Experimental Study on the Tensile Behavior of Interlocks on U-Type Section Steel Piling

Abstract

Sheet piles are used in various construction field applications, such as retaining walls, slope reinforcement, breakwaters, and ports, owing to their excellent strength, light weight, waterproofing, durability, and workability. The U-type section steel piling, which is a type of sheet pile, is composed of hollow trapezoidal sections with interlocks at both ends. At the construction site, a structure is formed by assembling the interlocks of each cross-section in a simple fitting type using the driving or indentation method. Interlock is an important part of connecting steel sheet piles. The shape, size, and steel type in the interlock affect the connection quality and structural performance of the structure. In this study, tensile tests were performed on test specimens connected in series in a simple fitting type for the interlock, which is an important component of the U-type section steel piling. It was observed that the load–displacement relationship temporarily decreased and then increased. In addition, formula for calculating the maximum strength of interlock was discussed and the predictions were compared with the experimental results, and the high consistency of the formula was verified. © 2023, Korean Society of Steel Construction.