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Getting the right marine engineering advice for your sheet pile walls

Getting the right marine engineering advice for your sheet pile walls

Sheet pile walls are retaining walls constructed to retain earth, water, or other fill materials. Built with rolled steel, they are quick to erect, have a long lifespan, and are watertight – making them a first choice for port and harbour walls.

Getting the right marine engineering advice for your sheet pile wallsAdvancements in the marine industry in the 1960’s meant much of the nation’s infrastructure was updated at the time and is now coming to the end of its design life. Many ports and harbours in the UK are in the position of needing to update their structures, with futureproofing being at the top of the priority list.

Sheet pile walls

If you work for a port or marina, it is important to be aware of any deterioration to your sheet pile wall, to appropriately plan for remedial works or a replacement when the time comes.

Our engineers are often called to assess wall to determine their condition. Our approach is always to explore the remedial works option, to provide a structurally sound way to increase the lifespan, for a fraction of the cost of a replacement.

Project spotlight

The tie rod is the most common part of the sheet pile wall to fail due to being the element most exposed to the marine environment. A tie rod is connected back to a ground anchor which helps maintain the wall at the correct angle to retain the ground behind.

AWA have recently designed a new tie rod connection for a marina on the South Coast, following an inspection of their sheet pile wall. Our engineers found that the wall still had enough structural stability and only the tie rods required replacing. This solution cost this client around £55k in comparison to 80m of replacement sheet pile wall, likely to be in the region of £700k.

Extending the life of your sheet pile wall

While this may be a cheaper alternative if structurally feasible, the best way to prevent costly work to your sheet pile wall is to set up a care plan.

  1. Like anything, regular maintenance will help prolong the life of your walls. By having a marine engineer to hand who can carry out dive surveys, you can plan in regular reviews and ensure care measures are put in place.
  2. Fitting sacrificial sheets helps prevent corrosion in steel walls. These sheets prevent excessive corrosion by providing a sacrificial layer that wears faster, allowing for easier replacement when needed.
  3. Applying a high-quality coating to the steel creates a barrier to the effects of the marine environment. One of our marine engineering team will be able to suggest a reputable brand.

AWA’s Marine Engineering Services

AWA’s experienced Marine Engineers carry out inspections above and below the water line. When carrying out a sheet pile wall inspection, our team take an ultrasonic thickness reading to determine exactly how much of the steel is remaining. By comparing that to the original wall and carrying out capacity checks, we can advise how much requires replacing.

With knowledge in the types of corrosion that can rapidly deplete steel, you can be confident that your wall is thoroughly inspected. Our engineers know to look out for issues such as Microbiogically Induced Corrsion (MIC) which causes almost 1mm of steel to be lost per year, which can prove costly if not identified during the survey.

Following inspection, clients are provided with a full overview of what work needs to be carried out. AWA can supply detailed design services and have long-standing relationships with manufacturers and contractors to ensure your project is completed to budget and on time.

AWA’s Marine Engineering Services

Whether you need a feasibility study, specialist survey, safety inspection, or structural designs for a new marine structural engineering project, AWA’s specialist marine structural engineers and designers can help.

When you choose AWA for your marine engineering and design needs, you benefit from a team of highly qualified and skilled engineers with a varied portfolio of clients, including the RNLI, Boatfolk and Wightlink.

Why choose AWA

AWA is a structural engineering and civil engineering consultancy established in 1987, with a hard-won but deserved reputation for delivering excellence in our profession.

Our philosophy is simple: we put people first. This has resulted in a high number of repeat clients and an impressive track record of successful award-winning projects. We are proud to be professional, and approachable; we believe this makes us the ideal partner for your project.

AWA has chartered engineers in our offices located in Romsey, Hampshire and Bath, Somerset. We deliver services to clients across the South, South East and South West.

Our team includes both chartered structural engineers and chartered civil engineers committed to continuous professional development ensuring you benefit from up to date industry expertise, whatever your project entails.

Contact us today

To find out more about how AWA can help with your project, get in touch today. Call 01794 524447 (Romsey) or 01225 251498 (Bath)  to speak to a member of our team. Alternatively, email mail@awaengineers.com and one of the team will be in touch.

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