BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

REPORT
SHEET PILES

Submitted by:
Shaurya Dedhia
4th Year B.Arch
Roll no:05
Academy of Architecture
Unaided

SHEET PILES:
Sheet piles are thin piles, made of plates of concrete, timber or steel, driven
into the ground for either separating members or for stopping seepage of
water. They are not meant for carrying load.
Functions of sheet piles:
To enclose a site or part therefore to prevent the escape of loose subsoil, such
as sand, and to safeguard against settlement.
To retain the sides of the trenches and general excavation.
To form water tight enclosure ( known as coffer dam) necessary in the
construction of foundations in water.
To construct retaining walls in docks , wharfs and other marine structures.
To protect river banks.
To prevent seepage below dams and other hydraulic structures.
To confine the soil, thereby increasing the bearing capacity of the soil.
To construct coastal defense works ( as protection as against sea erosion)
To protect foundation from scouring actions of nearby river, stream etc.
Types of Sheet piles:
Concrete sheet piles:
They are reinforced, precast units.
The width of each unit may vary from 50-60 cm and thickness varies from 2-6
cm.
Timber sheet piles
These are used only for temporary work.
The width of the sheet may vary from 225-280 mm, while thickness should not
be less than 50mm.
They may jointed by either butt or v-joints.
SHEET PILES

Sheet Piling is used in cases when

Enclosing a site or part thereof to prevent the escape of loose sub-soil,
to safeguard against settlement of structure which is to be erected on it.
Retaining the side of trenches and generally excavations.
Forming cofferdams (watertight enclosures necessary in construction of
foundations in water).
Their most common use is within temporary deep excavations.
They are considered to be most economical where retention of higher earth
pressures of soft soils is required.
They have an important advantage in that they can be driven to depths below
the excavation bottom and so provide a control to heaving in soft clays or
piping in saturated sands.
However sheet piles are more costly and less adaptable to hard driving
conditions particularly where boulders or irregular rock surfaces occur.
There are 3 main types of sheet pile walls.
Cantilever
Anchor
Propped
Sheet piles are either of
Steel
Reinforced concrete
Timber

SHEET PILES

STEEL SHEET PILES

Trough shaped
When driven, the piles are interlocked with alternate one reversed.
The maximum lengths of piles depend upon,
the depth of penetration and the nature of soil
Lengths - 5.5m for smaller sections and 18m for larger sections
Made of three grades of steel;
mild steel, copper steel and high tensile rust-resisting steel.
When used for permanent work the piles should be coated with acid free
tar or similar preservatives.

Steel sheet piles

Sheet piling driving

Driving sheet piles

The frame equipment is similar to that of other types of piles, but of
lighter construction.
The hammers employed are to be of single-acting type for clay soil.
Double-acting for sand and gravel soil.
Alternatively, in the absence of a frame, hammer suspended from the jib
of a crane can be used.
A driving cap or anvil block is used as a protection against damage.
In order to maintain a straight line of vertical piles, it is necessary to
provide one or two pairs of horizontal timbers, called waling, which are
bolted to temporary wood square sectioned piles.
The wood piles are driven in at 3m to 4.5m apart.
If a frame is employed, only one pair of walling is necessary at ground
level otherwise, a second pair of waling is required.
SHEET PILES

There is a tendency of the piles to wander or lean forward in the direction

of driving, which can be avoided or minimized if the work is carried out in
the following manner.
A series or panel of, say, pair of piles (no. 1) is carefully driven to part
penetration.
The pair at the opposite end (no. 2) is then partially driven, followed in
turn by pairs 3,4,5,6.

BOX PILES
The interlocking steel sheet piles are formed into box piles for
permanent works and where large carrying capacity is required.
Box Piles consist of two ordinary sheet piles of any of the layer
sections which are welded together at intervals along the
interlocks.
Steel sheet piles are often used for temporary work and after
the piles have served their purpose they are withdrawn.
The method of withdrawal is to apply a metal grips or tongs at
the top end of the piles which is then lifted by a rope from
winch on crane.
A double-acting pile hammer is inverted and fitted with
extractor grips.
The main application of steel sheet piles is in retaining
walls and cofferdams erected to enable permanent
works to proceed.

SHEET PILES

REINFORCED CONCRETE SHEET PILE

Used for permanent work.
In section, it is rectangular or tongued or grooved or V-jointed.
The feet are shaped obliquely or bevelled and feather edged.
If driving through resistant strata, the feet are protected by metal shoes
and the heads are shaped to receive the driving helmet.
If the soil is water logged and the piling system is to be water tight, cement
grout is poured down the joints to affect a seal.

TIMBER SHEET PILES

Used for temporary work.
225-280mm wide and at least 50mm thick.
Butt or V-jointed and feet are bevelled and shoed with shoe iron.
Temporary wood piles and waling are as described for sheet piles are
provided to ensure accurate driving.

SHEET PILES