EP0247054B1 - Metal pile planks cold formed by metal sheet shaping or bending, and walls built from said pile planks - Google Patents

Abstract

Metal pile planks presenting throughout their length a constant cross-section with a particular profile and having two complementary means which extend longitudinally and continuously from one transversal extremity to the other extremity of the pile plank, each of said two means being intended to co-operate with the complementary means of an adjacent pile plank, by longitudinal engagement in order to form, after said engagement, a continuous relatively tight longitudinal locking. In its Z cross-section, the pile plank of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a built-in corner piece (74) of the web (71) close to the wing (72), the free edge (75) of the corner piece being turned towards the wing (72), and in that its second wing (73) presents at its extremity a fold (76) turned towards the neutral axis (80) of the pile plank. Said pile plank is cold formed by shaping, for its small thicknesses, up to 12 mm, and by bending for thicknesses comprised between 12 and 32 mm.

Description

The present invention relates to sheet piles, used in the building industry and public works, for the realization of foundation, retaining and protective works, the role of which is to separate two media, generally a liquid medium from a solid medium and sometimes a gaseous medium, a liquid medium or a solid medium.

As examples, it is known to use sheet piles for construction: curtains for the defense of the banks of canals and rivers; flood protection screens along roads and highways in flood-prone areas; quay walls in ports and along rivers; swimming pool enclosure walls; silos; containment walls of basins for the storage of gases, in particular of hydrocarbons; trench armor, during excavations; terrestrial retaining curtains; protections along the roads to prevent falling rocks.

Whatever the nature of the material constituting the sheet piles (metal, concrete or wood), they all have in common to present over their entire length a constant section with a particular profile and to include, also over their entire length, two means which are complementary to each other and which, by cooperation with the complementary means of the neighboring sheet piles, will constitute, by longitudinal engagement, continuous longitudinal locks which are relatively sealed. If necessary, the injection of a sealant, such as a cement or a resin, into the empty space existing between two engaged means of the lock, completes this seal.

The present invention relates more precisely to the field of metal sheet piles. In this area, the latches allowing the longitudinal engagement of the sheet piles are constituted by male-female assemblies with dovetails, ball joints or hooks.

We know that there are currently six grades of steel used in the world - E 240 SP, E 270 SP, E 320 SP, E 360 SP, E 390 SP and E 430 SP - grades for each of which correspond to fixed admissible stresses compared to the elastic limit, and thus fixed as well from the theoretical point of view (for the value equal to the elastic limit) as from practical points of view when one assigns to the theoretical stress a weighting coefficient of about% to _^9/1 depending on the combination of respective share.

It is also known that, in the use of steel sheet piles, the stress is equal to the bending moment to be absorbed divided by the modulus of resistance.

Consequently, with the imposed quality of steel, it is advantageous to have, by the shape of the profiles, the highest possible modulus of resistance in order to be able to absorb a maximum bending moment.

• - soit d'augmenter l'épaisseur du profilé,
• - soit d'augmenter la hauteur et/ou la largeur du profilé, et idéalement de faire en sorte que la masse du profilé soit la plus importante possible dans ses parties les plus éloignées de l'axe neutre, pour exploiter au mieux les paramètres de la formule smd².

By simple application of the mathematical formulas, we realize that, to increase the value of the module, it is possible for example:

• - either to increase the thickness of the profile,
• - either to increase the height and / or the width of the profile, and ideally to ensure that the mass of the profile is as large as possible in its parts farthest from the neutral axis, in order to best exploit the parameters of the smd formula ² .

However, for various other reasons, all existing metal sheet piles are limited in modules to maximum values, depending on the conformation of their section, and this for both cold-formed sheet piles and hot-rolled sheets .

• a) les épaisseurs des tôles, qui sont travaillées en opérations successives sur des machines à profiler, pour prendre progressivement la forme du profilé voulu, sont limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 12 mm;
• b) les largeurs des tôles introduites dans les machines à profiler sont limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 1250 mm, limites qui sont imposées par le matériel de profilage lui-même; dans la mesure où les largeurs d'origine sont limitées, les développements des palplanches profilées le sont également, tant en hauteur d'ailes qu'en largeur d'âme;
• c) les entre-axes entre les cylindres des galets des machines à profiler qui amènent progressivement la tôle à prendre la forme voulue ont également des limites; ainsi, sur les machines à profiler les plus performantes, les limites en hauteurs des profilages à froid sont actuellement de 240 mm pour les profilés en U et de 340 mm pour les profilés en S ou en Z.

In the field of cold-formed sheet piles, the limits in obtaining high resistance modules are essentially of three orders:

• a) the thicknesses of the sheets, which are worked in successive operations on profiling machines, to gradually take the shape of the desired profile, are limited to values of the order of 12 mm;
• b) the widths of the sheets introduced into the profiling machines are limited to values of the order of 1250 mm, limits which are imposed by the profiling equipment itself; insofar as the original widths are limited, the developments of the profiled sheet piles are also limited, both in height of wings and in width of web;
• c) the inter-axes between the rollers of the rollers of the profiling machines which gradually bring the sheet to take the desired shape also have limits; thus, on the most efficient profiling machines, the height limits for cold profiling are currently 240 mm for U-shaped profiles and 340 mm for S or Z-shaped profiles.

Due to these three limits, the maximum values of the resistance modules are, to date, 1300 cm ³ / m for cold-formed sheet piles with U-section and 2100 cm ³ / m for cold-formed sheet piles at section in S or Z.

The two aforementioned values are those reached for single curtains, that is to say composed exclusively of cold-formed metal sheet piles interlocked head to tail, without any reinforcement.

In addition, cold-formed sheet piles use for locking means hook assemblies, either directly between them, or by means of generally profiled connecting pieces and also provided with hooks of the same design.

However, it is obvious that the manufacture of such hooks, always present on the two lateral edges of the profiles, requires excessively energy; in addition, the formation of two hooks leads to a loss in width, on the finished profiled product, of a few centimeters necessary for the formation of the loops with return, a loss which is nonetheless considerable when taking into account the useful width of the finished section, in determining its section and its development from which the resistance module of the sheet pile is calculated.

Finally, it should be noted that hook locks have the other disadvantages of being difficult to access, first at the time of manufacturing checks, then for cleaning after a first use for their reuse : it is indeed difficult to remove by spraying water or air all the dirt or mud impurities which adhere in the rear part of the hook loops.

Hot-rolled sheet piles avoid the last drawbacks mentioned with regard to the hooks of cold-formed sheet piles since, for their locking, they generally use male-female joints with dovetail or ball-joint sections, the tools of which are not very tormented and whose female parts, even the deepest, are easier to access for post-production checks and for cleaning.

However, the manufacture of hot-rolled sheet piles has its own drawbacks, mainly due to the heaviness of the manufacturing equipment.

In fact, the hot rolling of profiles requires six to eight passages between the rolling rolls, rolls whose failure is to wear out quickly given the stresses they undergo and the high temperatures - 950 to 1150 ° - at which they work.

In addition, the realization of any hot-rolled profile requires a time of installation of the rolling rolls which corresponds, in the factory, to a specific post, so that all the small orders must be grouped to be able to be fulfilled, which often gives rise to excessively long waiting times.

• a) des épaisseurs des profilés laminés à chaud sont, en sortie de laminage, limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 24 mm;
• b) les largeurs des profilés laminés à chaud sont limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 600 mm;
• c) les profondeurs des profilés laminés en U sont limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 230 mm et les hauteurs des profilés laminés en S ou en Z sont limitées à des valeurs de l'ordre de 400 mm.

Finally hot-rolled sheet piles also have their limits in obtaining high strength moduli, limits also due to the same dimension parameters:

• a) the thicknesses of the hot-rolled sections are, at the end of rolling, limited to values of the order of 24 mm;
• b) the widths of the hot-rolled sections are limited to values of the order of 600 mm;
• c) the depths of the laminated sections in U are limited to values of the order of 230 mm and the heights of the laminated sections in S or Z are limited to values of the order of 400 mm.

The attempts made to date to produce laminated profiles of larger dimensions have always proved to be disappointing and, in practice, beyond the abovementioned limit values, it is impossible to obtain a correct profile and furthermore the rolling rolls can break.

Due to these three dimensional limits, the maximum values of the resistance moduli of hot-rolled sheet piling are 4200 cm ³ / m for the U-shaped sections and 3850 cm ³ / m for the Z-shaped sections.

The two aforementioned limit values are also those reached for single curtains, that is to say composed exclusively of hot-rolled metal sheet piles interlocked head to tail, without any reinforcement.

Also, since technical necessities require higher and higher resistance modules, it is frequent that simple sheet pile curtains, whether cold-formed or hot-rolled, are not sufficient for the simple reason that they do not do not meet technical needs; in such cases, use is made of reinforced or combined curtains, using boxes, beams or tubes, by means of which the desired flexural strengths can be achieved.

The present invention aims to remedy all of the drawbacks which have just been explained.

First, the sheet piles concerned by the invention are cold formed, therefore using a material whose use is more flexible than that necessary for the manufacture of hot rolled.

Secondly, the invention proposes to lock these sheet piles longitudinally using means other than hooks, which makes manufacturing checks easier and cleaning with a view to their reuse easier, which saves money. significant energy, and also and above all what avoids the loss of material, a few millimeters wide, along the two longitudinal edges of the sheet piles. The sheet piles are therefore of the type described in document FR-A-445.323, and set out in the preamble to claims 1 and 7.

Thus, the width of the sheet used for the manufacture of the sheet pile of the invention is equal to the developed width of the finished profiled sheet pile, and this width participates in its entirety in the calculation of the strength modulus of said sheet pile. By way of comparison, the invention makes it possible to profile sheet pile sections with a U-shaped section, with a modulus of resistance of up to 1850 cm ³ / m and existing Z-shaped sheet piles, with a modulus of up to 4100 cm ³ / m.

The above values are those that can be obtained by cold profiling of sheet metal 1250 mm wide and 12 mm thick.

However, insofar as the sheet piles which the invention proposes to implement are locked using means which are obtained during operations distinct from those of the profiling of the sheet, their transposition to other solutions of cold forming is easy.

In particular, since the shapes of the profiles offered by the invention are simple, they can easily be produced by folding a sheet.

In this regard, we know that we can bend sheets. whose thickness can reach 32 mm and it is also known that the sheets are manufactured up to widths of the order of 2 m, which a bending machine can easily accept. In other words, the sheet piles of the invention cold bent can then reach modules which greatly exceed the maximum values known to date.

As examples, from a sheet of 2000 mm wide and 16 mm thick, we can form sheet piles with U section whose module is 8900crn ° / rnet, from a sheet 1500 mm wide and 16 mm thick, we can form Z-shaped sheet piles with a modulus of 9100 cm ³ / m. For double thicknesses of 32 mm, the values of the modules obtained are substantially double those mentioned above.

All these values are of course those reached for simple sheet pile curtains, respectively in U and Z, without any reinforcement.

But, moreover, by virtue of the design of their locking, the Z-section sheet piles of the invention, whether they are profiled or folded, allow for the first time a partial covering by their wings and by a part of their cores. . Thus, as a curtain, the Z-section sheet piles of the invention make it possible to reach resistance modules of 23,500 cm ³ / m from sheets 20,000 mm wide and 16 mm thick.

In practice, the use of sheet piles according to the invention now avoids having to use articles, such as compound or reinforced walls, to increase the modules. This circumstance is very advantageous from an economic point of view because it is known that the production of curtains composed or reinforced in the traditional way is extremely expensive, both in the manufacture and in threshing in the ground of the boxes, tubes or reinforcement beams.

Now, according to the needs of the site, by the implementation of a standard sheet pile, U, S or Z section, which is specifically adapted to these needs, by its thickness, width and height, the invention allows a practical response to all requests from entrepreneurs.

The present invention therefore has as its first object a metal sheet pile formed cold, by profiling or by bending a sheet, having over its entire length a constant section in Z comprising a central core and two lateral wings parallel and in opposite directions, said plank having, also over its entire length, two means which are complementary to each other and which extend longitudinally and continuously from one transverse end to the other of the sheet pile, each of said two means being intended to cooperate with the complementary means of a neighboring sheet pile, by longitudinal engagement, to constitute after this engagement a relatively tight continuous longitudinal latch, the first means comprising an insert covering a part of the sheet pile and the second means being formed along a of its two longitudinal ends, by a flat fold of the sheet, characterized in that its first means consists of an angle e attached to the core, near a wing, the free edge of the angle iron being turned towards said first wing, and in that its second means is formed by a flat fold of the second wing turned towards the neutral axis of the sheet pile at an angle equal to that made by the core with each of its two wings.

The fact that an angle is attached to the core of the sheet pile and that a fold is formed along the wing furthest from said angle to form its locking elements on two neighboring sheet piles, of the same design , makes the manufacture of such a sheet pile easy. This is the first consequence of the disappearance of hook-shaped locks. In addition, this new design of the constituent elements of the interlocking of the sheet pile on two adjacent sheet piles makes that the entire width of the original sheet is useful and that this width is fully taken into account in the calculation of the modulus of resistance of the sheet pile.

According to a first construction then, the free edge of the angle of the Z sheet pile is substantially perpendicular to the wings.

According to a second construction, the free edge of the angle of the Z sheet pile is substantially parallel to the core.

In these two constructions, the sheet pile may include a second angle placed on the same side of the core, the free edges of the two angles being turned in opposite directions from each other, the first wing near which is brought the first angle iron then also forming a flat fold turned towards the neutral axis at an angle equal to that made by the core with each of its two wings, said fold being therefore parallel and in the direction opposite to the fold which, along the second wing , is the second plea.

In these various Z-section sheet pile constructions, the free edge of the attached angle iron constituting the first means is preferably spaced from the wing towards which it is turned by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet.

In conclusion of the foregoing description of the Z-shaped sheet pile, it is noted that, by the relative position of the first and second means constituting the locking elements of said sheet pile on two identical neighboring sheet piles, partial overlap is obtained. sheet piles interlocked head to tail, at the level of their wings and the parts of their souls which adjoin these wings.

In these overlap zones, the thickness of the curtain made from sheet piles is therefore double. This construction thus proves to be particularly advantageous when it is necessary to construct a sheet pile wall having very high resistance characteristics: in fact, the areas where the curtain is thickest correspond to the areas furthest from the neutral axis of the curtain which is known to be substantially located in the longitudinal median plane of said curtain located equidistant from the extreme planes formed by the wings. In other words, this structure for distributing the material towards the areas of the curtain furthest from the neutral axis corresponds precisely to the ideal structure ensuring the obtaining of high resistance modules. It is therefore indeed by this construction of a sheet pile curtain with a partial overlap that the implementation of the invention ensures the production of simple curtains with very high resistance characteristics.

A second object of the present invention is a cold formed metal sheet pile, by profiling or by bending a sheet, having on all its length a constant section with a particular Z, U or S profile and comprising, also over its entire length, two means which are complementary to each other and which extend longitudinally and continuously from one end to the other of the sheet pile, each of said two means being intended to cooperate with the complementary means of a neighboring sheet pile, by longitudinal engagement, to constitute after this engagement a relatively tight continuous longitudinal latch, the first means comprising an insert covering a part of the sheet pile, characterized in that said first means consists of at least one quadrangular section, full or hollow, of square, rectangular or trapezoidal section, attached to the sheet pile, and in that its second means is of the same nature as said first means, the quadrangular profile of said second means being attached substantially along a longitudinal edge of the sheet pile.

In its application to a sheet pile of the section shaped like a U or S, this quadrangular section constituting the first means is supplemented with an angle whose foot is located, relatively to the base of the section, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of said profile and the free edge of which, facing towards said profile parallel to its top, is situated in a plane which overhangs the plane of said top with a height slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet. The angle iron can then include a third wing which extends its foot and is welded to the sheet pile. In another variant leading to a multi-purpose latch, making it possible to engage U-shaped or S-shaped sheet piles between them, of whatever modules and thicknesses, and also allowing to engage U-shaped sheet piles between S-shaped sheet piles, and conversely, the quadrangular profile and the angle iron constitute a one-piece assembly which is then welded by points or by two cords flush with the two longitudinal edges of the sheet piles.

In the application of this locking means constituted by a quadrangular profile to a sheet pile of the section with a Z-shaped section, said sheet pile is then characterized in that its first and second wings form a flat fold turned towards the neutral axis of the sheet pile, in that a first quadrangular section is placed flush with the fold of the second wing, on its face facing the core, in that a second quadrangular section is placed on the facing core screw of the first profile, said first and second profiles being located at the same distance relative to the second wing, and in that a third and a fourth quadrangular profiles are placed, respectively on the fold of the first wing and on the core , on the faces which do not face each other, said third and fourth sections being located at the same distance relative to the plane of the first wing, this distance being equal to that which separates the first and second sections from the dry wing wave reduced by the width of the top of said sections.

This Z-shaped sheet pile construction, like the previous one, allows partial overlapping of sheet piles interlocked head to tail, by their wings and part of their webs, so that high strength characteristics can also be obtained by the use of this solution.

Advantageously, the Z-shaped sheet pile may, below its first to fourth sections, comprise a plate whose foot is located, relatively to the base of the section, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of said section. Alternatively, at the same locations, the sheet pile may include an angle whose first wing is welded to the sheet pile and whose foot of the second wing is located, relative to the base of the profile, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of said profile.

For the creation of a multi-purpose lock for Z-shaped sheet piles, each quadrangular profile constitutes, with its nearest angle, a monobloc assembly.

Naturally, the present invention also relates to any curtain essentially constituted from sheet piles in U, Z or S corresponding to the above definitions and interlocked head to tail for those of the first two types, parallel to each other for those of the third type.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une palplanche à section en Z conforme à l'invention,
• - la figure 2 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un mur de palplanches obtenu par assemblage des profilés en Z de la figure 1 enclenchés tête-bêche,
• - la figure 3 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un autre mur de palplanches en Z à plus fort module,
• - la figure 4 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un mur de palplanches en Z sur chacune desquelles, en variante, le bord libre de la cornière est disposé parallèlement à l'âme,
• - la figure 5 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un autre mur de palplanches en Z, à fort module, palplanches dont l'âme est doublée d'un second moyen de verrouillage constitué par une seconde cornière,
• - les figures 6 et 7 montrent, à plus grande échelle, les moyens de verrouillage des palplanches en Z telles que représentées, respectivement, aux figures 2 et 4,
• - les figures 8 et 9 représentent, en plan et en coupe, des angles de murs de palplanches en Z obtenus à l'aide de palplanches d'angle spéciales dotées des moyens d'enclenchement conformes à l'invention,
• - les figures 10 et 11 sont, vus en plan et en coupe, des murs de palplanches, respectivement en U et en S, enclenchées à l'aide de profilés quadrangulaires et de cornières,
• - les figures 12 à 15 montrent, à plus grande échelle, quatre variantes de réalisation des moyens de verrouillage constitués chacun d'un profilé quadrangulaire et d'une cornière, utilisés dans l'assemblage des palplanches en S et en U,
• - la figure 16 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un mur de palplanches en Z enclenchées à l'aide de profilés quadrangulaires et de cornières,
• - les figures 17 et 18 montrent, à plus grande échelle, deux variantes de réalisation des moyens d'enclenchement des palplanches illustrées en figure 16,
• - la figure 19 est une vue en plan et en coupe d'un mur de palplanches en Z enclenchées à l'aide de profilés quadrangulaires à section en trapèze rectangulaire,
• - la figure 20 montre, à plus grande échelle, une variante de réalisation des moyens de verrouillage des palplanches illustrées en figure 19.

In order to better understand the objects of the present invention, there will be described below, by way of purely illustrative and nonlimiting examples, preferred embodiments with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a Z-section sheet pile according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a plan view and in section of a sheet pile wall obtained by assembling the Z-sections of FIG. 1 interlocked head to tail,
• FIG. 3 is a plan view in section of another sheet pile wall in Z with a higher modulus,
• FIG. 4 is a plan view and in section of a sheet pile wall in Z on each of which, as a variant, the free edge of the angle iron is arranged parallel to the core,
• FIG. 5 is a plan view and in section of another sheet pile wall in Z, with high modulus, sheet piling whose core is doubled by a second locking means constituted by a second angle,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 show, on a larger scale, the means for locking the sheet piles in Z as shown, respectively, in FIGS. 2 and 4,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 show, in plan and in section, angles of Z-shaped sheet pile walls obtained using special angle sheet piles with interlocking means according to the invention,
• - Figures 10 and 11 are, seen in plan and in section, sheet pile walls, respectively in U and S, interlocked using quadrangular profiles and angles,
• FIGS. 12 to 15 show, on a larger scale, four alternative embodiments of the locking means each consisting of a quadrangular profile and an angle, used in the assembly of sheet piles in S and U,
• FIG. 16 is a plan view in section of a wall of Z-shaped sheet piles interlocked using quadrangular sections and angles,
• FIGS. 17 and 18 show, on a larger scale, two alternative embodiments of the sheet pile engagement means illustrated in FIG. 16,
• FIG. 19 is a plan view in section of a wall of Z-shaped sheet piles interlocked using quadrangular sections with rectangular trapezoidal section,
• FIG. 20 shows, on a larger scale, an alternative embodiment of the sheet pile locking means illustrated in FIG. 19.

In all the description which follows, it will be used for simplification either the expression "profiling" or the expression "bending" for cold forming, from a sheet, of a sheet pile conforming to the 'invention. It is clear, however, that, opposite each expression, the other expression will apply since, in all cases, the cold formed sheet piles are of an identical design, the folded sheet piles being only thicker and larger in width and height as profiled sheet piles; this consideration applies to all sheet piles, whether U, S or Z.

Likewise, for simplification, the only expressions "welded, welding and welding" will be used to indicate the method of joining the pieces added to the sheet piles. On this point, it is obvious that the assembly of the added parts and the sheet piling can also be obtained by equivalent technical means, for example by bolting, by riveting or by gluing.

The term "neutral axis" used in the present description corresponds to the median longitudinal axis of the curtain obtained by the interlocking of sheet piles. This neutral axis is therefore: parallel to the wings of sheet piles in Z section, parallel to the webs of sheet piles in U section, and parallel to the first wings of sheet piles in S.

Finally, the term "outcrop" indicates that the insert is placed substantially along the free edge of the wall on which it is attached.

According to the invention, each sheet pile comprises over its entire length two means which are complementary to one another and which extend longitudinally, each of said two means being intended to cooperate with the complementary means of a neighboring sheet pile, to form with the latter, after longitudinal engagement, a relatively tight continuous lock.

The first means is always an added piece covering part of the sheet pile.

Based on the first principle of longitudinal locking, using a male means consisting of a fold formed along one of its two longitudinal edges and a female means consisting of an added angle covering a part of the sheet pile, a Z 70 profile sheet pile was designed according to the configuration shown in Figure 1.

Traditionally, this Z-shaped sheet pile includes a central core 71 and two parallel lateral wings and in opposite directions, inclined to each other with respect to the core at the same angle including between 100 ° and 135 °, said wings, to facilitate understanding of the description which will follow, being called respectively first wing 72 for that shown in the upper part of FIG. 1 and second wing 73 for that represented in the lower part of said figure.

According to the invention, the first locking means of this sheet pile 70 is constituted by an angle 74 attached to the core 71, near and on the side of the first wing 72, the free edge 75 of the angle being turned towards this wing 72. The second male means cooperating with the aforementioned female means is formed by a flat fold 76 of the second wing 73 facing the neutral axis 80 of the sheet pile, at an angle equal to the angle y.

In the first variant, the angle 74 has a free edge 75 substantially perpendicular to the wing 72. In the second variant, the free edge 75 ′ of the angle 74 ′ is substantially parallel to the core 71. These two variants have been shown in assembly detail with the male locking means 76 of a neighboring sheet pile in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.

• - la longueur du repli 76 soit légèrement inférieure à la distance séparant la face intérieure de l'aile 72 du pied, respectivement 77, 77' repérant la ligne selon laquelle la cornière, respectivement 74, 74' est soudée par un cordon 78, 78' sur l'âme 71,
• - le bord libre 75, 75' de la cornière rapportée 74, 74' soit écarté de l'aile 72 d'une distance légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur de la tôle à partir de laquelle est formée la palplanche 70,
• - le bord libre 75, 75' de la cornière 74, 74' soit toujours écarté de l'âme 71 d'une distance légèrement supérieure à l'épaisseur de la tôle, de façon à permettre le passage du repli 76 dans la cavité, respectivement 79, 79', ouverte entre l'aile 72 et le bord libre 75, 75'.

To allow good locking of the means used according to these two variants, it is necessary that:

• - The length of the fold 76 is slightly less than the distance separating the inner face of the wing 72 from the foot, respectively 77, 77 'locating the line along which the angle iron, respectively 74, 74' is welded by a cord 78, 78 'on soul 71,
• the free edge 75, 75 ′ of the added angle iron 74, 74 ′ is spaced from the wing 72 by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet metal from which the sheet pile 70 is formed,
• the free edge 75, 75 ′ of the angle iron 74, 74 ′ is always spaced from the core 71 by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet, so as to allow passage of the fold 76 in the cavity, respectively 79, 79 ', open between the wing 72 and the free edge 75, 75'.

The sheet pile curtains in Z 70 assembled head to tail, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, perfectly illustrate the partial overlap of these sheet piles in the areas furthest from the neutral axis 80. These overlapping parts are indeed formed at least of pairs of wings 72 and 73 in cooperation by engagement, and of the fold 76 and of the end part of the core 71 opposite this fold.

In addition, both to improve the resistance characteristics of the curtain, and in particular its module, as to facilitate the guiding of the sheet piles 70 during their beating, the first wing 72 forms, in line with the edge 81 constituting the junction line of the core 71 and the second wing 73, a flat fold 82 turned towards the neutral axis 80 at an angle equal to the angle y.

By comparison of the curtains shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the value given to the angle y has a significant impact in the determination of the resistance modules. Thus, for an angle y of a value of 115 ° to 135 °, the curtain will be of a normal module; below, and up to a value of 100 ° (curtain in Figure 3), we will obtain curtains with very high modulus very much exceeding the values accessible to date in simple curtains. For example, from a sheet of 16 mm thick and 2000 mm wide, we can conform by folding reproducing the structure given in Figure 3, Z profiles whose module is 23,500 cm ³ / m. In these profiles, the height is 1240 mm, the total width is 1360 mm and the useful width taken at the level of the neutral axis is 500 mm.

There is shown in Figure 4 a sheet pile curtain with normal module, of the type of those constituting the curtain shown in Figure 2, with the only difference that the angles 74 whose free edges 75 are perpendicular to the neutral axis 80 are replaced by angles 74 'whose free edges 75' are each parallel to the plane of the core 71 on which the angle 74 'is attached.

Finally, there is shown in FIG. 5 a sheet piling curtain in Z with a high modulus, thus forming between them successive waves whose flanks are more closed than the flanks of the waves of the curtain of FIG. 4. The sheet piles being higher and then having to undergo greater stresses, they are each advantageously provided with a second angle iron 84 placed on the side of the core already provided with the first angle iron 74 ', the free edges 85, 75' of the two angles 84, 74 being coplanar and turned in opposite directions from each other. In this alternative embodiment, the first wing 72 near which the first angle iron 74 'is attached forms the flat fold 82 seen previously. In manufacturing, the height of this fold 82 is slightly less than the distance separating the base of the angle iron 84 from the second wing 73, and the free edge 85 of said angle iron, parallel to the core 71, is separated from this core d '' a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet. Thus, during the pile driving of a sheet pile in the neighboring sheet pile, the fold 82 engages longitudinally between the angle iron 84 and the end of the core 71, which has the effect of forming, along the second longitudinal edge of the sheet pile, a second continuous latch.

To make angles at one or more points of a Z-shaped sheet pile wall of the type shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, special sheet piles are used, directly derived from a sheet pile 70 as to their means of locking.

Thus, the sheet pile 86 shown in Figure 8 is a normal Z sheet pile 70 bent at an angle δ along the median longitudinal line of its core 71. This sheet pile 86 cooperates by its male locking means 76 with the angle 74 of a sheet pile 70 'and by its female locking means 74 with the fold 76 of a sheet pile 70 ".

The corner sheet pile 87 shown in Figure 9 is also based on the principle of locking the sheet pile in Z, but originally, before folding its core 71 at angle 8, the wings 72 and 73 of said sheet pile 87 were placed on the same side of the core. The male locking means 76 of the corner sheet pile 87 cooperates with the angle iron 74 of a normal Z sheet pile 70 'and the female locking means 74 of this angle sheet pile cooperates with the fold 76 of a second sheet pile normal 70 ".

For a better understanding of the drawings, the corner sheet piles of Figures 8 and 9 have been shown hatched.

According to another variant of the invention, the second means for locking a sheet pile on the neighboring sheet pile comprises an insert placed flush with one of its two longitudinal edges. In this case, the first means and the second locking means are of identical natures, and consequently the first means is placed flush with the other longitudinal edge of the sheet pile when the latter is in U-section (figure 10) or S (Figure 11) and close to the other longitudinal edge when the sheet pile is Z section (Figures 16 and 19).

For all the sheet pile sections, in U, S, Z as well as for the sections directly derived from one of the aforementioned sections, the first and second means are, in a constant manner, each constituted by a quadrangular section, full or hollow, of square, rectangular or trapezoidal section.

For a sheet pile of U-shaped section 130 (Figure 10) or S 150 (Figure 11), a solid quadrangular section, of square section, is externally welded by two cords 131 and 132 along each longitudinal edge, respectively in 134 and 135 at the end of the wings 136 and 137 of a U 130, and respectively in 154 and 155 at the end of the last returns 156 and 157 of an S 150.

Behind the profile 134 is welded to the wing 136 an angle iron 138 whose foot is located, relatively to the base of the profile 134, at a distance slightly greater than the width of said profile and whose free edge 139, facing the profile 134, parallel to its apex, is situated in a plane which overhangs the plane of the apex of a height slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet metal constituting the U 130 (or the S 150).

Behind the profile 135 is welded to the wing 137 an angle 140 whose characteristics are identical to those of the angle 138, the free edge 141 of said angle 140 being in particular turned towards the profile 135 and located in a plane overhanging the plane from the top of this section 135 of a height slightly greater than the thickness of the sheet metal of the sheet pile 130.

Taking into account the dimensional relationships mentioned above, it can be seen that a cavity 142 is formed between the quadrangular profile 134 and the angle iron 138 able to receive an identical quadrangular profile 135 welded in the extreme part of the wing 137 of another sheet pile 130, and vice versa a cavity 143 is formed between the quadrangular profile 135 and the angle iron 140 of the sheet pile capable of receiving an identical quadrangular profile 134 placed at the end of wing 136 of another sheet pile 130.

Interlocking between sheet pile 130,150 is therefore possible longitudinally, and it results in the formation of a lock shown in more detail in FIG. 12.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the angle iron 138,140 is of cross section at S, the third wing 144, 145 of this angle iron being turned opposite the quadrangular profile 134,135 to be welded to the wing 136, 137 along two continuous side cords.

According to yet another alternative embodiment shown in Figure 14, the angle iron has a third wing 146,147 facing the quadrangular profile 134, 135 and extending to it. Each profiled assembly 134 (or 135) -cornière 138 (or 140) then constitutes a monobloc assembly, respectively 148,149 which is welded at the end of the wing 136,137, that is to say along its two longitudinal edges by two cords, as well as 'it is shown in Figure 14, or alternatively by points along the longitudinal center line.

Naturally, the quadrangular profile 134, 135 can have in section shapes other than those square, and for example it can be added in the form of a rectangle or a rectangular trapezoid. This latter arrangement is moreover shown in FIG. 15, in the form of a one-piece assembly 148 ′, 149 ′ in which the quadrangular profile is a rectangular trapezoid whose small base is fixed to the outside of the wing 136,137 and whose inclined face is turned backwards and outwards, that is to say towards the edge of the angle 138, 140. This latter construction further facilitates guiding between sheet piles during each operation of threshing.

The aforementioned embodiments using a quadrangular profile 134, 135, possibly associated with its angle according to 148, 149, 148 'and 149', have the mechanical advantage of increasing the resistance of the lock to deformation. In addition, due to the disappearance of the fold 43 of a wing 42, and its replacement by a section welded to this wing, it is more widthwise. Moreover, this time, the entire width of the sheet participates without exclusion in the formation of the sheet pile, hence a new possibility of increasing its modulus of resistance.

The one-piece structure of FIGS. 14 and 15 also provides an almost universal solution for locking between sheet piles insofar as it makes it possible to engage U-shaped and / or S-150 profiles between them of whatever modules and thicknesses they may be. , or at least compatible with each other for several ranges of thicknesses.

The interlocking of S 150 sheet piles as shown in Figure 11 is obtained in the manner which has been seen previously with respect to U 130 sheet piles and in this regard, without particular observation, reference may also be made to the detailed structures Figures 12 to 15.

The locking solution using quadrangular profiles can also be transposed to sheet piles with Z-section 170, in accordance with the representations given in Figures 16 and 19.

In this case, four quadrangular profiles are required.

Each sheet pile 170 is then essentially defined by a central core 171, a first wing 172 terminated by a fold 182 facing the neutral axis 180, and a second wing 173 terminated by a fold 176 also facing the neutral axis.

The locking means attached to the sheet piles shown in Figure 16 differ slightly in their relative positions, so as to constitute a first male means and a second female means.

For its female means, the sheet pile 170 comprises a first section 190 fixed flush with the longitudinal edge of the fold 176, on its face facing the core 171, and a second section 191 placed on the core, opposite of section 190, the two sections 190 and 191 being furthermore located at the same distance relative to the second wing 173.

As regards its male locking means, the sheet pile 170 comprises a third section 192 and a fourth section 193 placed, respectively, on the fold 182 and on the core 171, on the faces which do not face each other. screws, its third and fourth sections 192 and 193 being located at the same distance relative to the plane of the first wing 172, this distance being equal to that which separates the sections 190 and 191 from the wing 173 minus the width of said sections.

Thus, two sheet piles 170 arranged head to tail can, by threshing, be locked one on the other, the male means 172-182-192-193 of a sheet pile sliding in the female enclosure defined by the fold 176, the second wing 173 and the sections 190 and 191 of the second sheet pile.

In addition, each quadrangular profile can be associated with a plate 194 welded on the fold or on the core on which said profile is attached, the plate 194 having its foot located, relatively to the base of said profile, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of a profile so that, during the threshing operation, a profile of the neighboring sheet pile can be embedded between said plate and the profile that it completes (Figure 17).

In the same spirit, each profile can be completed with an angle 195 whose first wing 196 is welded to the sheet pile and whose foot of the second wing 197 is located, relatively to the base of the profile, at a slightly greater distance. to the width of the top of said profile (Figure 17). For the production of a multipurpose lock, the angle 195 has its wing 196 turned towards the profile and connected to the latter, so as to constitute a one-piece assembly 198 (FIG. 18).

In each of the aforementioned constructions, the quadrangular profile 190 to 193 may be of square, rectangular section, or even in the shape of a rectangular trapezoid, and in the latter case the profile is welded to the sheet pile by its small base, the pan inclined of this trapezoidal profile being turned towards the wing 172 or 173 closest to the profile concerned. Such a construction has been shown on all the sheet piles constituting the wall in FIG. 19, and in more detail in FIG. 20 for the principle of its one-piece locking 199.

A few mechanical characteristics of sheet piles according to the invention are given in table I appended hereto, compared to sheet piles of substantially the same modulus obtained by hot rolling. This choice of comparison was made in view of the fact that hot-rolled sheet piles today make it possible to obtain the highest resistance modules in single curtains. Table 1 is reserved for the range of modules from 600 to 1500 cm ³ / m which, in the lower modules, is the most traditional range. The sheet piles of the invention and the known hot-rolled sheet piles all have U-section profiles.

For the module of 600 cm ³ / m, it can be seen that the sheet pile that the invention offers allows, with a substantially equivalent module, to obtain a moment of inertia increased by almost 60%. Now, we know that the deformation of a sheet pile is inversely proportional to its moment of inertia; in other words, the sheet pile of the invention deforms less than the hot rolled sheet pile, for substantially the same module. As a second advantage, it can be seen that the sheet pile of the invention is significantly lighter, for the obvious reason that it is obtained from a much thinner sheet. However, we know that all finished metallurgical products are sold by weight. Under these conditions, as a first advantage, the sheet pile of the invention is of a lower price. In addition, since it is lighter, it is secondly easier to implement.

Some of the above observations apply to the other elements of comparison. For example, for neighboring modules of 850 and 927 cm ³ / m, the sheet pile of the invention is lighter, thinner and gives a better moment of inertia. For the compared modules of 1200 and 1236 cm ³ / m, it can be seen that at equal thickness the sheet pile of the invention is always lighter than the hot rolled sheet pile, which implies that, structurally, it is more efficient. For the compared modules of 1545 and 1600 cm ³ / m, the sheet pile of the invention, although thicker, is nevertheless lighter.

Above a module of 1500 cm ³ / m, which opens the range of medium modules and high modules, the sheet piles that the invention advises to use are then those with a Z section.

In Table I1, some comparison values are given between the Z-shaped sheet piles of the invention and hot-rolled sheet piles, known in their chosen sections in U or Z giving the values of the most similar modules. It can be seen that, for all the modules compared, the sheet pile of the invention is thinner and above all lighter than the traditional hot rolled sheet pile.

All the U and Z profiles of the invention identified in Tables I and II are obtained by profiling, therefore from thin sheets (at most equal to 12 mm) and with an original width not exceeding 1250 mm.

However, it is clear that all the profiles of the invention, by the simplicity of their shape and their absence of hook latch, can just as easily be produced by cold bending.

For example, from a sheet 10 mm thick and 2000 mm wide bent in Z, we obtain a sheet pile of 344 kg / m ² , of 15,390 cm ³ / m of module.

Observations: U 130 = Palplanche à section en U de la figure 10 obtenue par profilage

• L à C = Laminée à chaud traditionnelle

We also know that beyond the value of 4200 cm ³ / m, today it is impossible to make simple curtains, even from hot-rolled sheet piles. Above this value of 4200 cm ³ / m, the current solutions therefore consist in combining sheet piles and mixed boxes so as to reinforce the curtains.

Observations: U 130 = Sheet pile with U-section in Figure 10 obtained by profiling

• L to C = Traditional hot rolled

Thus, with substantially equal module characteristics, a construction from hot-rolled profiles combining mixed boxes and sheet piles to give a module of 14,790 cm ³ / m is obtained from 16 mm thick sheets for a weight average of 420 kg / m ² .

By comparison of the aforementioned values, it can be seen that with substantially equal modules, the invention makes it possible to manufacture a simple curtain from a thinner sheet, and above all for a clearly lighter weight.

In addition, the combined curtain solution from sheet piles and hot-rolled boxes expressed above is that which, to date, allows to obtain the maximum known modulus.

However, at this stage, the sheet piles offered by the invention can still, by simply increasing their thickness, give much greater modulus values and, for example, from a sheet of 2000 mm wide and 16 mm thick, it is possible to obtain a 23,500 cm ³ / m module with a Z-pile sheet pile curtain for a weight of 532 kg / m ² .

In other words, by implementing the invention, it is never again necessary to have recourse to combined curtain devices to obtain increases in modulus. It suffices to take the profiles of conventional section whose thickness and height are increased to obtain the desired module increases. In addition, knowing the ideal module, it is easily possible to determine which section and dimension is the sheet pile of the invention most suited to the needs of the project manager.

• - de palplanches en U profilées, de couvrir la gamme basse des palplanches laminées à chaud,
• - de palplanches en Z profilées, de couvrir les gammes moyenne et haute des palplanches laminées à chaud,
• - de palplanches en Z pliées, de remplacer les rideaux mixtes de palplanches renforcées par des caissons, des tubes ou des poutrelles.

In summary, the invention allows, in a simple curtain:

• - U-shaped sheet piles, to cover the low range of hot-rolled sheet piles,
• - Z-shaped sheet piles, to cover the medium and high ranges of hot-rolled sheet piles,
• - folded Z sheet piles, to replace the mixed sheet pile walls reinforced by boxes, tubes or beams.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements, or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Thus, for example, it is possible to associate with the sheet pile structure in Z of FIGS. 1 to 3 a second square of the type of that shown at 84 in FIG. 5. In this combined structure, the first square 74 can receive a sealant poured into the cavity 79, while the second square then represented by dotted lines by 200 in FIG. 3 serves as a guide during the pile driving and further improves the mechanical characteristics of the sheet pile wall.

Claims (15)

1. Metal pile plank cold formed by metal sheet shaping or bending, possessing over its entire length a constant Z-shaped cross-section (70) comprising a central core (71) and two parallel lateral wings (72, 73) in opposite directions, the said pile plank possessing, likewise over its entire length, two means which are mutually complementary and which extend longitudinally and continuously from one transverse end of the pile plank to the other, each of the said two means being intended to interact with the complementary means of an adjacent pile plank, by longitudinal locking, in order to form a relatively leaktight continuous longitudinal lock after this locking, the first means comprising an attached piece covering part of the pile plank and the second means being formed along one of its two longitudinal edges by a flat double fold (76) of the metal sheet, characterized in that its first means is formed by an angle steel (74, 74') attached to the core, close to one wing (72), the free edge (75, 75') of the angle steel (74, 74') facing the said first wing (72), and in that its second means is formed by a flat double fold (76) of the second wing (73) facing the neutral axis (80) of the pile plank at an angle equal to that which the core forms with each of its two wings.

2. Pile plank according to Claim 1, characterized in that the free edge (75) of its angle steel (74) is substantially perpendicular to the wings (72, 73).

3. Pile plank according to Claim 1, characterized in that the free edge (75') of its angle steel (74') is substantially parallel to the core (71).

4. Pile plank according to one of Claims 2 and 3, characterized in that it comprises a second angle steel (84, 200) placed on the same side of the core (71), the free edges (75', 85) of the two angle steels facing in opposite directions to one another, and in that the first wing (72), close to which the first angle steel (74, 74') is attached, likewise forms a flat double fold (82) facing the neutral axis (80) at an angle equal to that which the core forms with each of its two wings the said double fold (82) thus being parallel and in an opposite direction to the double fold (76) which, along the second wing (73), forms the second means.

5. Pile plank according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the free edge (75, 75') of the attached angle steel (74, 74') forming the first means is set apart from the wing (72) towards which it faces by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the metal sheet.

6. Pile plank according to one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the free edge (85) of the second angle steel (84, 200) is parallel to the core (71 ) and set apart from this core by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the metal sheet.

7. Metal pile plank cold formed by metal sheet shaping or bending, possessing over its entire length a constant cross-section having a particular Z-, U- or S-shaped profile and comprising, likewise over its entire length, two means which are mutually complementary and which extend longitudinally and continuously from one transverse end of the pile plank to the other, each of the said two means being intended to interact with the complementary means of an adjacent pile plank, by longitudinal locking, in order to form a relatively leaktight continuous longitudinal lock after this locking, the first means comprising an attached piece covering part of the pile plank, characterized in that the said first means is formed by at least one solid or hollow quadragular profile (134, 154, 192-193), of square, rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section, attached to the pile plank, and in that its second means (135, 155, 190-191) is of the same type as the said first means, the quadrangular profile of the said second means being attached substantially along a longitudinal edge of the pile plank.

8. Pile plank according to Claim 7, of the type having a U-shaped (130) or S-shaped (159) cross-section, characterized in that its first means is completed by an angle steel (138) whose foot is situated, relative to the base of the profile (134, 154), at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of the said profile, and whose free edge (139), facing the said profile parallel to its top, is situated in a plane which overhangs the plane of the said top by a height slightly greater than the thickness of the metal sheet.

9. Pile plank according to Claim 8, characterized in that the angle steel (138) possesses a third. wing (144) which extends its foot and is welded to the pile plank (130, 150).

10. Pile plank according to one of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the quadrangular profile and the angle steel form a monobloc assembly (148, 148').

11. Pile plank according to Claim 7, of the type having a Z-shaped cross-section (170), characterized in that its first (172) and its second (173) wings form a flat double fold (182,176) facing the neutral axis (180) of the pile plank, in that a first quadrangular profile (190) is placed flush with the double fold (176) of the second wing (173), on its surface facing the core (171), in that a second quadrangular profile (191) is placed on the core opposite the first profile, the said first (190) and second (191) profiles being situated at the same distance relative to the second wing (173), and in that a third (192) and fourth (193) quadrangular profiles are placed, respectively, on the double fold (182) of the first wing (172) and on the core (171), on the surface which do not face, the said third and fourth profiles being situated at the same distance relative to the plane of the first wing, this distance being equal to that which separates the first (190) and second (191) profiles from the second wing (173), less the width of the top of the said profiles.

12. Pile plank according to Claim 11, characterized in that, on the near side of its first to fourth profiles (190-193), it comprises a web (194) whose foot is situated, relative to the base of the profile, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of the said profile.

13. Pile plank according to Claim 11, characterized in that, on the near side of its first to fourth profiles (190-193), it comprises an angle steel (195) whose first wing (196) is welded to the plank (170) and the foot of whose second wing (197) is situated, relative to the base of the profile, at a distance slightly greater than the width of the top of the said profile.

14. Pile plank according to Claim 13, characterized in that each quadrangular profile forms, with its nearest angle steel, a monobloc assembly (198).

15. Wall of pile planks, characterized in that it is essentially formed from pile planks according to one of Claims 1 to 14, locked in a head-to-foot (130, 70, 170) or parallel (150) arrangement.

Images