|
 |
SHEETPILE
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW |
| TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES OF SHEET PILING BARRIERS
ADVANTAGES OF VINYL SHEETING
LIMITATIONS TO SHEET PILING BARRIERS
CONCLUSION |
|
INTRODUCTION
Sheet piling consists of a series of panels with interlocking connections driven into the ground with impact or vibratory hammers to form an impermeable barrier. Sheets can be made from a variety of materials such as steel, vinyl, plastic, wood, recast concrete, and fiberglass.
Sheet piling has been a proven technology within the construction industry for years. The most recent addition was the vinyl sheets introduced in 1989. These vinyl sheets, with imperious sealents have made this a very attractive technology for the cutoff or containment of contaminated groundwater flow in the environmental industry. |
| Back to Top |
|
APPLICATIONS
The following are some of the more common geotechnical and environmental applications in which sheet piling is extremly effective.
- Cofferdams
- Ground Water Diversion/Control
- Barrier for Ground Water Treatment Systems
- Retaining Walls
- Containment Walls
- Flood Protection
- Coastal Protection
- Tunnel Cut and Cover
- Bulkheads and Seawalls
- Weir Walls
- Slope Stabilization
- Baffle Walls
|
| Back to Top |
ADVANTAGES OF SHEET PILING BARRIERS
- No excavation is required, which minimizes waste disposal problems
- Sheet piling can be removed later, if required or desired
- Topography and depth to groundwater have little impact
- Enclosures with irregular shapes are possible
- Work can be completed from a barge, eliminating unnecessary site clearing
|
| Back to Top |
ADVANTAGES OF VINYL SHEETING
- The use of vinyl sheeting for containment of groundwater is rapidly gaining acceptance. Supported in part, by the lower price as well as low operating and maintenance costs.
- The outer flat vinyl sheets come in 4 thicknesses: 0.20-, 0.25-, 0.40-, and 0.45-inches. The 0.45-inch thick sheet has a long-term allowable moment rating (8,890 foot-pounds per linear foot) and weighs 8 pounds per square foot.
- Vinyl sheeting has long-term service life – guaranteed against rust, rot, corrosion, and destructive marine organisms.
- With the interlock sealant application, a permeability of 1x10-7 cm/sec or less can be achieved.
- Contaminated plumes can be directed toward pump and treat operations.
- Vinyl sheets are unaffected by sunlight, installed easily, and maintenance free.
- Colored texture with the natural grain appearance.
|
| Back to Top |
LIMITATIONS TO SHEET PILING BARRIERS
- Noise and vibration during installation
- The process is not suitable for stiff clay or soils containing cobbles and boulders
- Keying into rock is not possible
- Limited depth penetration without adding to project cost
|
| Back to Top |
CONCLUSION
Sheeting, like any other containment method, is a tool and needs to be used in its proper place. There are situations where one type of sheet is better than the other. No matter what the occasion, steel sheets, vinyl, fiberglass or plastic sheets should all be evaluated. Each type is best for a certain circumstance, whether groundwater control or shoring. |
|
