Steelsheet piles are long structuralsections with a vertical interlocking systemthat creates a continuous wall. Thewalls are most often used to retain eithersoil or water. The ability of a sheet pile section to perform isdependent uponits geometry and the soils it is driven into. The pile transferspressure fromthe high side of the wall to the soil in front of the wall.

There are permanent and temporary applications. Permanentsheet piles remain in the ground andserve as permanent retaining structures.Temporary sheet piles are designed to providesafe access for construction, andare then removed.

Z-shaped sheet piles are called Zsbecause the single piles areshaped roughly like a horizontally stretched Z. Theinterlocks are located asfar away from the neutral axis as possible to ensuregood shear transmissionand increase the strength-to-weight ratio. Z piles arethe most common type ofsheet pile in North America and can be used in a widevariety of applications.Retaining walls, cofferdams, parking garages,environmental barrier walls, andbulkhead walls for ports are just a few oftheir varied uses.