We’ll delve into the impressive water-tightness of barriers crafted from vinyl sheet piles. Known for their durability and resilience, vinyl sheet piles create an impermeable barrier that effectively prevents water infiltration, making them an ideal choice for a wide range of water-related projects.
Whether it’s for seawalls, flood protection, or retaining walls, the water-tight properties of vinyl sheet piles ensure long-lasting performance and reliability in safeguarding against water intrusion.
What determines the water-tightness of a barrier made of sheet piles?
This issue is difficult to explain in a few sentences, but the most important factors affecting how much water can pass through such a barrier are:
Profile width. This is a key issue as water can penetrate the barrier only in the places where individual sheet piles are joined. The rule is very simple: the wider the profile, the less water gets through barrier. The widest EcoLock vinyl sheet piles are over 60cm wide!
Shape and tightness of the lock. The steel sheet piles have locks that are identical in shape and one goes into the other. However, in the case of vinyl sheet piles, we distinguish two shapes, male and female. This is to reduce the risk of damage to the locks during installation and increase the water filtration path.
The type of soil in which the sheet piles are installed. The soil can additionally seals the connection over time. This is called the soil clogging effect.
The difference in water levels on both sides of the barrier. The greater the difference, the greater the water pressure. And the greater the water pressure, the greater the flow through the locks.
Hydrostatic gradient. So, the difference in water levels on both sides of the barrier. The greater the difference, the greater the water pressure. And the greater the water pressure, the greater the flow through the locks.
Additional seals. Steel sheet piles can be sealed by welding them together or treating them with ashes or bituminous masses. On the other hand, EcoLock sheet piles can be manufactured with an integrated gasket, which ensures 100% tightness to very high pressures.
How tight are EcoLock vinyl sheet piles?
In the basic version, so without a gasket, the entire barrier made of EcoLock sheet piles, depending on the type of soil, reaches a filtration coefficient from k = 1 ∙ 10-6 to k = 1 ∙ 10-9 [m / s] (Calculated using the analytical method, taking into account the most unfavorable conditions)
However, in the case of vinyl sheet piles with an integrated gasket, such a factor maybe 0. We tested our sheet piles in an independent laboratory and it turned out that they were tight up to a pressure of 2.0 bar, or 20 meters of water column. Of course, we have a certificate confirming the tightness!
Do the integrated seals ensure tightness also above ground level?
Yes, as long as the appropriate method is used during their installation, depending on the type of soil. Therefore, we recommend that you contact us every time so that we can assess the possibility of execution such a project. Thanks to this, we can build cheap tanks for liquids without expensive earthworks and the use of geomembranes.
Thanks for reading! I hope you found the information engaging and useful. If you have any questions or want to delve deeper into the topic, feel free to reach out. Until next time, stay curious and informed!
Please contact us info@escvinylpile.com for your project solutions.