CANTILEVER SHEET PILE WALLS

Walls of this type are used only when the retained height of soil is
relatively small in sands and gravels these walls may be used as
permanent structures , but in general they are used for temporary support
the stability of a cantilever sheet pile wall is due entirely to passive
resistance developed below the lower soil surface . the mode failure is by
rotation about a point O near the lower end of the wall as shown in Figure
6.21(a) consequently passive resistance acts in front of the wall above O
and behind the wall below O , as shown in Figure 6.21(b) thus providing
a fixing moment : however , this pressure distribution is an idealization as
there is unlikely to be a sudden change in passive pressure from front to
back at point O

FIG. 6.21 cantilever sheet pile wall

Design is generally based on the simplification shown in Figure 6.21(c)

,it being assumed that the net passive resistance below point O is
represented by a concentrated force R acting at a point C ,slightly below
O at depth d below the lower soil surface . The depth d can be determined
by equating moments about C to zero ,a factor of safety F being applied
to the stabilizing moment i.e. by dividing the available passive resistance
(Pp) in front of the wall by F . the value of d is then increased arbitrarily
by 20% to allow for the simplification involved in the method ,i.e. the
required depth of embedment is 1.2d .however ,it is desirable to evaluate
R by equating horizontal forces to zero and to check that the net passive
resistance available over the additional 20% embedment depth is equal to
or greater than R .