vinyl sheet pile

Vinyle, also known as the “infrastructure plastic,” is the most widely used sheet piling
for heavy loads and marine applications today. Vinyl is not only inert, durable and
less expensive than wood, concrete and steel, it is 100 percent recyclable.

5. Steel sheet pile

The steel sheet pile alternative is the most popular due to its strength, ease of
handeling and ease of construction. Steel sheet piles are available in various cross-
section shapes. They can have problems with corrosion that can be prevented by
coating. Their thickness is about 10 to 13mm; the allowable stress is 170 Mpa to 210
Mpa (25 – 30ksi).

Types of Sheet Piles: (2)

There are two main types of sheet piles:

 1. Cantilever Sheet Piles.
2. Anchored Sheet piles.

Sheet pile walls may be cantilever or anchored walls. Figure TS14R–6 illustrates both
a cantilever sheet pile wall and an anchored sheet pile wall. Cantilever walls derive
support from adequate embedment below the stream channel. Steel cantilever walls
are limited to wall heights of 15 to 20 feet, while vinyl cantilever walls are limited to
6 to 10 feet. An anchored wall is typically required when the wall height exceeds that
suitable for a cantilever wall. Anchored sheet pile walls derive support from
embedment in the soil and the anchor force(s) applied to the piling wall.

Construction Method:

Sheet piles are often connected together in pairs and installed using one of three
methods:

1. Vibration: this is the most common method. The first sheet pile of the wall is
installed into the ground. A vibratory hammer with clamp is attached to the top of the
second sheet pile, which is then interlocked with the first sheet pile, and the sheet pile
is vibrated into the ground.

2. Pressing: sheet piles can also be pressed into the ground when noise hindrance and
vibration would otherwise cause problems. This, however, takes longer and is
expensive. The sheet piles are pressed into the ground by a hydraulic machine.

3. Excavation: sheet piles can also be excavated into the soil. A long trench is
excavated which is then filled with cement bentonite (a thin concrete slurry) to
prevent the walls from collapsing. The sheet piles are then installed in the trench and
the cement bentonite is allowed to set

Advantages of sheet steel piles:

A. Provides high resistance to driving stresses.

B. Light weight
 C. Can be reused on several projects.
D. Long service life above or below water with modest protection.
E. Easy to adapt the pile length by either welding or bolting
F. Joints are less apt to deform during driving.

Disadvantage of sheet steel piles:

A. Sections can rarely be used as part of the permanent structure.

B. Installation of sheet piles is difficult in soils with boulders or cobbles. In such
cases, the desired wall depths may not be reached.
C. Excavation shapes are dictated by the sheet pile section and interlocking
elements.
D. Sheet pile driving may cause neighborhood distrurbace
E. Settlements in adjacent properties may take place due to installation vibrations

Reference

(1) Hunt, R.E. (1986) Geotechnical Engineering Analysis and Evaluation, McGraw-
Hill, USA.

(2) Technical Supplement 14R -Design and Use of Sheet Pile Walls in Stream
Restoration and Stabilization Projects-TS14R–2