Patent ID: 6234720
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
A reduced skin friction sheet pile for driving into soils and forming with duplicate ones of said sheet pile a wall structure, the soils having compressible soil disposed above harder soil and wherein said sheet pile is configured to extend downwardly through the compressible soil into the harder soil, said reduced skin friction sheet pile comprising:said sheet pile being formed of sheet material, elongated and of constant size and shape along its length and having opposed exterior surfaces and elongated opposed side edges shaped for interlocking with side edges of duplicate ones of said sheet pile,a friction reduction coating adhered to said opposed exterior surfaces of said sheet pile with enough strength and abrasion resistance to withstand the abrasion forces applied to the pile during driving operations into the soils, extending over a predetermined portion of the length of said sheet pile such that when said sheet pile is driven through the compressible soil and into the harder soil, said friction reduction coating contacts the compressible soil and/or harder soil into which said sheet pile is disposed and decreases the coefficient of friction between said opposed exterior surfaces of said sheet pile and the compressible soil and/or harder soil, thereby reducing friction between said opposing exterior surfaces of said sheet pile and the compressible soil and/or harder soil adjacent said sheet pile when the compressible soil settles downwardly relative to said sheet pile.