Spatial Soil Pressure Test and Calculation Analysis of Sheet-Pile Wall

Abstract

The conventional methods used in the design of sheet-pile walls are based on the limit equilibrium approach. Due to a flexible retaining system, the choice of soil pressure needs to be further studied. Test about sheet-pile wall was carried out on typical site. Soil pressure distribution rules on horizontal and vertical direction were revealed by comparing the on-site measured and numerical data with classical soil pressure data. The results show that: the soil pressure resultant force of anchored sheet-pile is close to static soil pressure, and its action point is 0.43~0.44, higher than the static soil pressure (0.33). The resultant force and its action point of soil pressure of cantilever sheet-pile wall are close to the ones of coulomb soil pressure. In horizontal direction, there present “arching effect” on this two kinds of sheet-pile walls. Therefore, the current soil pressure calculation methods of sheet-pile walls should be revised according to different types, and an amended calculation method of soil pressure was proposed in this paper.