Installing Sheet Piles in Challenging Ground Conditions
Durawall has emerged to be a compelling alternative to the traditional steel sheet piling system, providing notable advantages in corrosion resistance, durability, and environmental friendliness. Despite these benefits, there has been a lingering concern among engineers regarding their suitability for installation in demanding ground conditions. Let us debunk such myths and provide insights into the installation of Durawall in challenging environments such as cohesive soils.
A common misconception about PVC sheet piles revolves around their perceived limitation to shallow depths and soft soils. This notion originates from outdated installation methods that lacked the use of steel guides (mandrels), exposing PVC sheet piles to potential damage in challenging soils. In the absence of a guide, PVC sheet piles are prone to cracking and bending, particularly in soils with significant resistance. The incorporation of mandrels has significantly decreased the risk of damage during installation, even at depths exceeding 10 meters.
Another common obstacle to adopting PVC sheet piles in challenging ground conditions stems from a lack of awareness about the extensive range of specialized equipment and accessories. Utilizing tools like hydraulic hammers and jetting systems intelligently can effectively streamline the installation of PVC sheet piles, overcoming difficulties posed by resistant soil formations.
This article seeks to debunk these misconceptions and provide valuable insights into the installation of Durawall PVC sheet piles in challenging environments.
Important Equipment and Accessories
The installation of PVC sheet piles requires a synergy of machinery and specialized accessories. Key machines in this process include excavators, cranes, and pile drivers. These machines can be equipped with vibratory hammers, specifically designed for accurately driving sheet piles into the soil, with compatibility for the steel guide to facilitate seamless installation.
Furthermore, the use of a guide is strongly encouraged by Atlanta for most PVC sheet pile endeavors. This guide functions as a leading edge, penetrating the soil and safeguarding the sheet pile from potential damage. Specifically tailored to Atlanta's profiles, each guide must be paired with the corresponding profile to guarantee proper alignment, and as each profile differs, a distinct steel guide is necessary.
What about instances where profiles of varying lengths are employed in a single project? Is it necessary to have several mandrels for such situations? We've devised a practical sliding mechanism to enable the use of the same steel guide for installing profiles of different lengths. The "Slider" is temporarily affixed to the guide at the appropriate height, ensuring that the upper section of the sheet pile fits against it, preventing upward movement during hammering. This innovative approach enables the use of a single steel guide for sheet piles with lengths ranging from 12 meters and below.
The upper portion of the guide, known as the head, is the most substantial component of the mandrel. Comprising plates with a minimum thickness of 30mm, these plates are skillfully welded in strategic locations to optimize the transmission of force from the driving machine to the mandrel's knife. The design of the guide's head, including its dimensions and shape, is tailored to match the contractor's equipment, considering the type of vibratory hammer in use.
