Longevity and Sustainability-Sheet Pile

The durability of steel, which refers to its resistance to corrosion, has been analyzed for decades and is well documented. For instance, the Eurocode, which is the European Standard for design of steel structures, includes tabulated corrosion rates for bare steel sheet piling in various soil, fresh water, and sea water conditions. The values given for five and 25 years are based on actual measurements, which are then extrapolated for 50-, 75-, and 100-year estimated performance.
With regard to sheet pile bridge abutments, steel piles in fresh water lose less than 1/6 in. Of thickness due to corrosion in the zone of high attack after 100 years of life, without any surface coating or maintenance required. This small amount of sacrificial material can be designed into each face of the sheet pile if need be, but is typically inherent to the structure because the zone of high attack and the location of controlling design loads do not often coincide. Galvanizing or coating the steel can extend the life of the structure another 15-25 years on average while providing an alternate aesthetic at the same time.
The sustainability of steel is even better documented. As a viable material for significant structures, steel is truly a sustainable option structural steel today can be made from 100 percent recycled steel and is 100 percent recycled over and over again. Other properties of steel sheet pile, such as elasticity under extreme loading, ductility, and weldability, aid the longevity and sustainability of the bridge itself. As a result, boat or car collisions that may happen over of a bridge can be repaired.

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