Weston's Formula for Sheet Pile Design 1

[GeoPaveTraffic]

All,

I've come across a partial reference to factor of safety calculations for sheet piles using what is identified as Weston's Formula. I've never heard of this formula and haven't been able to find anything useful on the web or in previous posts here. Did find one chap looking for a paper by Weston, but not responses.

I'm currently unable to contact the firm who is presenting the data or even identify the site, sorry, and I only have one page of what I expect is a larger document. What is presented is as follows:

Basic Formula: SF = (Su1 x Ncs x Fd x Fs)/(wet soil density x depth + water surcharge)

If anyone can point me in the correct direction, I would be greatful.

Thanks in advance.

Mike Lambert

 

[BigH]

Mike,
I've some old books - the Tschebotarioff (1951 edition); Leonards handbook (1960) and a friend's father's book (Donovan Lee - British about 1945, revised 1961). As far as my glance goes, there is nothing mentioned at all about someone named "Weston". With the Nc factor and Fd and Fs - it sounds like the method is resisting the force loading by a "footing". I'll be very interested to see what others might note or find out.

 

[bridgebuster]

I have some old texts as well - Huntington (1957), Hool & Kine (1943), Durham (1950) - no reference to Weston.

 

[Ron]

Mike...I checked my notes on a sheet pile forensic project I'm working on. There was an Edmond B Weston in the late 1800's who did a lot of friction research on pipes (like Hazen-Williams, etc.)for water, but as was common in those days, engineers were multi-discipline so it is possible some of that work somehow made its way into sheet pile work. Probably related to frictional driving resistance or some bastardization of Weston's pipe friction formula applied to sheet piling. Certainly not mainstream as others have noted from early texts. I will check texts when I get back to my office and see if anything pops up.

Ron

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

Thanks all, I appreciate the effort.

If this turns into a project for us (and that is a big IF), I'll have the ability to ask questions and at least get a full reference on the method they are using. If that happens, I'll make sure to post the information here. The potential project is a mess, not sure if I want to ge the work or not.

I think someone has used a blowout/uplift or base heave method. How they got from base heave to sheet pile design, is anyone's guess right now.

Thanks again.



Mike Lambert