Failure of an Anchored Sheetpile Bulkhead

An anchored steel sheetpile bulkhead was constructed in soft organic silt and clay. The bulkhead failed when the anchors ruptured during dredging in front of the bulkhead. The construction and failure of the bulkhead are described. Analyses were performed to investigate the cause of the failure. The major factors which contributed to the failure were: 1) failure to design for the lowest tide condition, 2) use of design soil strengths which were too high, 3) prestressing of the anchor system which resulted in increased anchor loading due to soil arching, and 4) bending stresses induced in the anchors by settlement and equipment loading. Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of soil arching on the anchor loading