Cold Formed vs. Hot Rolled Steel Sheet Pile A572?

[Dinosaur]

Hey folks,

I have a question from a supplier asking why we specify hot rolled steel sheet piling in accordance with ASTM A328 (or A572) but we do not mention cold formed sheet piling. Therefore our current specification prohibits cold formed steel sheet piling. It is my hope there may be an old timer out there that may know why cold formed steel sheet piling was not allowed 'back in the day.'

At present my only concern is that welding, such as may be required to secure waler beams or tie-backs, may create adverse conditions with cold formed sheets.

Thanks for your consideration.

 

[SlideRuleEra]

In a word: History.

Hot-rolled sheet piling has been used, successfully, since the 19th century.
Cold-formed sheet piling since the 1970's.
Takes time to build confidence in a new product when the old one works so well.

An interesting comparison between the two was published in "Pile Buck Magazine" last year (2015). The article (.pdf) is attached below.

http://www.SlideRuleEra.net

http://www.VacuumTubeEra.net

 

[BUGGAR]

My experience with Perini on the sewage treatment plant built in New York: Cold formed sheet pile interconnects were too subject to erection damage. I designed the boxes that the pile monkey set on the sheet ahead to guide the interlocks into place while setting the sheets. I sat up there and watched (don't ever tell your boss you aren't afraid of heights). A sheet had to bounce around inside my box trying to center itself into the interlock below while hanging from a crane with 200 feet of stick. It hammered the hell out of the sheets at the interlocks. During pile stabbing, interlock hang up is a major problem. A good piling super will guard his interlocks like his children.

I think cold formed would be great for decorative garden walls and such.