MEGAWORLD

S O I L E XC AVAT I O N P R O T E C T I O N S

OUTLINE
I. Retaining Wall Systems
I. Sheet Pile Walls
II. Secant Pile Walls
III. Diaphragm Walls

SHEET PILE WALLS

earthworks.us

SHEET PILE WALLS

Advantages:
HIGH RESISTANCE to driving stresses
LIGHT WEIGHT
REUSABLE on several projects.
LONG SERVICE LIFE above or below water with
modest protection.
Easy to ADAPT the pile LENGTH by either
welding or bolting
Joints are LESS apt to DEFORM during driving.

SHEET PILE WALLS

Disdvantages:
RARELY used as part of the PERMANENT structure.
Installation of sheet piles is DIFFICULT in soils with
boulders or cobbles. In such cases, the desired wall
depths may not be reached.
Excavation SHAPES are dictated by the sheet pile
section and interlocking elements.
Sheet pile driving may cause neighborhood
DISTURBANCE
SETTLEMENTS in adjacent properties may take
place due to installation vibrations

SECANT PILE WALLS

http://www.secantpile.com

http://www.bylandengineering.com/

SECANT PILE WALLS

Advantages:
Increased construction alignment FLEXIBILITY.
Increased wall STIFFNESS compared o sheet
piles.
Can be installed in DIFFICULT GROUND
(cobbles/boulders).
Used in high WATER TABLE conditions without
excessive dewatering.
Properly placed columns can be as CLOSE as 3
to 5 from existing buildings.
Less NOISE

SECANT PILE WALLS

Disdvantages:
VERTICALITY tolerances may be hard to
achieve for deep piles.
Total WATERPROOFING is very difficult to
obtain in joints.
Increased COST compared to sheet pile walls if
depth is less than 12 meters.

DIAPHRAGM WALLS
http://menardbachy.com.au/

http://bagtc.com/

DIAPHRAGM WALLS
Advantages:
Used for retaining very DEEP EXCAVATIONS as they can
be designed to take very HIGH structural LOADS.
The water tight walls formed can be used as permanent
structural walls.
Reduced number of joints in the wall which ultimately
improves the walls WATER TIGHTNESS.
Work may be carried out right against existing
structures and the line of wall may be adjusted to any
SHAPE in plan.
Diaphragm wall construction is relatively QUIET, and
minimum noise and vibration levels make it suitable for
construction in urban areas.

DIAPHRAGM WALLS
Disdvantages:
Requires HEAVY construction EQUIPMENT
Considerably HIGH COST
Requires LARGE SPACE for storage of
reinforcements cages.
Need for CONTINUITY in the construction
process.

SUMMARRY
Comparison

Sheet Pile

Secant Pile

Diaphragm

Cheapest

Moderate - High

High

Noise and
Vibration

Yes

Machine Only

Machine Only

Matls and Eqpt.

Low

Moderate

High

Water Tightness

Good with Joint

Treatment

Satisfactory

Excellent

Low

High

High

Cost

Flexibility