What are Sheet Piles?
​Sheet piles are sections of sheet materials with interlocking edges that are driven into the ground to provide earth retention and excavation support. Sheet piles may be made up of wood, concrete, or steel. Steel piles are driven side by side into the ground to form a continuous vertical wall for retaining soil. The alignment and resistance or thrusts are normally provided by horizontal wallers, braces, or tiebacks. Factors affecting the choice of a particular type of pile include nature of ground, cost, ease of installation, availability of material, ability to withstand driving, lateral strength, and ease of making connections.
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Wooden Sheet Piles:
​Wooden sheet piles are made in various sizes and forms. The nature of site conditions determines the choice of a particular type. Timber sheet piles are generally used for short spans in temporary structures, and to resist light lateral loads. They are typically connected together by tongue and groove joints. The disadvantage of timber piles is that they require preservative treatment and are not generally suitable for soils consisting of stones.
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Reinforced Concrete Sheet Piles:
Reinforced concrete sheet piles are formed using precast concrete members, usually connected together by tongue and groove joints. They are commonly used in permanent river embankments, canals and other marine structures. The toes of the piles are usually cut with an oblique face to facilitate easy driving and interlocking, while the heads are finished off by casting a capping beam.

Steel Sheet Piles:
​Steel sheet piles are rolled steel sections consisting of a plate called the "web" with integral interlocks on each edge. The interlocks consist of a groove, one of whose legs has been suitably flattened. This flattening forms the tongue which fits into the groove of the second sheet.
Steel sheet piles are driven with the help of pile drivers which may be of drop hammer type or single or double acting hammers driven by steam or compressed air. The outstanding feature of steel sheet piles is that they can be used for greater depths. The continuous interlocking arrangement of the piles gives strength and rigidity to the supported structure. A wall made from properly driven sheet piles leaks very little, hence steel sheet piling is used with advantage in the construction of deep cofferdams. They are commonly used in coastal defense works which are likely to be subjected to tidal action.