Soil Retention Systems

In a construction of a building, bridge, or whatever structure, main thing is a foundation. When doing foundation structure several soil retention systems are used. If simply said, that used to prevent soil without collapsing. And also prevent ground water comes to basement. That also known as “shoring system”.

In a deep foundation structure that soil retention system requires for,

• Secure Earth
• Groundwater prevention

Mainly the soil retention systems are used as a temporary structure. But some cases that retention systems are used as a permanent structure.

Temporary retention systems are just temporary. This is not to say that unsafe, but that design with understanding the place, soil type and load bearing for a finite time period.

In a case where the engineer decided to permanent retention system, most unstable soil or several reasons permanent retention system is used. ( E.g. Soldier pile, Soil nailing, secant walls, slurry walls, micro piles etc.)

Types of retention system depends on,

• Soil type
• Depth
• Whether it is temporary or permanent

Examples of Retention Systems:

• Sheet piles
• Soldier piles

Sheet piles

It’s a steel retaining wall. It’s done by using interlocking sheet piles. Using hydraulic pile machine we can drive it in to ground.

Advantages	Disadvantages
Inexpensive	Difficult to install the sheet piles if the soil is rigid
Can be re-use
Less joints
Light weight

Soldier piles

          Soldier piles are some of the oldest retaining system used in deep excavation. It is a temporary or permanent retaining system commonly used in urban areas. First drills the steel H-section piles and then installs the timber cladding.

 Advantages and disadvantages of soldier piling

Advantages	Disadvantages
Fast to construct	Can’t use in high water table conditions
It’s very cheaper
No need advance techniques
Easy to install cladding