Can steel sheet pile be spliced in low headroom?

[jike]

Can sheet sheeting be spliced together in a low headroom situation or am I limited to using other types of temporary sheeting?

 

[dirtydude]

Steel sheets can absolutley be spliced together, whether in a low headroom application or not. IIRC, there are even splice guides, similar to the ones used for H-Pile splicing.

I would caution though, that the integrity of the spliced sheet as a moment resisting element may not be as reliable as the solid sheet was. Take that into consideration in your calculations.

 

[PEinc]

If you splice the sheets, make sure that the upper and lower pieces are aligned properly. You could have difficulty driving the sheets if the spliced interlocks are not straight.

http://www.PeirceEngineering.com

 

[PSlem]

?I vaguely recall doing one decades ago where I welded a lug on the side of the sheet, drove that to grade then set the vibro on top of the sheet to finish it off. Might save splicing.

 

[PSlem]

Thinking about it, it was soldier piles. Sheet pile would still need to be threaded together so still a problem.

 

[Zambo]

PSlem, I've also been thinking about it and you might be onto something (not "on something"). Whether sheet piles or soldier piles we need to know:

1. design depth of fully driven sheet piles
2. length of sheet piles being used
3. headroom available
4. height needed to accommodate driving equipment (is it a vibro?)

It may be possible as suggested by PSlem to partially drive the sheet piles by having a scondary lug, or even if using a backhoe mounted vibro to pull the piles down until there is sufficient headroom to drive from the top of the pile.