Sheet Pile Cell

[BridgeBuilder88]

I've been tasked with determining whether or not building this certain sheet pile cell is feasible or not. If it is, a consultant will probably be hired for the design.

Honestly, I've got no idea where to start when it comes to geotech, which is why I'm posting.

Basically, we are planning on making a 50' diameter sheet pile cell in the river near our fab shop to possibly replace an aging crane used to load barges. The cell will be made of rougly 45-50' sheet piles. The elevation at the top of the cell will be 720' above sea level, the river water level level is at 694' above sea level and the riverbead is at rougly 690' leaving 20' of pile in the ground. The plan is to fill the cell with gravel, and top it off with a 4100 Series III ringer crawler crane which weighs rougly 850 kips. The sheet piling will be half an inch think.

I've got a good bit of books about designing sheet pile cells and structures but I'm still a bit confused.

Thanks.

Anthony Deramo
American Bridge Company

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

Cellular sheet pile design is not something that is easy. I have done several on Corps of Engineers projects over the years and all are different.

In broad terms based on what you have posted, it should be possible to construct a cell to do what you are proposing. The size may end up a little different as may the length of sheet to be used. Many other design details to be worked out. Suggest that your next step is to find a geotechnical engineer that is experienced in designing cellular structures.

Hope this helps.

 

[ishvaaag]

I also think in general terms that having more cantilevered than embedded is never a good thing. Even if you reinforce -tie- within the infill, never the soundest practice. Of course it is made; tied walls or sheet pile walls were invented precisely for that, given that the soils seem able to take the reaction.

Anyway this kind of failure of scarce anchor (I am not referring at all only to sheet pile design) is always plaguing us. Bolts that snap, cantilevers that fall etc.

I always remember the case of a sinkable oil -I think swede- prestressed concrete platform of a trifoil cell plan whereas the points of contact between the foil cells were anchored by a ridiculous length at the tangent point. It failed upon installation to 100 million dollar cost. Maybe the cause of failure was "other" but the steel was more a short embedment than a long splice. I think not any that like me has pinned down sticks in the soil as a child would have done as bad.

 

[DRC1]

Cellular cofferdams act as gravity walls. The fill acts to put sheets in tension and counterwieght against overturning. Unlike sheetpile retaining walls cellular dams are not dependent on embedment. Tangent sections are tricky, as interlock tension becomes a function of geometry. If the failure accurs at a cell wall, obviously damage can be quite significant.

Agree w/ Geopave, cells are not as straight forward as retaining walls./ Work with a good geotech. I would think American Bridge would have a few people who have done this type of work. If not there are some good consulants who can help.

Good Luck!

 

[BridgeBuilder88]

I'm 99% sure we don't have any geotechs, at least not in this region. We don't do much bridge designing, just building. Most of our engineering goes into how to build the bridges or designing machines capable of doing what we need. This exception is because we'd like to replace one of our cranes with one that is more capable.

I've gone through alot of calcs and they look promising but still need some revision.

We're more than likely hiring a consultant on this, unless we decide to scrap the idea.



Anthony Deramo
American Bridge Company