1

CHAPTER TWO
SHEET PILE WALLS
1. Introduction
Connected or semi connected sheet piles are often used to uild continuous !alls for !aterfront
structures that ran"e from small !aterfront pleasure oats launchin" facilities to lar"e doc# facilities. In
contrast to the construction of other t$pes of retainin" !alls% the uildin" of sheet pile !alls does not
usuall$ re&uire de!aterin" of site. Sheet piles are also used for some temporar$ structures% such as
raced cuts.
'i".1. E(ample of !ater 'ront Sheet Pile
Se)eral t$pes of sheet piles are commonl$ used in construction* +a, !ooden sheet piles% +, precast
concrete sheet piles% and +c, steel sheet piles. Aluminum sheet piles are also mar#eted.
Wooden sheet piles are used onl$ for temporar$% li"ht structures that are ao)e the !ater tale. The
most common t$pes are ordinar$ !ooden plan#s% !hich are aout -.mm ( /..mm in cross section and
are dri)en ed"e to ed"e. Precast concrete sheet piles are hea)$ and are desi"ned !ith reinforcement to
!ith stand the permanent stresses to !hich the structure !ill e su0ected after construction and also to
handle the stresses produced durin" construction. In cross section% these piles are aout -..12..mm
!ide and 1-.13-.mm thic#.











2
'i".3. 4arious t$pes of !ooden and concrete sheet piles.
'i"./. Thum1and1fin"er and 5all1and1soc#et sheet pile connection
Steel sheet piles are aout 1.11/mm thic#. Sheet piles sections ma$ e 6% deep arch% lo! arch% or
strai"ht !e sections. The interloc#s of the sheet pile sections are shaped li#e a thum1and1fin"er or
all1and1soc#et 0oint for !aterti"ht connections. The allo!ale desi"n fle(ural stress for the steel sheet
piles is as follo!s.
T$pe of steel Allo!ale stress
AST7 A1/32 18.79:m3
AST7 A1-83 31.79:m3
AST7 A1;<. 31.79:m3
Properties of some sheet piles sections are "i)en as follo!s
Section desi"nation Section modulus m/:m of
!all
7oment of inertia m=:m of
!all
P61=. /3;.= ( 1.
1-
;8..- ( 1.
1=
P61/-
P6138
P6133
PSA1/1
PSA13/
3;..- ( 1.
1-
1;3./ ( 1.
1-
<8 ( 1.
1-
1..2 ( 1.
1-
13.2 ( 1.
1-
=</.= ( 1.
1=
3-1.- ( 1.
1=
11-.3 ( 1.
1=
=.=1 ( 1.
1=
-.;/ ( 1.
1=
3
Steel sheet piles are con)enient to use ecause of their resistance to the hi"h dri)in" stress that is
de)eloped !hen the$ are ein" dri)en into hard soils. Steel sheet piles are also li"ht !ei"ht and
reusale.
3. Construction methods
Sheet piles !alls ma$ e di)ided into t!o cate"ories* +a, cantile)er and +, anchored. In the
construction of sheet pile !alls% the sheet pile ma$ e dri)en in to the "round and then ac#fill placed on
the land side% or the sheet pile ma$ first e dri)en into the "round and the soil in front of the sheet pile
dred"ed. In either case% the soil used for ac#fill ehind the sheet pile !all is usuall$ "ranular. The soil
elo! the dred"ed line ma$ e sand$ or cla$e$. The surface of soil on the !ater side is referred to as
mud line or dred"e line.
The construction methods "enerall$ can e di)ided into t!o follo!in" cate"ories>
1. 5ac#fill structure
3. ?red"ed structure
The se&uence of construction for a ac#fill structure is as follo!s
4
Step1. ?red"e the in situ soil in front and ac# of the proposed structure
Step3. ?ri)e the sheet piles.
Step/. 5ac#fill up to the le)el of the anchor% and place the anchor s$stem%
Step=. 5ac#fill up to the top of the !all.
'or the cantile)er t$pe of !all% onl$ steps 1% 3% and = appl$.
The se&uence of construction for a dred"ed structure is as follo!s.
Step1. ?ri)e the sheet piles
Step3. 5ac#fill up to the anchor le)el% and place the anchor s$stem%
Step/. 5ac#fill up to the top of the !all%
Step=. ?red"e the front side of the !all.
5
'i".=. se&uence of construction for a dred"ed structure
/. Cantile)er sheet pile !alls
Cantile)er sheet pile !alls are usuall$ recommended for !alls of moderate hei"hts aout ;m or less%
measured ao)e the dred"e line. In such !alls% the sheet piles act as a !ide cantile)er eam ao)e the
dred"e line. The asic principle for estimatin" net lateral pressure distriution on a cantile)er sheet pile
!all can e e(plained !ith the aid of fi" -. The fi"ure sho!s the nature of lateral $ieldin" of a cantile)er
!all penetratin" a sand la$er elo! the dred"e line. The !all rotates aout point O. ecause the
h$drostatic pressure at an$ depth from oth sides of the !all !ill cancel each other% !e consider onl$ the
effecti)e lateral soil pressures. In @one A% the lateral pressure is 0ust the acti)e pressure from the land
side and passi)e pressure from the !ater side. In @one 5% ecause of the nature of $ieldin" of the !all%
there !ill e acti)e pressure from the land side and passi)e pressure from the !ater side. The condition
is re)ersed in @one C

that is% elo! the point of rotation% O. The net actual pressure distriution on the
!all is li#e that sho!n in the 'IA;5 ao)e. Ho!e)er% for desi"n purposes% the fi"ure -c sho!s a
simplified )ersion.
6
'i".-. Cantile)er sheet pile penetratin" sand
/. Cantile)er sheet pillin" penetratin" sand$ soils
Let us de)elop the relationship for the proper depth of emedment of sheet piles dri)en in to a "ranular
soil. The soil retained $ the sheet pilin" ao)e the dred"e line also as sand. The !ater tale is at a depth
L elo! the top of the !all. Let
1
the effective angle of the sand be .
7
'i".;. cantile)er sheet pile penetratin" sand> +a, )ariation of net pressure dia"ram> +, )ariation of
moment
The intensit$ of the acti)e pressure at a depth @BL is%
1
P B
1
/
1
C
a
+1,
Where C B Ran#ine acti)e pressure coefficient B tan +=-
a
3

XQLWZHLJW!"#!L$%&!'HWHZ%WH(W%&$H
Similarl$% the acti)e pressure at a depth 6 B L D L
1 3
+i.e.% at the le)el of the dred"e line, is
P
3
/
1
D
/
3
, C
a
+3,
Whe
(H H""H)WL'HXQLWZHLJW!"#!L$
sat
1

!
It must e noted that% at the le)el of the dred"e line% the h$drostatic pressures from oth sides of the
!all are the same ma"nitude and cancel each other.
To determine the net lateral pressure elo! the dred"e line up to the point of rotation% O% as sho!n in
the fi"ure% !e ha)e to consider the pressure actin" from the left side +the !ater side, to!ard the ri"ht
8
side +the land side, of the !all and also the acti)e pressure actin" from the ri"ht side to!ard the left side
of the !all% for such cases% i"norin" the h$drostatic pressure from oth sides of the !all% the acti)e
pressure at depth 6 is%
P
a
/ / *
1 3
1 L 1 L ,, C
1 3 a
+/,
Also% the passi)e pressure at depth 6 is
P
p
*
1 L 1 L , C
1 3 p
+=,
Where C B Ran#ine passi)e pressure coefficient B tan +=- D
p
3

Cominin" e&s / and = $ields the net lateral earth pressure% namel$%
P B P
a

P
p
/ /
1 3
,C
a
1
*
1 L 1 L ,+C 1 C ,
1 3 P a
+-,
B P 1
3
*
1 L,+C 1 C ,
P a
!here L B L D L
1 3
The net pressure% P e&uals @ero at a depth L elo! the dred"e line% so
/
P 1
3
*
1 L,+C 1 C , B .
P a
Or
+6 1 L, B L B P
/ 3
.
P
1 C ,
a
+;,
E&uation ; indicates that the slope of the net pressure distriution line ?E' is 1 )ertical to
.
P
1 C ,
a
hori@ontal% so% in the pressure dia"ram%
H5 B P B L
/ =
.
P
1 C ,
a
+8,
At the ottom of the sheet pile% passi)e pressure% Pp% acts from the ri"ht to!ard the left side% and acti)e
pressure acts from the left to!ard the ri"ht of the sheet pile% so at 6 B L D ?
P B
p
/ / +
1 3
C
p
+2,
At the same depth%
P
a

? C
a
+<,
Hence% the net lateral pressure at the ottom of the sheet pile is%
P
p

P BP B
a =
/ /
1 3
,C
p
D

?+C 1 C ,
P a
/ /
1 3
,C
P
/
/
+C 1 C ,
P a
/
=
+C 1 C ,
P a
BP
-
/
=
+C 1 C ,
P a
+1.,
Where
9
P
-
/ /
1 3
,C
P
/
/
+C 1 C ,
P a
+11,
? B L D L
/ =
+13,
'or the stailit$ of the !all% the principles of statics can no! e applied>
,)
H
B .
,-
5
B .
'or the summation of hori@ontal forces% !e ha)e
Area of the pressure dia"ram AC?E

area of E'H5 D area of 'H5A B .

Or% P1P L :3 DL +P D P ,:3 B .
/ = - / =
+1/,
Where P B area of pressure dia"ram AC?E
Summin" the moment of all the forces aout point 5 $ields
P+L
=
. /
,

+L .P :3,+L :/, D L :3 +P D P ,+L :/, B .

= / = - / = -
+1=,
'rom e&. 1/
L B +P L
- / =

3P,: +P D P ,
/ =
+1-,
Cominin" e&s. 8% 1.% 1=% and 1- and simplif$in" them further% !e otain the follo!in" fourth

de"ree
e&uation in terms of L
=
L= +1;,
In this e&uation%
A B
1
+18,
A B
3
+12,
A B
/
+1<,
A B
=
+3.,
Step $ step procedure for otainin" the pressure dia"ram
5ased on the precedin" theor$% a step1$1step procedure for otainin" the pressure dia"ram for a
cantile)er sheet pile !all penetratin" a "ranular soil is as follo!s
1. Calculate C and C
a p
10
3. Calculate P and P +9ote that L and L are "i)en,
1 3 1 3
/. Calculate L
/
=. Calculate P.
-.
0alc1late /
+i.e.% center of pressure for the area AC?E, $ ta#in" the moment aout E
;. Calculate P .
-
8. Calculate A %A %A %and A
1 3 / =
2. Sol)e e&. 1; $ trial and error to determine L
=
<. Calculate P
=
1.. Calculate P
/
11. Otain L
-
13. ?ra! a pressure distriution dia"ram.
1/. Otain the theoretical depth of penetration as L
/
D L .The actual depth of penetration is
=
increased $ aout 3.

/.E
It ma$ e noted that some desi"ners prefer to use a factor of safet$ on the passi)e earth pressure earth
pressure coefficient at the e"innin". In that case% in step1%
C
p+desi"n,
B
Where '.S B factor of safet$ +usuall$ et!een 1.- and 3,
'or this t$pe of anal$sis% follo! steps 1113 !ith the )alues of C B tan +=-
a
3

, and C
P+desi"n,
. The
actual depth of penetration can e determined $ addin" L % otain from step /% and L % otained from
/ =
step2.
Calculation of 7a(imum 5endin" 7oment*
The nature of the )ariation of the moment dia"ram for a cantile)er sheet pile !all is sho!n in the fi"ure
"i)en ao)e. The ma(imum moment !ill
occ12 bet3een 4oint & and ).
Otainin" the ma(imum
moment +7
ma(
, per unit len"th of the !all re&uires determinin" the point of @ero shear. 'or a ne! a(is
563ith o2igin at 4oint &7
for @ero shear%
P B
Or
Z *
+31,
Once the point of @ero shear force is determined
64oint ) in the fig78 the 9agnit1de of the 9a:i919
moment can e otained as
7
ma(
;6/ . Z7
+33,
11
The necessar$ profile of the sheet pilin" is then accordin" to the allo!ale stress of the sheet pile
material% or
S B +3/,
Where S B section modulus of the sheet pile re&uired per unit len"th of the structure
<
allo!
B allo!ale fle(ural stress of the sheet pile.
E(ample 1
A cantile)er sheet pile !all penetratin" a "ranular soil. Here% L B 3m% L
1 3
;
sat
B 1<.//C9: m %
/

B 1-.<C9:m % and
/

.
a. What is the theoretical depth of emedment% ?F
. 'or a /.E increase in ?% !hat should e the total len"th of the sheet pilesF
c.
=%W#!X$>&HWH;LQL;X;#H)WL!Q;!>X$X#!"WH#HHW?L$H#@A#H<
allo!
B 18379:m
3
=. Cantile)er sheet pilin" penetratin" cla$
At times% cantile)er sheet pile must e dri)en into a cla$ la$er possessin" an undrained cohesion C +

B .,. The net pressure dia"ram !ill e some!hat different from that discussed for sheet pile for sand.
'i"ure elo! sho!s a cantile)er sheet pile !all dri)en into cla$ !ith a ac#fill of "ranular soil ao)e the
le)el of the !all. The dia"ram for net pressure distriution elo! the dred"e line can no! e determined
as follo!s.
12
'i".8. Cantile)er sheet pile penetratin" cla$
At an$ depth "reater than L D L % for
1 3

B .% the Ran#ine acti)e earth pressure coefficient C B 1.

a
Similarl$ passi)e earth coefficient +C , B1. Thus% ao)e the point of rotation +point O,% the acti)e
P
pressure% from ri"ht to left is%
P B
a
+3=,
Similarl$% the passi)e pressure from left to ri"ht ma$ e e(pressed as
P
p

sat
+6

L
1

L , D 3C
3
+3-,
Thus% the net pressure is
P B P
; P

P B
a
P B =C1 +
;
+3;,
At the ottom of the sheet pile% the passi)e pressure from ri"ht to left is
P B +
P
+38,
13
Similarl$% the acti)e pressure from left to ri"ht is
P
a

sat
.?

3C +32,
hence% the net pressure is
P B P
8 P

P B =C D +
a
+3<,
)o2 eB1ilib2i19 analCsis8 ,
'
H
B .> that is% the area of the pressure dia"ram AC?E minus the area of
E'I5 plus the area of AIH B .% or
Where P B area of the pressure dia"ram AC?E.
1
Simplif$in" the precedin" e&uation produces
+/.,
Do38 taEing 9o9ent abo1t 4oint F 6,- * G7 ields
+/1,
Whe2e /
1
B distance of the center of pressure of the pressure dia"ram AC?E% measured from the le)el
of the dred"e line% cominin" e&. /. and /1 $ields
+/3,
E&uation =2 ma$ e sol)ed to otain ?% the theoretical depth of penetration of the cla$ la$er $ the
sheet pile.
Step1$1step procedure for otainin" the pressure dia"ram
1. Calculate C for the "ranular ac#fill
a
3. Otain P and P
1 3
/. Calculate P
1
and /
=. Gse e&. /3 to otain the theoretical )alue of ?
-. Gsin" e&. /.% calculate L
=
;. Calculate P and P
; 8
8. ?ra! the pressure distriution dia"ram as sho!n in the fi"
2. The actual depth of penetration is
?
actual
B 1.= to 1.;?
theoretical
14
7a(imum endin" moment
The ma(imum moment +@ero shear, !ill e et!een +L D L ,H6H+ L D L
1 3 1 3
DL ,. Gsin" a ne!
/
coo
2dination sCste9 Z 63ith Z *G at the d2edge line7 fo2 5e2o shea2 gives
Or +//,
The ma"nitude of the ma(imum moment ma$ no! e otained>
+/=,
Cno!in" the ma(imum endin" moment% one can determine the section modulus of the sheet pile from
e&.3/.
E(ample 3. In the fi" elo!% for the sheet pile !all% determine
a. The theoretical and actual depth of penetration. Gse ?
actual
B 1.- ?
theor$
.
HH;%IL;X;#LJH!"#HHW?L$H#H)WL!QQH)H##%(KA#H<
all
B 18379:m .
3
-. Anchored sheet pile !alls
When the hei"ht of a ac#fill material ehind a cantile)er sheet pile !all e(ceeds aout ;m% t$in" !all
near the top to anchor !alls% or anchor piles ecome more economical. This t$pe of construction is
referred to as anchored sheet pile !all or an anchored ul#head. Anchors minimi@e the depth of
penetration re&uired $ the sheet piles and also reduce the cross sectional area and !ei"ht of the sheet
piles needed for construction. Ho!e)er% the tie rods and anchors must e carefull$ desi"ned.
15
'i".2. Anchored sheet pile !all penetratin" sand.
It must e noted that the slope of the line
+67L#'H(WL)%$W! .
p
1 C , hori@ontal. 'or e&uilirium of
a
the sheet 4ile8 ,ho2i5ontal fo2ce * G8 and ,-o9ent abo1t $ *G64oint o is loca
ted at the le)el of the
tie rod,.
Summin" the forces in the hori@ontal direction +per unit len"th of the !all, "i)es
Area of the pressure dia"ram AC?E

area of E'5

' B.
Where ' B tension in the rod:unit len"th of the !all% or
+/-,
Or +/;,
Where PB area of the pressure dia"ram AC?E
Do38 taEing the 9o9ent abo1t 4oint $ gives
+/8,
Once the )alue of @ is determined% the ma"nitude of the ma(imum moment is easil$ otained
16
Or
+/2,
E&n./2. ma$ e sol)ed $ trial and error to determine the theoretical depth% L >
=
?
theoretical
B L D L
/ =
Theoretical depth is increased $ aout /.1=.E for actual construction% or
?
actual
B 1./ to 1.=.?
theoretical
The step1$1step procedure in section = ao)e indicated that a factor of safet$ can e applied to C at
P
the e"innin" Ii.e.% C
P+desi"n,
B C :'SJ. If that is done there is no need to increase the theoretical depth $
p
/.1=.E. This approach is often more conser)ati)e.
The ma(imum theoretical moment to !hich the sheet pile !ill e su0ected occurs at a depth et!een
@B L and @ BL D L . The depth @ for @ero shear and hence ma(imum moment ma$ e e)aluated from%
1 1 3
+/<,