SECANT

PILE WALL
 SECANT PILE WALL
A secant pile wall is formed by constructing intersecting
reinforced and non-reinforced concrete piles.
They are usually installed as retaining structures (for
building’s underground levels, vertical shafts, cofferdams and
others) and support systems for deep foundations and
retaining elements.
A secant pile wall has two types of piles:
• Primary piles (non-reinforced).
• Secondary piles (reinforced).

Advantages: Disadvantages:
• Increased construction alignment flexibility. • Verticality tolerances may be hard to achieve for
deep piles.
• Increased wall stiffness compared to sheet
piles. • Total waterproofing is very difficult to obtain in
joints.
• Can be installed in difficult ground
(rock/boulders).
 CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS
The steps to execute a secant pile wall are the following:

1. GUIDE WALL CONSTRUCTION

The main functions of a guide wall are:
• Wall alignment and leveling.
• Support for the execution of the piles.
 CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS

2. PRIMARY PILES DRILLING

Drilling rig and drilling accesories are used in this stage

to perform the pile excavation, until the depth is
reached.

3. PRIMARY PILES CONCRETE POURING

The concrete is poured into the pile through a Tremie

pipe, that places the concrete from the buttom up.
The compressive strength of the concrete must not
exceed 8 MPa after 7 days.
 CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS

4. SECONDARY PILES DRILLING 5. INSTALLATION OF STEEL CAGE

FOR SECONDARY PILES

Drilling rig and drilling accesories are used in this stage to The auxiliary crane lifts up the steel cage
perform the pile excavation between the two primary and places it within the secondary piles.
piles, until the depth is reached.
 CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS

6. SECONDARY PILES CONCRETE

POURING
The concrete is poured into the pile through
a Tremie pipe, that places the concrete from
the buttom up. This concrete will have a
greater resistance that will be defined
according to the design.

7. REPEAT THE PROCESS

The steps 2 until 7 are repeated till the

entire length of the secant pile wall
construction is completed.
 CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS

8. CAP BEAM 9. SUPPORT SYSTEM

In some cases, the wall may be self-supporting.
It has the function of joining all the piles of
the wall at the top. If necessary, active anchors or metallic struts, will be
installed to ensure the stability of the wall.
CONSTRUCTIVE PROCESS