sheetpiles in sticky clay

[jnimens]

I need to install about 200, 40ft long, sheet piles in soft clay. Sand fill for the first 3m then clay with SPT numbers from 1 to 5 for the next 60ft. Local knowledge indicates the clay is quite resistant to vibrated sheets. I would like to avoid the noise of hammering, and avoid the cost of a very large vibro. Because the sheets have to stay, I would like to minimize the material cost. I would like to use Z55 cold rolled sheets from Roll-Form(0.22" thick, 9 inches deep, 24 inches wide). I am considering pre drilling, with a plug ended 8" dia helical pipe pile with a 20" flight, possibly three 8 holes for each sheet and filling the voids with water during helical pile retraction in hopes this will allow the sheets to slide into place quite easily. I have installed may helical piles, but never tried this system of using them to create a water filled void.

 

[PEinc]

First, you did not ask a question.
Second, you did not say what the sheet piling is being used for or what it is intended to support.
Third, it seems to me that your described procedure will disturb the soil so much in front of and behind the sheets that there will be much movement of the soil and sheet piling that the performance of the wall(?) could be seriously affected.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[Zambo]

The pile section selected will probably depend as much on the structural design as on the installation requirement.Is there going to be an excavation and the sheet pies are providing excavation support?

A vibro seems a good option but jacking tbe sheet piles would be a quieter way.

I don't see the need to pre-drill based on the information given

 

[PilebuckEngineer]

If you want to avoid the noise and get them down without driving I would push them in. Tbere are several systems for pile pushers that work great, are quiet, and still get good production. I would also avoid cold rolled if this is a permanent wall. Go with the good stuff. If the driving is hard you it will make the interlocks work harder and cold rolled won't be your friend at the end of the day.

 

[PEinc]

I may be wrong but I believe that equipment to hydraulically push in SSP is not readily available or economical, especially for small jobs. You may be stuck hammering or vibrating.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[molerat2210]

I just used a Giken ECO1400S Crush Piler on a job. This is an auger-assisted press-in sheet pile machine. The sheets were pushed to 59 feet through 100 blow material with the auger assist. For your project you do not need auger assist. A press-in machine will get it done. The only noise from the machine is the generator.

 

[PEinc]

How were the cost and equipment availability? Was it a big job?

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com