Sheet Pile Tensions in Cellular Structures
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129, Issue 3
Abstract
Cellular structures constructed of interlocking steel sheet piles are used in marine environments as cofferdams, bulkheads, mooring dolphins, and lock guide walls. In addition to providing safety against sliding, bearing failure, overturning, and tilting, cellular structures must also be designed to prevent sheet pile interlock rupture, which can lead to catastrophic failure if the cell fill is lost. Methods commonly used to estimate sheet pile interlock tensions were developed in the 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1970’s. These methods are based on empirical observations, and they do not explicitly account for soil–structure interactions. This paper presents the results of finite element analyses and instrumentation measurements performed to examine soil–structure interaction effects on sheet pile tensions. The finite-element analyses were used to compute sheet pile tensions at five instrumented cells, and the results are compared with measurements. The calibrated finite-element model was then used to investigate the effects of varying cell geometry, interlock behavior, sheet pile penetration depth, and foundation stiffness on sheet pile tensions. The instrumentation measurements provide data for estimating changes in sheet pile tensions due to cell fill densification, cofferdam unwatering, and bulkhead backfilling.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 129 • Issue 3 • March 2003
Pages: 224 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 6, 2000
Accepted: Feb 15, 2002
Published online: Feb 14, 2003
Published in print: Mar 2003
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