Lecture 31, 32, 33

Temporary Earth Retaining

Structures
July 29, 2009
Meeting 11
Cofferdams
Temporary Structures to keep out water
and soil to permit construction in the dry
Types
Sheet Pile Wall with bracing (used for
compact structures)
Cellular cofferdams (used for large
construction areas)
Typical Z Section Piling
Cofferdam Construction Steps
1. Pre-dredge to remove soft material and
level area
2. Install temporary support piles
3. Set bracing frame and hang from temp
piles
4. Drive Sheet Pile Wall using frame a
guide
5. Excavate bottom of cofferdam
6. Place concrete seal
7. Dewater and commence construction
Tremie Pipe
Concrete Seal
Compact Cofferdam
Steel Sheet Piles
Bracing
Concrete Seal
Cellular Cofferdams
Main
Cell
Connecting Arc
Cellular Cofferdams
Used to dike off a large construction areas
Practical to depths of 75 ft.
Cells are filled with granular material
Cellular Cofferdam Construction
Falsework ring templates must be used
Guide rings are temporarily supported by
temporary piles
Sheeting installation starts with the Y
section.
Pile layouts should be marked on the
guide ring
After Sheet piling is complete Cells are
filled
Typical Flat Sheet Pile Sections
Fabricated Y
Cofferdam Example
Cofferdam Detail
Other Earth Retaining Structures
Trench Boxes Prefabricated
structure that is moved as the work
progresses

Trench Box
Vertical Wood Sheating
Vertical wood
sheating
Timber wale
Timber cross bracing
Steel Soldier Piles and Horizontal
Sheating
Horizontal sheating set behind the flange
Driven sheet H piles
Braceless Systems Using Tie
Backs
Tendon
Stressing Unit
Grout
Tie back Example
Installing Tie backs