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 Group

Oct 22, 20222 min read

Pre-Engineered Buildings vs Conventional Buildings: Which is Better?

Over the years, building technology has been constantly developing and innovating from conventional building techniques to one of the most recent construction innovations, the pre-engineered buildings (PEBs) also known as prefabricated buildings. But which type of building structure is better? If you plan to build a new building project, it is important to consider some important parameters to help you decide which type of structural building technique is more cost-effective and sustainable.

Pre-engineered buildings are built mostly in steel and are factory made, shipped to site, and bolted together. The rigid framing completes the roof, beams, and columns.

Then other exterior panels are assembled, along with structural elements and accessories. Pre-engineered buildings revolutionized the construction market with its built-up sections in place of conventional hot-rolled sections. Larger column-free area sets PEBs apart, compared to its conventional counterparts.

pre engineered building reefer rack — Pre- engineered Building Reefer Rack

Conventional buildings on the other hand are traditional buildings consisting of steel, brick, and cement sections. These are fabricated and assembled at the site. Conventional building methods involve welding and cutting, which is done largely at the construction sites. A conventional building is designed from scratch, requiring substantial designing inputs, and detailing of the intricacies done by consultants.

Pre-fabricated steel buildings installation on site — Pre-fabricated Steel Buildings Installation on Site

Here we have differentiated between the pre-engineered buildings and conventional buildings on various parameters which will help you understand a proper comparison between the Pre-engineered buildings and conventional buildings.

Parameter	Pre-Engineered Building	Conventional Building
Weight	About 20-30% lighter than the conventional buildings.	Structural members of the conventional buildings are Hot Rolled, which makes the building heavy-weight.
Structure	Primary members are tapered. Secondary Members are light weight & rolled framed ‘Z’ & ‘C’ sections	Primary members are hot rolled ‘I’ sections. Secondary members are ‘I’ & ‘C’ sections which are heavier in weight.
Design	Software based Standard designs that are replicable. The design of a PEB structure is efficient due to its integral framing system.	Partially automated designs with manual intervention. Requires more time and offers less precision in design.
Delivery Timeline	The components of the PEBs are designed at the factory, so it requires significantly shorter duration for its construction.	The delivery of conventional buildings are prolonged as compared to the PEB structures and can extend depending on complexity.
Foundation	Simple design and easy to build as the structural weight of the building is low, it requires a simple design foundation.	Substantial investment in foundation work as the weight of the building is greater, so it requires more cost for the construction of the foundation.
Erection Process	Easier, faster, and safer.	Labor intensive.
Seismic Resistance	The PEB offers good resistance against seismic actions due to its lightweight and flexible members.	Conventional Buildings cannot withstand seismic actions due to their heavy rigid members.
Sustainability	Reduced wastage and lesser impact on environment due to lean construction.	Wastage and energy consumption.
Flexibility	Future expansion is simple, easy, and cost effective as PEBs can be easily expanded in width as well as height by adding additional bays. Single supplier can coordinate changes.	Revisions or additions can be difficult and costly due to extensive redesign.
Performance	All components are specified and designed to act together as a system, for maximum efficiency, precise fit and performance.	Components are designed in general for possible use in many alternative configurations.
Accountability	Single source responsibility.	Multiple vendors involved.
Overall Cost	Lower cost due to the saving in design, manufacturing and on-site erection cost.
Applications	Best suited for industrial, infrastructures and warehousing projects.	Best suited for commercial establishments, institutional structures, industrial and residential applications.

Both pre-engineered and conventional buildings have their own advantages. Choosing the right kind of building structure depends on design requirements and materials your project demands. One must consider budget, safety, durability and maintenance before arriving at a decision.

pre-engineered building components loading for shipping — Pre-engineered Building Components Loading for Shipping

ESC can supply an assortment of prefabricated steel buildings also known as pre-engineered steel buildings (PEB), for a wide range of applications: from workshops, agricultural buildings, aircraft hangers, dealerships, industrial buildings, retail stores and more.

Utilizing steel is a sustainable, cost effective and very durable building material solution. It easily meets both aesthetic, technical requirements of a range of building codes around the world. ESC's full service along with its roster of industry experts in engineering and manufacturing allows fabrication to follow all the way from the factory to site, providing hassle free solutions to its customers.