Effect of Surcharge on Analysis of Anchored Sheet Piles Embedded in Cohesionless Soil

Abstract

An anchored sheet pile wall is a flexible retaining structure stabilized by anchors placed at a specific depth to resist external forces. The design of these walls is influenced by two key factors: the embedment depth into the foundation soil and the maximum bending moment experienced by the wall. This study presents design charts for anchored sheet piles in cohesionless soil subjected to surcharge loads. Both the conventional free earth support method and finite element analysis using PLAXIS 2D were employed. Multiple scenarios were simulated in PLAXIS 2D using the Mohr–Coulomb model, with an internal friction angle of 34° for the soil and a combination of fixed base boundary conditions. The study also examined different water table positions at the surface, middle, dredge level, and deep below the surface and generated design charts for embedment depth (D) and maximum bending moment (Mmax). Results revealed that the conventional free earth support method tends to overestimate the maximum bending moment. In contrast, the finite element analysis, with detailed mesh refinement and boundary conditions, provided a better assessment of soil–structure interaction, yielding more reliable outcomes. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.