NASSPA Retaining Wall Comparison Technical Report 2009

N O RTH A MERI CA N S TEEL SHEET PILING ASSOC IATION
Steel Sheet Piling
RETAINING WALL COMPARISON
TECHNICAL REPORT
P r e p a r e d b y E I C G r o u p, I n c., LLC
steel sheet piling . economical wall systems stee

sheet piling . permanent . retaining walls . cos
effective . hot rolled steel sheet piling .perma
nent . steel sheet piling .proven stability . stee
sheet piling . readily available . steel sheet piling
environmentally friendly . hot rolled steel shee
piling . fastest . steel sheet piling . permanen
walls . sheet piling . readily available . stee
NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

May 2006
Revised October 2009
NARRATIVE
Comparison Retaining Wall Design and Cost Study

Steel Sheet Piling vs. Various Walls
Prepared By:
420 Route 46 East, Suite 1

Fairfield, NJ 07004
NARRATIVE
We are pleased to present herein the results of our comparison study of steel sheet piling vs. various wall
types for the North American Steel Sheet Piling Association (NASSPA). The purpose of this work was to
determine the feasibility of utilizing permanent steel sheeting for retaining walls that traditionally used
concrete, slurry, or other materials. The following walls were studied:
Tied Back Steel Sheet Piling
Reinforced Concrete Cantilever
Concrete Modular Unit
Mechanically Stabilized Earth
Soldier Pile and Concrete Lagging
Slurry Wall
A hypothetical retaining wall case study was developed based on conditions that often occur in practical
situations. The proposed wall has an exposed face of 19 feet and retains dense fine sand with no water
table present. Above the wall, the embankment slopes up at an 18-degree angle. The study assumed the
walls were to be built in a cut situation with available space for open excavation. The cost of the cut in
front of the wall is common to all cases and not included.
The above listed wall options were designed for the case study. Design criteria are based on AASHTO
Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, 17th Edition, 2002, ASD. No temporary retaining system
during construction was assumed for any option. Drawings depicting the proposed configurations were
developed along with engineering calculations. The excavation required in front of the walls to obtain the
desired cut configuration was not included in the comparison since it was necessary for all options and not
dependent on the wall type. A complete listing of quantities is given in the following summary tables.
Costs and construction durations were computed for each option. Reference data was taken from the
current edition of RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data and then compared to bid prices for recent
NJDOT and NJTA projects for reasonableness. Cost estimates and construction durations are given in the
following tables.
The results of the study reveal the following:
The steel sheet pile option provides a minimum 35% cost savings over other wall type options. It
provides a 65% savings over a traditional cast-in-place concrete wall.
The steel sheet pile option has the shortest construction duration of all options.
It should also be noted that although the modular unit wall option was closest in cost to the sheet pile wall,
it is often not feasible for situations where groundwater is present in the retained soil. Therefore, it may
not be appropriate in many situations. In summary, the results of the study indicate that for the appropriate
site conditions, a permanent steel sheet piling retaining wall is the least costly option over the other walls
studied and has a significantly shorter construction duration.
North American Steel Sheet Piling Association

Retaining Wall Study
Calculations
Table of Contents
1. Summary
1.1. Conceptual Model
1.1.1. Soil and Site Parameters
1.2. Cost and Construction Duration for All Walls
1.3. Cost and Construction Duration for Each Wall
2. Tied Back Steel Sheet Pile Wall
2.1. Design Calculations
2.1.1. Sheet Pile Design
2.1.2. Grouted Soil Anchors
2.1.3. Waler Design
2.1.4. SPW911 Computer Model
2.2. Quantity Calculations
2.2.1. Sheet Pile
2.2.2. Grouted Anchor and Tie Rods
2.2.3. Waler
2.2.4. Excavation and Backfill
3. Cast-in-Place Reinforced Concrete Wall
3.1.1. Stability
3.1.2. Heel Design
3.1.3. Toe Design
3.1.4. Stem Design
3.2.1. Concrete
3.2.2. Reinforcement
4. Concrete Modular Unit Gravity Wall
4.1.1. Stability
4.1.2. Bearing Capacity
4.2.1. Modular Units
4.2.2. Footing

Calculations
Table of Contents (Contd)
5. Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall
5.1.1. Stability and Reinforcement
5.1.2. Bearing Capacity
5.2.1. Concrete
6. Soldier Pile and Lagging Wall
6.1.1. Pile
6.1.2. Lagging
6.1.3. Grouted Anchors
6.2.1. Piles
6.2.2. Lagging
7. Slurry Wall
7.1.1. Cantilever Wall Design
7.1.2. Wall Reinforcement Design
7.2.1. Concrete
8. Appendices
8.1. Appendix A: Pay Items
8.2. Appendix B: References
8.3. Detailed Wall Drawings (11x17)
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2 of 78

RETAINING WALL STUDY
Section 1.2 Summary of Costs and Construction Time
All Walls
Retaining Wall Type
Construction
Duration (Days)
Total Cost
for 100 ft.
Wall
Cost per
Linear Ft.
Cost per
Square Ft.
Grouted Anchor Steel Sheet Pile Wall
13
90,607
906.07
47.69
Cast-In-Place Reinforced Concrete Wall
47
258,572
2,585.72
136.09
Concrete Modular Unit Gravity Wall
31
144,741
1,447.41
76.18
Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall
35
181,593
1,815.93
95.58
Soldier Pile and Lagging Wall
26
171,856
1,718.56
90.45
Slurry Wall*
64
400,145
4,001.45
210.60
*Concept model - not typical application for slurry wall but included in study to give comprehensive range of
options
3 of 78

Section 1.3 Summary of Costs and Construction Time, Each Wall
Grouted Anchor Steel Sheet Pile Wall

Pay Item
No.
Item
Unit
Grouted Anchors - 1" Dia
02
03
04
Sheet piling, 19 ft deep excavation

Wales, connections & struts
Anchors
19.3 psf, left in place

0
07
08
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
105 H.P. ,150 ft haul, sand & gravel

Select granular fill
09
Compaction, riding vibrating roller 12 in lift, 2 passes

Compaction, walk behind vibrating
plate
12 in lift, 2 passes
14 ft to 20 ft deep, 1.5 cy hydraulic
Excavation, trench, common earth backhoe
Driven piles, complete pile driving
setup
Mobilization, large
Fabric, laid in trench, adverse
Geotextile for subsurface drainage conditions
Totals
10
12
15
16
4 of 78
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Quantity
Unit Cost
Cost
LF
286.0
120
3 $
20.20 $
5,777.20
TN
TN
TN
29.0
1.5
0.4
12.95
NA
NA
3 $
- $
- $
1,950.00 $
300.00 $
2,700.00 $
56,550.00
459.00
958.50
LCY
BCY
211.0
211.0
670
NA
$
$
2.02 $
13.86 $
426.22
2,924.46
ECY
5200
ECY
211.0
560
1 $
0.78 $
164.58
BCY
211.0
480
1 $
3.86 $
814.46
EA
1.0
0.27
4 $
22,000.00 $
22,000.00
SY
244.4
1600
0.23
1 $
2.18
13
Cost per LF
Cost per SF
$
$
$
$
532.79
90,607.21
906.07
47.69

Cast-In-Place Reinforced Concrete Wall

Pay Item
No.
Item
07
08
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
09
Compaction, riding, vibrating roller 12 in. lift, 2 passes

plate
12 in. lift, 2 passes
14 ft to 20 ft deep, 1.5 cy hdraulic
Forms in place, footing
Continuous wall, plywood, 2x
Integral starter wall, to 4 in.
Steel framed plywood
16 ft to 20 ft high
Reinforcing steel, A615 Gr 60
10 - 50 ton job #3 to #7 bars
Concrete, ready mix
Normal weight, 3500 psi
Placing concrete, footings
Continuous, shallow pumped
Placing concrete, walls
15 in thk, pumped
Totals
10
12
18
19
20
21
23
25
26
5 of 78
105 H.P., 150 ft. haul, sand &gravel

Unit
Quantity
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Unit Cost
Cost
LCY
BCY
4,100.0
4,100.0
670
NA
6 $
- $
2.02 $
13.86 $
8,282.00
56,826.00
ECY
4,100.0
5200
1 $
0.23 $
943.00
ECY
144.0
560
1 $
0.78 $
112.32
BCY
SFCA
LF
SFCA
TN
CY
CY
CY
4,100.0
950.0
100.0
4,300.0
21.3
540.0
330.0
210.0
480
440
400
400
2.1
NA
150
120
9
3
1
11
10
3
2
47
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
3.86
2.80
5.55
8.15
2,825.00
114.00
28.00
35.00
Cost per LF
Cost per SF
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
15,826.00
2,660.00
555.00
35,045.00
60,172.50
61,560.00
9,240.00
7,350.00
258,571.82
2,585.72
136.09

Concrete Modular Unit Gravity Wall

Pay Item
No.
Item
07
08
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
09

Compaction, walk behind, vibrating
plate
Continuous wall, plywood, 2x
10 - 50 ton job #3 to #7 bars
Concrete, ready mix
Continuous, shallow, direct chute
Placing concrete
with crane
Totals
10
12
16
18
21
23
24
25
27
6 of 78

Unit
Quantity
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Unit Cost
Cost
LCY
BCY
2,791.0
2,724.0
670
NA
5 $
- $
2.02 $
13.86 $
5,637.82
37,754.64
ECY
2,724.0
5200
1 $
0.23 $
626.52
ECY
117.0
560
1 $
0.78 $
91.26
BCY
2,944.0
480
7 $
3.86 $
11,363.84
SY
SFCA
TN
CY
CY
CY
CY
300.0
400.0
21.5
146.5
128.0
18.5
128.0
1600
440
2.1
NA
120
150
95
1
1
10
2
1
2
31
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2.18
2.80
2,825.00
114.00
21.00
28.00
53.50
Cost per LF
Cost per SF
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
654.00
1,120.00
60,737.50
16,701.00
2,688.00
518.00
6,848.00
144,740.58
1,447.41
76.18

Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall

Pay Item
No.
Item
07
08
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
09

Compaction, walk behind, vibrating
plate
10 - 50 ton job, # 3 to # 7 bars
6x6, W4xW4, 58psf/csf
Welded wire fabric
Concrete, ready mix
Precast concrete wall panels
10 in. thick
Galvanizing steel in shop
1 ton to 20 tons
Totals
10
12
16
21
22
23
25
29
30
7 of 78

Unit
Quantity
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Unit Cost
Cost
LCY
BCY
3,593.0
3,593.0
670
NA
6 $
- $
2.02 $
13.86 $
7,257.86
49,798.98
ECY
3,593.0
5200
1 $
0.23 $
826.39
ECY
117.0
560
1 $
0.78 $
91.26
BCY
3,593.0
480
8 $
3.86 $
13,868.98
SY
TN
CSF
CY
CY
SF
TN
438.9
7.1
193.0
11.1
600.0
2,100.0
5.6
1600
2.1
27
NA
150
1550
NA
1
4
8
4
2
35
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
2.18
2,825.00
94.00
114.00
28.00
22.68
875.00
Cost per LF
Cost per SF
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
956.80
20,057.50
18,142.00
1,265.40
16,800.00
47,628.00
4,900.00
181,593.17
1,815.93
95.58

Soldier Pile and Lagging Wall

Pay Item
No.
Item
Unit
05
04
Grouted Anchors 1" dia

Anchors
07
08
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
09

plate
Driven piles, H sections
HP14x89 to 50 ft length
Driven piles, complete pile driving
setup
Mobilization, large
10 - 50 ton job, # 3 to # 7 bars
Precast concrete wall panels
10 in. thick
Totals
10
11
12
14
15
16
21
29
8 of 78

Quantity
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Unit Cost
Cost
LF
TN
350.0
0.5
120
NA
3 $
- $
20.20 $
2,700.00 $
7,070.00
1,269.00
LCY
BCY
2,266.0
2,266.0
670
NA
4 $
- $
2.02 $
13.86 $
4,577.32
31,406.76
ECY
2,266.0
5200
1 $
0.23 $
521.18
ECY
106.0
560
1 $
0.78 $
82.68
BCY
968.0
600
2 $
3.10 $
3,000.80
BCY
VLF
1,298.0
420.0
480
510
3 $
1 $
3.86 $
76.50 $
5,010.28
32,130.00
EA
1.0
0.27
4 $
22,000.00 $
22,000.00
SY
TN
SF
233.3
7.5
1,900.0
1600
2.1
1550
1 $
4 $
2 $
26
2.18 $
2,825.00 $
22.68 $
$
Cost Per LF $
Cost Per SF $
508.59
21,187.50
43,092.00
171,856.11
1,718.56
90.45

Slurry Wall
Pay Item
No.
Item
07
08
10
12
16
17
20
21
23
26
Backfill structural
Borrow loading
plate
Evacuation, trench, common earth backhoe
Slurry Trench, excavated in wet
Backfilled w/3ksi concrete, no
soils
reinforcement
16ft to 20ft high
10 - 50 ton job, # 3 to # 7 bars
Concrete, ready mix
15 in thk, pumped
Totals
Unit
Quantity
Daily Output
(unit/day)
Time (day)
Unit Cost
LCY
BCY
515.9
515.9
670
NA
1 $
- $
2.02 $
13.86 $
1,042.12
7,150.37
ECY
515.9
560
1 $
0.78 $
402.40
BCY
515.9
480
2 $
3.86 $
1,991.37
SY
288.9
1600
1 $
2.18 $
629.80
11,691.0
2,000.0
32.7
37.0
37.0
333
400
2.1
NA
120
CF
SFCA
TN
CY
CY
36
5
17
1
64
$
$
$
$
$
23.50
8.15
2,825.00
114.00
35.00
Cost Per LF
9 of 78
Cost
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
274,738.50
16,300.00
92,377.50
4,218.00
1,295.00
400,145.07
4,001.45
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Appendix A: RS Means Pay Items, Heavy Construction 2009
Item No. Pay Item

Sheet piling, 15 ft deep
01
excavation
Sheet piling, 20 ft deep
02
excavation
Wales, connections &
03
struts
Tie rod, upset, 1.75 in. to
04
4 in. dia
05
Grouted Anchors
06
No Item
RS Means Section
Referenced
10.81
2,050.00 Used for anchor wall
27 psf, left in place
31 41 16.10 0300
TN
12.95
1,950.00
31 41 16.10 2500
TN
NA
300.00
31 41 16.10 3300
31 32 36.16 1420
TN
LF
NA
360.00
$
$
2,700.00
20.20
105 H.P., 150 ft. haul,

sand &gravel
31 23 23.14 3200
LCY
670.00
31 23 23.15 5000
BCY
NA
31 23 23.23 5060
ECY
5200.00

6 ft to 10 ft deep, 1.5
cy hydraulic backhoe
14 ft to 20 ft deep, 1.5
cy hydraulic backhoe
HP10x42, to 50 ft.
length
HP14x117 to 50 ft.
length
31 23 23.23 7200
ECY
560.00
0.23 Primary compaction method

Compaction method at wall
0.78 edges, 18 in. width
31 23 16.13 0610
BCY
600.00
3.10 Trench for Tie Backs
31 23 16.13 1310
BCY
480.00
3.86 Main Excavating
31 62 16.13 0400
VLF
610.00
32.00
31 62 16.13 1400
VLF
510.00
76.50
31 06 60.15 1200
EA
0.27
22,000.00
33 46 26.10 0110
SY
1600.00
2.18
with turnbuckle
difficult 30'
12
Borrow loading
Compaction, riding,
vibrating roller
Compaction, walk behind
vibrating plate
Excavation, trench,
common earth
Excavation, trench,
common earth
13
14

Driven piles, complete
pile driving setup
Mobilization, large
Geotextile for subsurface Fabric, laid in trench,
drainage
adverse conditions
15
16
Comment
TN
08
11
Unit Cost
31 41 16.10 0020
Backfill structural
10
Daily
Output
22 psf, left in place
07
09
Unit
2.02 Does Not include materials

Used to determine material price
13.86 only (+ 10% profit)

Appendix A: RS Means Pay Items, Heavy Construction 2009
17
18
19
20
21
Backfilled w/ 3ksi
Slurry Trench, excavated concrete, no
in wet soils
reinforcement
Continuous wall,
plywood, 2x
Integral starter wall, to
4 in
16 ft to 20 ft high
Reinforcing steel, A615 10 - 50 ton job, #3 to #
Gr 60
7 bars
22
Welded wire fabric
23
Concrete, ready mix
24
25
26
27
28
Unit
Daily
Output
31 56 23.20 0050
CF
333.00
23.50
03 11 13.45 0050
SFCA
440.00
2.80
03 11 13.45 1000
03 11 13.85 9460
LF
SFCA
400.00
400.00
$
$
03 21 10.60 1050
TN
2.10
RS Means Section
Referenced
Item No. Pay Item
6x6, W4xW4,
58psf/csf
Normal weight, 3500
psi
Unit Cost
Comment
5.55
8.15 Used for forming walls
Reasonable fit for applicable
2,825.00 walls
Best match for strip steel
94.00 reinforcing in CMU gravity wall
Average strength for various
114.00 components
03 22 05.50 0400
CSF
27.00
03 30 05.35 0200
CY
NA
03 31 05.70 1900
CY
120.00
Assume for precasting operations

21.00 of CMU gravity wall
03 31 05.70 1950
03 31 05.70 5350
CY
CY
150.00
120.00
$
$
28.00
35.00
with crane
03 31 05.70 5400
CY
95.00
Assume for placing precast

53.50 segments of CMU gravity wall
10 in. thick
03 47 13.50 0100
SF
1550.00
05 05 13.50 5950
TN
NA
Continuous, shallow,
Placing concrete, footings direct chute
Continuous, shallow
Placing concrete, footings pumped
15 in thk, pumped
29
Placing concrete
No Item
Precast concrete wall
panels
30
Galvanizing steel in shop 1 ton to 20 tons
With 33.3% increase in material

22.68 price for thickness
For strip steel reinforcing in
875.00 CMU gravity wall

Appendix B: References
1. State of California, Department of transportation, Division of Structure
Construction (1995), Trenching and Shoring Manual,
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/construction/construc.htm
2. Das, B. M. (1999), Principals of Foundation Engineering, 4th Edition,
Brooks/Cole Publishing Company
3. RS Means Heavy Construction Data 2009, 23rd Edition, Reed Construction
Data, Kingston, MA
NORTH
AMERICAN
500 Montgomery Street
STEEL
SHEET
Suite 400 Alexandria, VA 22314
PILING
A S S O C I AT I O N
866.658.8667 www.nasspa.com
Copyright 2009
NASSPA and the companies disseminating this technical information disclaim any and all responsibility and liability for the application of the
information contained in this publication.
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N O RTH A MERI CA N S TEEL SHEET PILING ASSOC IATION

Steel Sheet Piling

RETAINING WALL COMPARISON

steel sheet piling . economical wall systems stee

walls . sheet piling . readily available . stee

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Comparison Retaining Wall Design and Cost Study

420 Route 46 East, Suite 1

North American Steel Sheet Piling Association

North American Steel Sheet Piling Association

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Retaining Wall Type

Grouted Anchor Steel Sheet Pile Wall

Cast-In-Place Reinforced Concrete Wall

Concrete Modular Unit Gravity Wall

Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall

Soldier Pile and Lagging Wall

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Grouted Anchor Steel Sheet Pile Wall

Grouted Anchors - 1" Dia

Sheet piling, 19 ft deep excavation

19.3 psf, left in place

105 H.P. ,150 ft haul, sand & gravel

Compaction, riding vibrating roller 12 in lift, 2 passes

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Cast-In-Place Reinforced Concrete Wall

Compaction, riding, vibrating roller 12 in. lift, 2 passes

105 H.P., 150 ft. haul, sand &gravel

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Concrete Modular Unit Gravity Wall

Compaction, riding, vibrating roller 12 in. lift, 2 passes

105 H.P., 150 ft. haul, sand &gravel

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall

Compaction, riding, vibrating roller 12 in. lift, 2 passes

105 H.P., 150 ft. haul, sand &gravel

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Soldier Pile and Lagging Wall

Grouted Anchors 1" dia

Compaction, riding, vibrating roller 12 in. lift, 2 passes

105 H.P., 150 ft. haul, sand &gravel

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Item No. Pay Item

2,050.00 Used for anchor wall

27 psf, left in place

105 H.P., 150 ft. haul,

Select granular fill

12 in. lift, 2 passes

12 in. lift, 2 passes

0.23 Primary compaction method

3.10 Trench for Tie Backs

3.86 Main Excavating

Driven piles, H sections

Driven piles, H sections

22 psf, left in place

2.02 Does Not include materials

NORTH AMERICAN STEEL SHEET PILING ASSOCIATION

Welded wire fabric

Concrete, ready mix

Item No. Pay Item

Assume for precasting operations

Assume for placing precast

Galvanizing steel in shop 1 ton to 20 tons