Steel sheet piles must meet the requirements for retaining strength and rigidity during driving. Based on their cross-sectional shape, they are classified as straight, U-shaped, Z-shaped, H-shaped, and tubular.

1. Straight Sheet Piles

Straight sheet piles offer excellent waterproofing and axial load resistance, making them easy to drive into the ground. However, they have low lateral bending stiffness and are therefore only used in projects with good foundation soil and shallow excavation depths.

2. U-shaped Sheet Piles

U-shaped sheet piles offer greater lateral stiffness, improved waterproofing and bending resistance, and are widely used in construction. They are generally used in wharf walls, revetments, and deep excavation retaining walls.

3. Z-shaped Sheet Piles

Z-shaped sheet piles have an asymmetrical cross-section. If driven individually, they will rotate about their vertical axis. Therefore, in actual construction, they are typically hammered together in pairs. It is also commonly used in dock walls, revetments, and support structures, but its production process is complex and its application in engineering is limited.

4. H-shaped steel sheet piles

H-shaped steel sheet piles have a large section modulus and excellent technical performance. Therefore, they are used in hydraulic structures in deep water or support structures with heavy loads.

5. Tubular steel sheet piles

Tubular steel sheet piles have a very high section modulus, and their circular structure has good load-bearing properties and is self-supporting. Some permanent engineering structures use this type of sheet pile. However, their disadvantages are difficulty in removal and high cost, making them generally unsuitable for temporary structures.