Testing of open section drilled C-pile and CT-pile wall

Abstract

Micropile developments have greatly advanced over the last two decades and new kinds of piles have been created to meet different challenges in foundation works. This paper describes an open section steel C-pile. A C-pile can be used for lightly loaded foundations to reduce cost and improve environmental efficiency. This C-pile has been developed further for use as a vertical drilled ‘sheet pile wall’. In this application, a T-profile is welded to a single C-pile. This combined profile allows the piles to be connected to each other and to form a wall – a CT-pile wall. When cement grouting is used to infill the hollow sections, a moderately watertight structure with higher stiffness is created. This paper presents the results of an installation test conducted on a CT-pile wall. The results from the test showed that the CT-pile wall performed well, and the deformations in the wall and behind the wall were at an acceptable level. The CT-pile wall is similar to a moderately light sheet pile wall and is expected to provide relatively good watertightness.