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Chaparral produces PS “Flat Sheet Piling” sections with a thumb and finger interlock at our mill in Midlothian, Texas. These sections consist of a web with interlocks at each end. The interlocks are designed to resist high tensile loads, but the section has very little beam strength, i.e., section modulus. When properly interlocked, this three-point contact interlock system can withstand severe setting and driving conditions and still function as intended. Chaparral PS sections provide the highest swing to interlock strength ratios available. This enables a wide range of project designs, from small diameter cells to very large diameter cells.
PS and Z-Piling sections should not be interlocked together. Chaparral PS27.5 and PS31 can be interlocked with each other but not with sections from another producer.
Cellular Construction Utilizing PS Sheet Piling
A cellular structure may be as simple as a single independent circular cell, or it could be a series of connected cells. The cell is constructed using an even number of PS27.5 or PS31 sheet piling sections.
How a Cell Functions:
Cellular design requires that the cells be founded on or in firm foundation material – and that the cells be filled with clean, free-draining granular material. The granular fill forces the sheets outward and places the cell wall into tension in the horizontal direction. The tension exerted on the wall is resisted by the high interlock strength of the PS sections.
A cell is normally designed to resist horizontal forces. In general it can be stated that the ability of a cell to resist horizontal forces increases as its diameter and height increases, usually in a one-to-one ratio. On the other hand, as the diameter and cell height increases, the required interlock strength of the PS sections also increases. Normal engineering practice is to limit the interlock load of PS sections to one-half the minimum ultimate interlock strength.
PS Sheet Piling Properties
Ball-And-Socket Interlock
  
Chaparral Z-Profile Additional Advantages:
Only Chaparral sections incorporate geometry based upon the testing and research findings of Dr. Richard Hartman regarding transverse bending stresses. Dr. Hartman, in the 1990s, demonstrated that both longitudinal stresses and transverse stresses act within sheet piling sections. Longitudinal stresses are oriented in a vertical direction and are familiar to all engineers who design sheet piling structures. Transverse stresses are oriented in a horizontal direction and are dependent upon section geometry. In fact, transverse stresses can exceed longitudinal stresses in poorly proportioned sheet piling sections. Chaparral sections are designed to minimize the effects of transverse stresses and maintain the structural integrity of the section.
PZ and PZC Profiles and Properties
PZ Traditional North American Sections with ball and socket interlocks.
PZC Newest generation of wider, lighter and stronger sheet piling
PZ vs. PZC
Chaparral Ball & Socket Interlocks
Because ball and socket dimensions are the same for all Chaparral Z-Piling sections, all Chaparral Z-piling sections can interlock with each other. Also, because of the shape of the interlock, they can be joined in either of two arrangements: Normal, Reverse:
The reversed interlock arrangement can be utilized to bypass obstructions when they are encountered along the driving line or to shift the driving line.
 
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