Integration of a New Sheet-Pile Wall and Old Gravity Revetment - a Stability Study

Abstract

To study the performance of a sheet-pile wall reinforcing an old gravity revetment, a 3-m-deep excavation was carried out in front of a 10-m-long sheet-pile wall. The excavation was simulated by finite-element modelling and the results were compared with field measurement. The reinforcing sheet-pile wall showed good performance. When the excavation depth was less than 1.2 m the old revetment inhibited the movement at the top of the pile, reducing the lateral displacement. However, for excavations from 2.2 m to 6 m the old revetment had a negative effect on the lateral displacement at the top of the pile, increasing the lateral displacement by 10%-22% compared with that without the revetment. The kick-out stability of the sheet pile was the crucial factor at deep excavation depth. The code used here utilized design and construction standards for quay sheet-pile walls and may be somewhat conservative when used for bank protection.