Permanent Retaining Walls

Permanent retaining walls utilising sheet piles are used on schemes large and small, from simple projects to complex slope stabilisation solutions. They offer cost effective alternatives to contiguous and secant concrete walls. They may be designed to both retain temporary excavations and to act as the permanent retaining structure, often in conjunction with the base slab which offers propping to the wall.

Sheet piles can be sealed, welded, coated or clad with non-structural finishes on completion. Hydrostatic water pressure behind the wall can be dissipated by weep holes or filters, generally above excavation levels. Capping beams whether formed in concrete, steel or timber can be installed on top of the sheets.

Sheet piles can also provide containment barriers, fixing points and the opportunity to distribute any vertical axial loads. Sheet pile walls are commonly used in service yards of commercial and retail sector developments, flood defence schemes, bridge abutments and boundary walls.

They are frequently specified where insufficient space is available for traditional temporary retention works or battered excavation. Infrastructure schemes often require a 120 year design lifespan and the ability to manage lateral surcharge loads to Highway Agency or Network Rail standards.

Sheet piled retaining walls have distinct advantages over concrete contiguous and secant walls. Besides being more cost effective, they require no curing time before excavations can commence, thus allowing shorter programmes.

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