How do you maintain and repair installed sheet piles?
- Regular Inspection
- Pressure Washing
- Make Minor Repairs
- Waterproofing
- Welding Repair
- Concrete Repair
- Cathodic Protection
- Application Of FRP
Sheet piles are useful in projects that require retaining soil, excavating underground structures such as cofferdams and basement parking, and also creating barriers such as bulkheads and seawalls. These are all very big projects, that’s why it is important to know how to maintain and repair installed sheet piles. To help you out, we’ve listed some solutions below.
Regular Inspection
Prevention is always better than cure. Before damage can happen to your installed sheet piles, it is recommended to make time for regular inspections. Seeing signs of wear and tear before they become big problems can help you save money and effort. Knowing where to look will also depend on where your sheet pile is located.
For sheet piles, it is important to look for indications that the metal is starting to corrode. If it has cracks, it can speed up the process even more. That’s why before a project, picking the right grade of steel is important.
Another thing to do is to look for signs of plant growth. Vegetation that grows near your sheet piles can damage it slowly, which can lead to cracks.
Sheet piles can also be used on sea walls. In this application the steel is always subjected to high water pressure, that’s why a weep hole is placed. This hole helps lessen the pressure and therefore the damage to the sheet piles. If this gets clogged, then your sea wall can be damaged in the long run.
Pressure Washing
If you find signs of rust in steel, pressure washing is a good form of maintenance. The strong force caused by the water can clean not just debris, but also layers of rust in your sheet piles. This option can be used before applying protective coatings, paint, and applying patches.
Make Minor Repairs
If you see minor problems, it is recommended to fix them immediately. Small holes, cracks, and plant growth should always be repaired early. This will ensure that the damage will not grow, which can lead to the need for the reinstallation of new sheet piles instead.
Waterproofing
If sheet piles are used in environments where water leakage can happen, using sealant systems may prove useful. Water repellent coatings can also be applied to strengthen resistance to corrosion.
Welding Repair
If there is a small amount of corrosion on the sheet pile, patching can be considered. This option is done by welding reinforced steel patches or plates on the sheet piles to stop the corrosion process.
With advanced technology, underwater welding is also now possible, especially on sea walls which can be prone to corrosion. Repair companies have diving teams that are trained to perform this task.
Concrete Repair
When damage is neglected and turns severe, deterioration may happen. In these instances, it is recommended to replace the sheet piling itself, which will cost a lot of money. A cheaper option is to remove corrosion damage and then pile the two faces of the sheet pile with concrete. The concrete must be thick enough and also must extend past the damage and corrosion.
Cathodic Protection
Cathodic protection is commonly applied to metals to prevent corrosion. To help explain this concept, we must first learn about the relationship between the anode and cathode. The anode is the active metal while the cathode is the less active metal.
Corrosion occurs when two metals are exposed to electrolytes. In this case, it may be water, soil, or concrete which provides this damaging environment. This allows electrons from the anode to travel to the cathode, which can lead to rust.
Cathodic protection takes advantage of this concept by introducing a more active metal like zinc to protect steel from corrosion. This repair option is only temporary because the protective metal used will eventually corrode with time. Thus, inspections are required to maintain it.
Application of FRP
Another option to repair damaged steel sheets is to apply a protective encasing or layer. However, to maximize efficiency, the additional layer should be corrosion resistant and also strong enough to protect the sheets from erosion.
One material that does this job well is fiber-reinforced polymer. FRP is applied as a casing to the steel sheets where a filler is put in between. The filler bonds to the steel sheets, which can prevent further damage from environmental factors such as seawater and oxygen.
This option is cheap and easy to install on existing sheet piles. FRPs are also fairly light compared to other materials.
Key Takeaway
Sheet piles are used in many applications such as cofferdams, support of underground basements and parking spaces, and sea walls. It is beneficial in any project that requires excavation, retaining soil, or creating barriers. This is why it is important to know how to maintain and repair installed sheet piles.
Maintenance requires regular inspection of cracks, holes, and vegetation that threaten the structure of your sheet piling. Rust can be cleaned by power washing, and minor repairs should be done to fix small damages. For additional protection, waterproof coatings and sealants can be used to prevent water damage to the steel.
If your sheet piles are already damaged, major repairs that can be done include welding of steel patches or walls, concrete piling, cathodic protection, and application of FRP. With the advancement of technology, some of these repairs can now be done underwater by a diver team.
If you’re interested in sheet piles, Regan Industrial Sales Inc. offers these in addition to other steel products and services. You can contact us here on our website or by clicking the yellow arrow button or the messenger icon on the right side.
