Sheet Pile Wall Abutments

Sheet pile wall abutments are constructed from hot-rolled structural shapes with interlocks on the flange tips. These interlocks permit individual sections to be connected, forming a continuous steel wall. Steel sheet piles are characterized by their profile which includes Z-profiles, U-profiles, and straight-profiles.

Most of the design work for sheet pile wall abutments involves determining what type of sheet, vertical and horizontal forces are taken by the sheet piling in this structure, figuring how deep to drive them, and deciding if and where anchorage devices are needed.

Steel sheet piles are very good at preventing scour from becoming a problem.

Piers/Bridge Abutments with sheet piling: Sheet piles protect the bridge from scour related problems. Photo Credit: Nucor Skyline Steel

Where is the substructure and/or foundation on a bridge?

Substructure

The substructure consists of the portion of the bridge that supports the entire structure on the given surrounding soil. There are varying designs due to the different soil conditions for each bridge site and the different weights of the structures for each project.

Foundation

The role of the foundation of a bridge structure is to create a smooth transition allowing the internal forces to flow between the bridge and the ground. Foundations are the ‘bridges’ or links between the bridge and the ground.

There are really only two types of bridge foundations – although each has many variations – ‘spread’ foundations and ‘piled’ foundations. Both types must transfer forces into the soil beneath the bridge.

Spread Foundation

Piles Foundation

Photo Credit: Bridges