Retaining Wall Type Selection: sheet_pile
Retaining wall type selection decision matrix — 14 wall types across 7 structural categories (gravity, cantilever, MSE, sheet pile, soldier pile, in-situ soil nail, in-situ secant/diaphragm). Each record gives: practical height range, foundation requirements, backfill requirements, typical batter, relative cost index (1=lowest to 6=highest), construction speed, right-of-way requirements, aesthetics rating, seismic performance, drainage requirements, and typical applications. Sources: FHWA-NHI-07-071, AASHTO LRFD 9th Ed Sec 11, NAVFAC DM-7.2, Coduto Foundation Design 3rd Ed Ch.17, USACE EM 1110-2-2504.
| wall category | wall type | aesthetics rating | backfill requirement | batter typical | construction speed | drainage requirement | foundation requirement | height max ft (ft) | height max m (m) | height min ft (ft) | height min m (m) | notes | relative cost index (dimensionless) | row requirement | seismic performance | typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sheet_pile | sheet_pile_anchored | poor — corrugated steel face | any — retains in-situ or placed soil | 0.00 | moderate | none — impermeable steel wall; dewatering pumping may be needed | soft clay to dense granular; anchor zone must be competent | 40 | 12.2 | 10 | 3 | Tieback anchors or deadman anchors relieve cantilever bending; anchor at 0.2–0.4H from top; USACE free-earth and fixed-earth support methods; permanent ground anchors per PTI DC80.3 | 4 | moderate — anchor zone extends 0.7–1.0H behind wall | moderate — anchors provide redundancy but connections are failure points; detailed seismic analysis required | deep excavation support; waterfront walls; seaport quay walls; permanent cuts > 15 ft |
| sheet_pile | sheet_pile_cantilever | poor — corrugated steel face | any — wall retains in-situ or placed soil | 0.00 | fast | none — impermeable steel; drainage not a concern unless dewatering required | soft to medium cohesive or dense granular; passive resistance required | 18 | 5.5 | 5 | 1.5 | Steel sheet piling driven into ground; depth of embedment = 2.0–2.5× exposed height for cantilever; economical for H<15 ft; permanent corrosion coating or cathodic protection required for marine; USACE EM 1110-2-2504 | 3 | minimal — zero to 2 ft setback | poor to moderate — tall cantilevers vulnerable to lateral spreading; keep H<15 ft in seismic zones | temporary excavations; waterfront bulkheads; cofferdams; small permanent cuts |
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