HDPE sheet pile wall

[Chewi00]

I am currently looking at a site where a cut-off wall needs to be installed with Permeable Reactive Barrier gates. The groundwater has very low PH's and has a high salinity. The use of galvanized steel sheeting is the way we are looking to go based on a 30 yr design life. Does anyone have any information or can point me in a direction to learn more about HDPE sheet pile walls or PVC sheet pile walls. I am trying to figure out if they are a cost effective alternative to the standard stell sheeting.

Thanks
Adam

 

[eric1037]

Check out this website:

http://www.perma-loc.com

 

[Chewi00]

Very informative.....do you have first hand expierience with them?

 

[eric1037]

They came to our office a few years back to give a technical presentation on their product.

We ended up using it as a cutoff wall within the core of a detention control structure. It seemed to work out OK, but I think it created a slip surface within the soft clay.

It drove fairly easily and it was more cost-effective than steel sheeting.

 

[PEinc]

The plastic sheet piles sometimes have relatively high section moduli, but the allowable bending stress and yield stress are low. Therefore, these plastic sheets are not real efficient in bending.

 

[DRC1]

I have used them for some scour control in a steam at a small bridge a few years ago. They work well, but as PEInc said they are very limited in bending and thus are only good for a very short retained height. You can get more height with anchors, but even so it will not be a lot.
I would be concerned about galvinized sheet piling. As you drive it you will scrape much of it off. Corrosion in those areas will actually be accelerated and despite the money, you probably won't get significant corrosion protection. Two other options are using Mariner grade sheet piling or using precast concrete sheetpiles.

 

[Chewi00]

Correct. We are actually looking at Coal tar epoxy steel sheeting. Mariner grade would be an option as well

 

[Chewi00]

Marine grade, sorry.