What are Soldier Piles?
Soldier piles are a type of earth retention system commonly used in the foundation building process. They are also used for slope stabilization and remediation, and are favored due to their efficiency and cost effectiveness.
How Do Soldier Piles Work?
Soldier piles are used to create a strong foundation for heavy structures such as buildings, bridges and roads. The piles are commonly made of steel that’s driven into the ground to help distribute the weight of the structure from the loose topsoil down to the rock below. Soldier piles can also be used to create retaining wall systems for temporary projects, such as excavation during the construction phases.
To install solider pile, the pile is forced into the ground. This can be done one of two ways, either by driving the piles or drilling the piles. Piles can be driven into the ground using a large impact hammer. Driving the piles is favored over drilling in situations where the soil is loose, since driving the piles into the ground compresses the surrounding soil and therefore causes greater friction. Steel piling can also be drilled into the ground using rotary boring equipment. Rotary boring is commonly used to install large diameter piles, and also when piles need to be installed in especially hard ground.
When installing soldier pile, certain requirements must be met to ensure strength and effectiveness. Though soldier piles are often made of steel, they can also be made of precast concrete, micropiles, and conventional pipe sections. Piles are installed vertically and are spaced between six and 12 feet apart from each other. This system is designed to limit the movement of the soil, which allows for increased stability. If further stability is required, tiebacks can be drilled into the retained material.
Benefits of Soldier Piles
Soldier piles include many advantages. They’re cheaper to than other retaining wall system. Installation can be done quickly and with relatively less effort. The piles are highly customizable, and their materials are versatile.
Versatility is valuable in a retaining wall system, since changes must sometimes be made on site. Furthermore, the simplicity of the soldier pile design means that advanced construction techniques aren’t required for installation. (It should be noted, however, that complex deep systems in urban environments will require more expertise and experience).
Disadvantages of Soldier Piles
Though soldier piles come with many advantages, there are disadvantages as well. Soldier piles are often used for temporary construction and are not always the best option for long-term applications. Improper backfilling can result in ground loss that cause surface settlements. Finally, soldier piles are not ideal in areas with a high-water table.
Common Sizes of Soldier Pile
Soldier piles in both wide flange and H-pile varieties. Some common sizes include:
W8: W8x18, W8x21, W8x24, W8x28, W8x31, W8x35, W8x40, W8x48, W8x58, W8x67
W10: W10x22, W10x26, W10x30, W10x33, W10x39, W10x45, W10x49, W10x54, W10x60, W10x68, W10x77, W10x88, W10x100, W10x112
W12: W12x26, W12x30, W12x35, W12x40, W12x45, W12x50, W12x53, W12x58, W12x65, W12x72, W12x79, W12x87, W12x96, W12x106, W26x120, W12x136, W12x152, W12x170, W12x190, W12x210, W12x230, W12x252
W14: W14x22, W14x26, W14x30, W14x34, W14x38, W14x43, W14x48, W14x53, W14x61, W14x68, W14x74, W14x82, W14x90, W14x99, W14x109, W14x120, W14x132, W14x145, W14x159, W14x176, W14x193, W14x211, W14x233, W14x257, W14x283
W16: W16x26, W16x31, W16x36, W16x40, W16x45, W16x50, W16x57, W16x67, W16x77, W16x89, W16x100
W18: W18x35, W18x40, W18x46, W18x50, W18x55, W18x60, W18x65, W18x71, W18x76, W18x86, W18x97, W18x106, W18x119, W18x130, W18x143, W18x158, W18x175, W18x192, W18x211, W18x234
HP8: HP8x36
HP10: HP10x42, HP10x57
HP12: HP12x53, HP12x63, HP12x74, HP12x84, HP12x89, HP12x102, HP12x117
HP14: HP14x73, HP14x89, HP14x102, HP14x117
HP16: HP16x88, HP16x101, HP16x121, HP16x141, HP16x162, HP16x183
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