Precast Concrete Soldier Pile System with Corrugated Section Post for Riverbank Protection

Abstract

Gabions, rubble stone walls, L-shape concrete retaining wall and revetments are commonly used for riverbank protection against base scouring and soil slope erosion. These conventional solutions for low retaining wall structures are relatively cheap and easy to execute. However, they are proven not lasting with high maintenance costs. Although steel sheetpile walls are structures with better performance for slope stabilization purpose, they are very expensive to build and maintain against corrosion. To address the problem, a new precast concrete soldier pile wall system was developed to provide a permanent and relatively economical solution with several innovative features. The system is comprised of a series of precast posts driven to the predetermined depth and secondary precast lagging elements secured between posts to support the retained earths. The structural capacity that resists lateral load is derived from passive earth pressure mobilized in front the embedded body to toe of the posts. The lagging elements are installed at 0.5m to 1.0m below the river invert levels to provide protection against base scouring. The precast posts and laggings take the efficient structural shape of corrugated section. They are jointed with a specially designed tongue and groove (T&G) slots to facilitate installation. A pilot project where such innovative solution is presented.