Sheet Pile Walls

Sheet pile walls are retaining walls constructed to retain earth, water or any other filling materials. These walls are thinner in section compared to masonry walls. Sheet pile walls are generally used for following: 1. Water front structures, i.e. in building wharfs, quays and piers. 2. Building diversion dams, such as cofferdams 3. River bank protection 4. Retaining the sides of cuts made in earth Sheet pile walls can be of timber, reinforced concrete or steel. Timber sheet piles are generally used for short spans and to resist light lateral loads. They are mostly used for temporary structures such as braced sheeting in cuts. When timber sheet piles are used in permanent structures above water level, they require preservative treatment and even, but still their life span is relatively short. Timber sheet piles are joined to each other by tongue and grove joints. Timber sheet piles are not suitable for soils consisting of stones, as the stone would dislodge the joints.