Retaining & Earth Pressure
Sheet Pile Wall Design (Cantilever & Anchored)
Embedment depth, maximum bending moment and anchor force for cantilever and anchored sheet pile walls (free and fixed earth support) in layered soil with water.
Sheet Pile Wall Design (Cantilever & Anchored)
Embedment depth, maximum bending moment and anchor force for cantilever and anchored sheet pile walls (free and fixed earth support) in layered soil with water.
Inputs
Wall Cross-Section
1. Wall Type & Geometry
Top of wall to excavation level
Uniform, on the retained side
2. Soil Layers
Depths are measured from the top of the wall on the retained side. The last layer continues below the toe. For undrained clay, enter φ = 0 and the undrained shear strength su as c.
3. Groundwater
Seepage: head lost uniformly along the wall; matters only where the water levels differ
Depth below top of wall; leave blank for dry soil
Depth below top of wall; less than H for free water in front
4. Design Margins & Steel Section
Passive pressure ÷ Fp; 1.5–2.0 is common when no extra embedment is added
Added to D₀: typically 20–40% with Fp = 1, less when Fp > 1
Often 0.6–0.65 fy, for the required section modulus
Results
Enter the retained height and soil layers above, or click a Demo Preset at the top to compute the embedment depth and bending moment.
Theory and formulae
Sheet Pile Wall Design Methods
About this calculator
This free sheet pile wall calculator runs entirely in your browser: what you enter is never uploaded. Switch between metric and imperial units at any time. Use the calculation steps and the theory section to check the working, and print a calculation sheet with the inputs, results and formulae for your records.
Methods and references: USS Steel Sheet Piling Design Manual, Blum (1931), CIRIA C580, EAU 2012.
Topics: sheet pile, cantilever wall, anchored wall, embedment depth, free earth support, fixed earth support, blum, equivalent beam, bending moment, anchor force, tie rod, section modulus.
Engineering notice: Results are for preliminary estimation, screening and education. All inputs and outputs must be independently verified by a qualified professional engineer before use in any design or construction decision. Read the full disclaimer
Disclaimer
This calculation sheet was generated with Geotechnical Toolbox for preliminary estimation, screening, educational and verification purposes only. Geotechnical engineering involves site-specific ground conditions and uncertainty. All inputs, methods, results and figures must be independently checked and approved by a qualified Professional Engineer (P.Eng. / PE) before being relied on for design, construction or any safety-critical decision. Results reflect the values entered at the time of printing. The author and site accept no liability for errors, omissions or damages arising from their use.
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