What is the proper vinyl sheet pile driving method for different soil types?

“Pitch and drive” method is the most practical way of pile driving in loose soils especially when using short piles. Also called “set and drive”, this method installs piles one by one. However, with only one interlock in control, sheet piles have high tendencies of rotating from the axis and leaning forward or backward. Panel driving is recommended for the dense deposit of sands and compact cohesive soils such as heavy clay or in presence of obstructions. In this method, a number of piles are interlocked together before driving. The panel of piles is supported by guide frames and driven gradually in sequence, sometimes in a staggered manner. The method can achieve installations of longer piles in more difficult ground conditions with better results in sheet pile alignment and verticality. In cases of difficult ground conditions such as hard strata and the presence of obstructions, driving assistance is employed along with a proper selection of driving method and equipment. Jetting and drilling help by loosening or eliminating obstructions by creating pressure right under the tip of the sheet pile being driven. Long and slender PVC sheet piles require steel mandrels as supports when driven in such conditions. Mandrel, which shape is similar to sheet pile profiles, increases the rigidity of Plastic Sheet Pile and supports the weight of the driving equipment such as a vibro-hammer.

What is the proper machine to drive piles in different conditions?

Impact driving is suitable for all soil types but appears to create the highest degree of stress to sheet piles. It is more appropriate to cohesive soils and soft soils such as silts and peats, loose medium to coarse sand, and gravels free of rock inclusions. Drop hammers such as the hydraulic hammer are the common types of impact-driving machinery. Driving using vibratory hammers is ideal for non-cohesive or granular soils such as soft soils and round-grained sand or gravel. It has also shown satisfactory performance in sandy, silty, or softer clay soils. It is less effective in angular-grained materials and soils with a firm consistency. With the introduction of vibration, however, the sub-soil can be further compacted, increasing penetration resistance and ultimately-refusal. If this is the case, driving aids like jetting and drilling might be necessary.

What are the pvc sheet pile selection criteria for soil condition of different hardness?

General rule of the thumb: “the harder the soil, the stronger and stiffer sheet pile section should be used”. Driveability of a pile section is a consequence of its cross-sectional properties (thickness, depth, and width), designed shape, length, grade, and the applied load. Hardness of soil strata characterized by SPT or CPT values is used to predict soil resistance which is essential in the calculation of driving force to be applied. Knowing the range of force from the selected driving machine, corresponding sheet pile sections can be picked according to their yield strength and elastic modulus.

How should I choose a sheet pile section for soils with, say, SPT Value, N=30? Can I still consider using vinyl or shift to steel?

Every sheet pile material has a design purpose, strengths, and areas of improvement. The availability of different materials denotes the need for a special material for a specific application. Plastic or synthetic sheet piles for example are known for being light and corrosion-resistant; Steel sheet piles are recognized for their extraordinary strength and versatility; and so on.

ESC Steel LLC

May 25, 20223 min read

The Different Types of Steel Beams and Their Applications: A Brief Guide

Updated: Apr 8

In 1849, an engineer named Alphonse Halbou invented the steel I beam, and the I beam was first used in construction to build the Rand McNally building in Chicago in 1889.

Whenever you see a new building or bridge under construction, you will notice the skeletal structure made up of different types of steel beams. They comprise the foundation pilings, the walls, and the platforms (floors) of these structures.

Steel beams are a crucial support for the construction of buildings, structures, and any construction project. It comes in various size ranges, making it specifically applicable for certain applications. There are numerous considerations in determining the structural steel beams to use for your project.

Each steel beam offers support with unique properties that will provide you with the accurate level of support you need for your construction project.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of steel beams and their applications.

Steel Beams

There are many steel beam types and uses of steel beams; the ones we focus on here are wide flange beams, created using two horizontal planes called flanges, connected by a vertical beam called a web.

The flanges on these beams may or may not be tapered (to save weight and to add shear strength), such as in I beams.

The web section of I beams, and H beams varies in thickness based on vibration dampening and torsion strength requirements.

I beam are rolled from a single piece of metal, shaped into the configuration of an I.

H beams are made by welding three pieces of beveled metal together to form the flanges and the web.

Wide flange beams and the standard I beams are identical but vary in shape. Wide Flange beams look like an H and have broader flanges than I beams, shaped more like a capital letter I.

Common Beams Available from a Wide Flange Beams Supplier

What are the diverse applications of H and I steel beams?

Most common uses of H Beams are for platforms, bridges, ship and dock building. While I Beams are commonly used for typical commercial buildings or any other lighthweight applications.

I Beams for Lightweight Applications

I beams are typically used in commercial buildings that do not rise more than a few stories. Their smaller footprint and lighter weight make them more economical and easier to work with.

I beams are often used in walls due to their smaller profile, lighter weight, and their ability to handle loads well from top to bottom of the beam.

steel beams used in aircraft hangar project

I beams can span from 33 to 100 feet, which makes them more applicable to smaller construction jobs such as frames, truck beds, etc. For a large skyscraper or a bridge, the H beam is more common.

Bigger Jobs Require Wide Flange Beams — H beams

H beams, which can span up to 330 feet, work best in buildings with larger footprints. H beams are made with thicker webs and wide flanges for maximum strength in all directions.

The H beam works best in bridge and overpass construction due to:

Its ability to span the longer distances required by bridges/overpasses
Its ability to handle very heavy loads, as a bridge/overpass needs to be capable of handling the combined weight of vehicles

Cargo Ships and Docks

The unique properties of H beams make them most suitable for the construction of large cargo ships, which when combined with cargo, can weigh up to 220,000 tons.

Given the weight of cargo, the docks that hold this cargo must be capable of supporting the weight of many thousands of shipping containers. Only heavily constructed wide flange beams will suffice in building docks to hold this massive

Strutting System

In foundation applications, the construction industry uses wide flange beams as waler and bracing systems. Contractors use them as king piles and sheet pile combinations.

circular shoring system using steel beams

Heavy Industry Is Possible Due to Steel Beams

The modern Industrial Age owes part of its success to the invention and proliferation of the I beam, which then led to H beams and other beam advancements, making it possible to construct long-expanse bridges and hundred-plus floor skyscrapers.

Steel Beams Supplier

If you are a professional in the construction industry seeking a wide flange beams supplier, look no further than ESC Steel. We have been in business since 1980 and have many types of high-quality steel beams for sale.