Sheet Piling Service

Services Details

Steel sheet piles are long structural sections with a vertical interlocking system that creates a continuous wall. The walls are most often used to retain either soil or water. The ability of a sheet pile section to perform is dependent upon its geometry and the soils it is driven into.

Steel sheet piling work has been a tried and tested method in a specialist foundation and hydraulic engineering. As a result of continuous improvements in the methods of installation, this technique is characterized by high cost-effectiveness and an ever-increasing range of applications.

The main area of application is the retention of excavation pits in areas where there is no space for a slope or where sealing against positive water pressure is required. Here, sheet piles are used to create a rigid barrier, which is removed after completion of the construction works and backfilling of the excavation pit.

The individual sheet piles are connected to each other by a vertical interlocking system (tongue and groove) to form a continuous wall of sheet piling. During installation, each sheet pile is guided laterally by the interlock of the previously driven sheet pile and connected to it positively and watertight.

Steel sheet piling Works can be made to be practically watertight. It is also possible to work below the water table inside an excavation pit enclosed by sheet piling (sheet piling cofferdam). Sheet piling retaining walls can be sealed at the bottom of the excavation by the following methods: underwater concrete slab, jet-grouted base slab, soft gel horizontal cut-off or temporary dewatering with pumps (dewatering system).

How Sheet Piling Works
The concept of sheet piling works is pretty straightforward. Wherever a wall or siding needs to be held back, steel sheets are wedged into the earth at predetermined intervals. The sheets are driven into the soil with vibratory or impact hammers. In some cases they may be installed with hydraulic presses. The placed sheets interlock with each other, enabling variable designs that can be adapted for a specific retention job. If even more strength is needed, anchors are easy to add. The adaptability of the sheet piling means supports can be as temporary or permanent as needed. Sheet piling is used to protect or construct:
• Parking structures
• Seawalls and bulkheads
• Basements
• Pump houses
• Foundations
• Cofferdams
• Below ground facilities
 
The Safety of Sheet Piling
When designed correctly, sheet piling can almost completely eliminate the risk of landslide, erosion, collapse or water breech. Construction sites are teeming with people and expensive equipment, so there really is no excuse for taking risks. With a simple survey, an optimal retention plan can be designed, minimizing construction costs just as much as safety risks. Properly designed and driven sheet piling can provide outstanding protection to construction sites and permanent retention walls.