Published literature for sheet pile failures

[NoWittyHandle]

I'm looking for published information on the causes of sheet piling failure, and I'd appreciate any suggestions I can get. I'm also looking for good reference literature on failures in geotechnical engineering. A former employer had a couple of good books on the topic, but I can't remember the titles of these books. A search on the Internet didn't produce anything specifically devoted to geotechnical failures either.

Thanks in advance for your help.

EricinNJ

 

[Focht3]

You have picked a pretty broad topic (geotechnical failures.) I don't recall a single source of information; you will have to dig quite a bit to find much.

One notable paper - Olson and Daniel (1979?) on the failure of the Goodpasture bulkhead in the Port of Houston. The failure was due to inadequate penetration, anchorage too close to the bulkhead - designer (I believe his name was Clem Didden - expect he is deceased by now) used undrained soil properties in OC slickensided clays. Paper won an ASCE award; it ought to be easy to find.

 

[kmerl]

EricinNJ,

That is a very specific question. It may be worth your while to contact some sheet pile manufacturers with this question. Different types of sheet pile fail in different methods based on flange thickness, connection location, and construciton materials.

A few books that may help you to start are the Earth Manual, Part 1 (available online at teh bureau of reclamation web site) and the Earth Manual Part II (you have to pay for that one), also the Geotechnical Engineering Investigation Manual (ISBN0-07-031309, Hunt, Roy E.)

But I think your best information effort is with a manufacturer, they are always willing to share the research information used to produce the materials they market. Keithe J. Merl

http://www.princetonhydro.com