Foundation Engineering II

Lecture no. 3
Cantilevered Sheet Pile Retaining Wall

By: V. Sanathanan
(July 2022)
Sheet pile walls

Sheet pile walls

o As name suggests, sheet pile walls are

‘profiled’ sheet sections commonly made of
structural steel material
o Comes in various shapes (profiles) to
provide required flexural stiffness to the
purposes
o Are usually continuous walls with to form
strong grips along edges
o Water tightness
o Available in both:
o Hammer driven
o Hydraulic driven
Sheet pile walls

Sheet Pile Types

Sheet pile walls

Connections and Junctions

Finger-thump clutch Ball-socket clutch

Sheet Pile Walls

Industrial Usage
Sheet Pile Walls

Industrial Usage
Sheet Pile Walls

Retaining Support Methods

o There can be two methods Excavation Soil

1) Cantilever Type
2) Anchored Type
o In cantilever types, retained
height of the soil can be
Cantilevered sheet pile walls
smaller to moderately high
Deadman anchor
o Anchored types can facilitate
deeper depths of excavations Excavation Soil Excavation Soil

if the sheet piles can be

driven to required depth
o Both temporary and
permanent conditions
available Anchored sheet pile walls
Sheet Pile Walls

Cantilevered Sheet Pile Walls

Two possible situations:
1) Cohesive soils
2) Cohesionless soils

Excavation Soil Excavation Soil

Cohesionless Soil Cohesive Soil

- Sandy, Granular - Clayey, Fine

- C’=0; Ф > 0 - C’>0; Ф = 0

Sheet Pile Walls

1) Cohesionless Soils

Sheet pile movement Actual Pressure diagram Net Pressure diagram

Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

Active

Active Line (Ka)

Point Balance pressure

Need to find? …
Embedment depth D
Passive Line (Kp)
D = L3 + L4

Passive
At Point E:
Point of Rotation Active Pressure = Passive Pressure
σ’2 + L3 * Ka * 𝜸𝜸’ = L3 * Kp * 𝜸𝜸’
Hence,
L3 = σ’2 / 𝜸𝜸’(Kp – Ka)
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

Active

Passive

At Point H:
Pressure = σ’3 = L4 * 𝜸𝜸’(Kp – Ka)
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

At bottom of the sheet pile: At bottom of the sheet pile:

Active Pressure = σ’a = D * 𝜸𝜸’ Ka Passive Pressure = (L1 * 𝜸𝜸 + L2 * 𝜸𝜸’ + D * 𝜸𝜸’ ) * Kp

Resultant:
σ’p − σ’a = σ’4 = σ’5 + 𝜸𝜸’ * L4 (Kp - Ka)

σ’5 = (𝜸𝜸 * L1 + 𝜸𝜸’ L2 )* Kp + 𝜸𝜸’ L3 (Kp - Ka)

Sheet Pile Walls

1) Cohesionless Soils

L4 + Ẑ

Q
R

Equilibrium equations (horizontal direction):

P – area of EFHBE + area of FHBGF = 0

Equilibrium equations (Moment about Point B):

P * (L4 + Ẑ) – Q * (L4/3) + R * L5/3 = 0

o L4 can be obtained in fourth order equation and resolved.

o L3 + L4 will provide the theoretical penetration. Increase the depth
of penetration by 20 ~ 30%
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd… - Pressure calculations

Above the dredge line – pressures 𝜎𝜎1′ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎2′ ,
𝜎𝜎1′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 x 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1

𝜎𝜎2′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2

Below the dredge line upto the point of rotation:

Active pressure at a depth z,
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣

𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2

Below the dredge line upto the point of rotation: Dredge line 𝐷𝐷
Passive pressure at a depth z,
Where,
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 𝛾𝛾 ′ = 𝛾𝛾𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠𝑠 − 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′
𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 = 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡2 45 − ∅ �2
′ 𝐸𝐸
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′
′
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 = 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡2 45 + ∅ �2 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ - 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

Net pressure from the dredge line upto the point of rotation:
𝜎𝜎 ′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 - 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2
𝜎𝜎 ′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 (𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 ) + 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 − 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 𝛾𝛾 ′
𝜎𝜎 ′ = 𝜎𝜎2′ − 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿 𝛾𝛾 ′

By equating 𝜎𝜎 ′ to zero:
𝜎𝜎2′
𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿 = ; where 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿 = 𝐿𝐿3
𝛾𝛾′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 −𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎

𝜎𝜎2′ 𝛾𝛾′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 −𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎

=
𝐿𝐿3 1

Gradient of line DEF = 1 vertical : 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 Horizontal

Also,
𝜎𝜎2′ 𝜎𝜎3′
=
𝐿𝐿3 𝐿𝐿4

𝜎𝜎3′ 𝜎𝜎4′
HB = 𝜎𝜎3′ = 𝐿𝐿4 𝛾𝛾 ′
𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛 𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩, 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝐷

𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛𝐛 𝐨𝐨𝐨𝐨 𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭𝐭 𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩, 𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚𝐚 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩

𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝐷

At the bottom of the sheet pile, 𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍𝐍 𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩𝐩

𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝐷 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝐷
A
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐷𝐷 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 ; 𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤𝑤 𝐷𝐷 = 𝐿𝐿3 + 𝐿𝐿4

𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿3 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿4 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 L

At the bottom of the sheet pile, use below notations: Dredge line
𝜎𝜎4′ = 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′ − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′
𝜎𝜎5′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿3 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 D

𝜎𝜎4′ = 𝜎𝜎5′ + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿4 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎

𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎′ B 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝′
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

For equilibrium (considering unit length of the wall):

Sum of horizontal forces = 0

From Pressure diagrams:

Area of ACDE – area of EFHB + area of FHBG = 0

P - 1⁄2 𝜎𝜎3′ 𝐿𝐿4 + 1⁄2 𝐿𝐿5 (𝜎𝜎3′ + 𝜎𝜎4′ ) = 0

𝜎𝜎3′ 𝐿𝐿4 − 2𝑃𝑃

𝐿𝐿5 =
𝜎𝜎3′ + 𝜎𝜎4′

Sum of moments about point B = 0

𝐿𝐿 𝐿𝐿5
𝑃𝑃 𝐿𝐿4 + Ž − 1⁄2 𝜎𝜎3′ 𝐿𝐿4 4 + 1⁄2 𝐿𝐿5 (𝜎𝜎3′ + 𝜎𝜎4′ ) =0
3 3

Combining all these equations above,

𝐿𝐿44 + 𝐴𝐴1 𝐿𝐿34 − 𝐴𝐴2 𝐿𝐿24 − 𝐴𝐴3 𝐿𝐿4 − 𝐴𝐴4 = 0
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils contd…

Step 1: Calculate 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝
Step 2: Calculate 𝜎𝜎1′ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎2′
Step 3: Calculate 𝐿𝐿3
Step 4: P (Area of pressure diagram ACDE)
Step 5: Calculate Ž (by taking the moment about point E)
Step 6: Calculate 𝜎𝜎5′ ,
𝜎𝜎5′ = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿3 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
Step 7: Calculate A1, A2, A3, and A4
Step 8: Solve 4th order equation by trial and error to find 𝐿𝐿4
Step 9: Obtain D = (𝐿𝐿3 + 𝐿𝐿4 )
Step 10: Increase the D by 20~30% and provide design depth

To complete the pressure diagram:

Step 11: Calculate 𝜎𝜎4′ ,
𝜎𝜎4′ = 𝜎𝜎5′ + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿4 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
Step 12: Calculate 𝜎𝜎3′ ,
𝜎𝜎3′ = 𝐿𝐿4 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
Step 13: Obtain𝐿𝐿5 ,
𝜎𝜎3′ 𝐿𝐿4 −2𝑃𝑃
𝐿𝐿5 =
𝜎𝜎3′ +𝜎𝜎4′
Sheet Pile Walls

Cohesionless Soils – Bending Moment and Shear

Shear force at any point below 𝐿𝐿3 ,
P - 1⁄2 (𝑧𝑧 ′ )2 𝐿𝐿4 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾 ′

Maximum bending moment occurs at SF = 0

P = 1⁄2 (𝑧𝑧 ′ )2 𝐿𝐿4 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾 ′
2𝑃𝑃
𝑧𝑧 ′ =
𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 𝛾𝛾 ′

Maximum bending moment:

𝑧𝑧 ′
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 𝑃𝑃(Ž+z’) - [1⁄2 𝛾𝛾 ′ (𝑧𝑧 ′ )2 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 − 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 ]
3

Calculate required section modulus:

𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
S=
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

Select a suitable sheet pile section from catalog.

Sheet Pile Walls
Sheet Pile Walls

2) Embedment into Cohesive Soils

𝜸𝜸𝒄𝒄
Sheet Pile Walls

Embedment into Cohesive Soils – Contd… Note: Above the dredge line
Below the dredge line, Clay material (φ=0) is present. the pressure distribution is
Hence, the earth pressure coefficients will be: similar to the cohesionless soils
′
𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 = 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡2 45 − ∅ �2 = 1 as the material is Sand.
′
𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 = 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡2 45 + ∅ �2 = 1
i.e., any depth below dredge line 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 = 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 = 1.

Active pressure between dredge line and point of

rotation:
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎 = 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 − 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎 = 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 − 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎 = 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 − 2𝑐𝑐 ′

Passive pressure between dredge line and point of

rotation:
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 = 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 = 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 = 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′
Sheet Pile Walls

Embedment into Cohesive Soils – Contd…

Between the dredge line and point of rotation, Net pressure:
𝜎𝜎6 = 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎
𝜎𝜎6 = 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′ − 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝑧𝑧 − 𝐿𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐿2 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′
𝜎𝜎6 = 4𝑐𝑐 ′ − (𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 )

At the very bottom of the sheet pile, active pressure:

𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎 = 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 − 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎 = 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝐷𝐷 − 2𝑐𝑐 ′ (where 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 =1)

At the very bottom of the sheet pile, passive pressure:

𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 = 𝜎𝜎𝑣𝑣 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝
𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 = 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝛾𝛾𝑐𝑐 𝐷𝐷 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′ (where 𝐾𝐾𝑝𝑝 =1)

At the very bottom of the sheet pile, Net Pressure:

𝜎𝜎7 = 𝜎𝜎𝑝𝑝 − 𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎
𝜎𝜎7 = 4𝑐𝑐 ′ + (𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 )

Note: 𝜎𝜎6 + 𝜎𝜎7 = 8𝑐𝑐 ′

Sheet Pile Walls
In equilibrium, summation of lateral force equals to zero:
Area of ACDE - Area of EFIB + Area of GHBI = 0
𝑃𝑃1 − 𝜎𝜎6 𝐷𝐷 + 1�2 𝐿𝐿4 𝜎𝜎6 + 𝜎𝜎7 = 0
And,
𝜎𝜎6 + 𝜎𝜎7 = 8𝑐𝑐 ′

Therefore,
𝐷𝐷 4𝑐𝑐 ′ − 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 − 𝑃𝑃1 P1
𝐿𝐿4 =
4𝑐𝑐 ′ z1

Taking moment about B: Q1

𝐷𝐷2 𝐿𝐿4
𝑃𝑃1 𝐷𝐷 + 𝑧𝑧1 − 𝜎𝜎6 + 1⁄2 𝐿𝐿4 𝜎𝜎6 + 𝜎𝜎7 �3 = 0
2
𝐷𝐷2 𝐿𝐿4
𝑃𝑃1 𝐷𝐷 + 𝑧𝑧1 − 𝜎𝜎6 + 1⁄2 𝐿𝐿4 8𝑐𝑐 ′ �3 = 0 R1
2
I
By substituting 𝐿𝐿4 in the equation:
𝑃𝑃1 𝑃𝑃1 + 12𝑐𝑐 ′ 𝑧𝑧1
𝐷𝐷 2 4𝑐𝑐 ′ − 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 − 2𝐷𝐷𝑃𝑃1 − =0
𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 + 2𝑐𝑐 ′

Find the D from above 2nd order equation and apply 40% ~ 60%
factor to find the design value. i.e., Dactual = 1.4 ~ 1.6 time Dtheoritical
Sheet Pile Walls

Embedment into Cohesive Soils – Contd…

Step 1: Calculate 𝐾𝐾𝑎𝑎 for granular (sand) soil

Step 2: Calculate 𝜎𝜎1′ 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎2′
Step 3: Calculate 𝑃𝑃1 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑧𝑧1
𝑃𝑃1 = Area of pressure diagram ACDE
to find 𝑧𝑧1 , take moment about E for the pressure diagram ACDE
Step 4: Obtain theoretical value of D
Step 5: The actual depth of penetration is Dactual = 1.4 ~ 1.6 time Dtheoritical

To complete the pressure diagram:

Step 6: Calculate 𝐿𝐿4 ,
𝐷𝐷 4𝑐𝑐 ′ − 𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 +𝛾𝛾′ 𝐿𝐿2 −𝑃𝑃1
𝐿𝐿4 =
4𝑐𝑐 ′
Step 7: Calculate 𝜎𝜎6 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜎𝜎7 ,
𝜎𝜎6 = 4𝑐𝑐 ′ − (𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 )
𝜎𝜎7 = 4𝑐𝑐 ′ + (𝛾𝛾𝐿𝐿1 + 𝛾𝛾 ′ 𝐿𝐿2 )
Step 8: Draw the pressure distribution diagram
Sheet Pile Walls

Embedment into Cohesive Soils – Contd…

Maximum bending moment occurs where shear force becomes zero.

Zero shear force will fall between:

𝐿𝐿1 + 𝐿𝐿2 < 𝑧𝑧 < 𝐿𝐿1 + 𝐿𝐿2 + 𝐿𝐿3

When shear force equals to zero,

𝑃𝑃1 − 𝜎𝜎6 𝑧𝑧 ′ = 0
𝑃𝑃1
𝑧𝑧 ′ =
𝜎𝜎6
′ 𝜎𝜎6 𝑧𝑧 ′
2
z1
Therefore, BM (maximum) = 𝑃𝑃1 𝑧𝑧 + 𝑧𝑧1 −
2

After finding the BM, the required section modulus will be:
𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
S=
𝜎𝜎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

Select the suitable section modulus from catalog.

Sheet Pile Walls

Thank you