Benefits of steel sheet piles
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Steel is essential to modern construction. Flexible, adaptable, strong, durable, reusable and entirely recyclable, steel is the material of choice for sustainable solutions in today's economy.
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Comparative Studies
Sustainable ports
Life Cycle Assessment
From this LCA it can be concluded that the quay wall executed with steel sheet piles retaining wall has a lower carbon footprint (expressed in CO2-eq. emissions) than an equivalent diaphragm wall in concrete. In the base scenario the difference is 44 %, but it depends on the variation of some parameters.
Compared to the concrete solution (D-Wall), the carbon footprint of the EcoSheetPile™ solution (SSP) is by far lower. In the base scenario the difference is 44 %.
The LCA is a snapshot of a specific space and time combination, based on EPDs available at the time of analysis. Technology can evolve quite fast. The LCA focuses on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) indicator, which highlights the emissions of greenhouse gas emissions of both solutions.
Specific site or local conditions may have larger influence on the results in other situations. Particularly, transport to more remote locations may increase the contribution of Module A4, and although its contribution to the total GWP is in many cases quite small, it must be checked. Local conditions such as shortage of sand, potable water, aggregates, etc could create a more unfavourable situation for the D-Wall, and could lead to a higher influence of the transport module for instance.
Underground car parks
Retaining walls play a critical role in underground car park construction, providing structural support and preventing soil movement. Two popular options for retaining walls are pressed in sheet pile and steel sheet pile walls. Pressed in sheet pile walls offer cost-effectiveness and efficiency, and any time saved on wall construction has an immediate impact on the overall construction duration, investment, cash flow, and hindrance. However, secant pile and SoilMix retaining walls should not be used in sandy soil with a shallow groundwater table due to the risk of water leakage.
On the other hand, steel sheet pile walls are sustainable, cost-effective, and quicker to install than alternative solutions. They also require less space for storage and installation, resulting in reduced traffic congestion and disturbance to neighbors. Steel sheet pile walls are particularly useful for underground car parks in the Netherlands, where soft soil conditions and a high groundwater table are typical.
It's crucial to consider soil conditions and groundwater levels when selecting a retaining wall for underground car parks to ensure a safe and effective construction project.
Bridge design
Benefits of steel solutions
A case study, performed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), assesses all associated costs and performance of a traditional concrete bridge versus a bridge whose abutments are constructed using steel sheet pile sections. This comparison is performed for a two-span superstructure with spans of 22,50 m and a superstructure width of 11,50 m accounting for a standard crossing of a national road over a 3-lane motorway with an average daily traffic (ADT) of 70’000 vehicles:
- Option 1: Steel Sheet Pile abutment (SSP abutment):
- Option 2: Reinforced concrete abutment (RC abutment)
Choosing a bridge designed with steel sheet pile abutments and a composite deck built with steel sections leads to global cost benefits such as:
- 7 % reduction on the construction costs;
- 3,5 % reduction on the life cycle costs over 100 years life time (based on a real discount rate of 2 %);
- Up to 15 % reduction in the economic impact of the external effects during the service life of the structure.
Flood defence and bank protection
Sheet pile walls are a versatile solution for flood defense and bank protection, offering numerous advantages such as watertightness, support, and stabilization for new and existing embankments. They can also form freestanding floodwalls in ports or urban areas while minimizing disturbance, saving space, and providing impenetrability. When selecting sheet pile sections, it is important to consider strength and installation criteria for either a watertight barrier or an earth-retaining function.
Steel sheet pile walls can also offer a natural appearance that meets aesthetic, economic, and ecological requirements. They can be painted, clad with timber, brick, or stone, or masked by plants to blend seamlessly into the urban or rural landscape. Suitable planting can also encourage ecosystem reestablishment, which can be beneficial in areas where human intervention has impacted natural ecosystems.
In summary, sheet pile walls are an effective and flexible solution for flood defense and bank protection, providing numerous benefits while accommodating various design and environmental criteria.
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