Patent Publication Number: US-10781568-B2

Title: Sheet pile bulkhead systems and methods

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed generally to systems and methods for constructing cellular sheet pile bulkheads. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Sheet piling may be used to construct a bulkhead or retaining wall. In a sheet pile structure, a plurality of sheet pile sections having interlocking edges are connected together and arranged to define a perimeter and load resisting elements of the bulkhead. A marine or coastal bulkhead (sometimes referred to as a seawall) is a type of retaining wall that may be used to shape a shoreline for shipping and/or erosion prevention. In particular, such a bulkhead may be used in the construction of a dock or port. 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of a prior art bulkhead  2  installed between land  4  and water  6 . The bulkhead  2  was constructed using a system  10  that includes a plurality of curved front faces  12 A- 12 C anchored to the land  4  by a plurality of substantially linear tail walls  14 A- 14 D. Together, the front faces  12 A- 12 C define a boundary between the land  4  and the water  6 . Soil anchors  16 A- 16 D may be connected to and/or integrated into the tail walls  14 A- 14 D, respectively. 
     The front faces  12 A- 12 C and the tail walls  14 A- 14 D define a plurality of U-shaped open cell structures  15 A- 15 C. In  FIG. 1 , the front face  12 A and the tail walls  14 A and  14 B define the first open cell structure  15 A, the front face  12 B and the tail walls  14 B and  14 C define the second open cell structure  15 B, and the front face  12 C and the tail walls  14 C and  14 D define the third open cell structure  15 C. While  FIG. 1  depicts only the three open cell structures  15 A- 15 C, the bulkhead  2  may include any number of open cell structures. Each of the cell structures  15 A- 15 C functions as a membrane that retains material (e.g., soil) from the land  4  therein. For example, material (e.g., soil) inside the cell structure  15 B presses outwardly against the front face  12 B and is supported by the tail walls  14 B and  14 C. 
     Unfortunately, because the front faces  12 A- 12 C are under tension, one or more of the front faces  12 A- 12 C may rupture when damaged (e.g., by a collision with a ship) allowing material (e.g., soil) to spill out (e.g., into the water  6 ) through the rupture. Further, the water  6  may flush material out of the ruptured cell structure(s) limiting the use or compromising the integrity of the system. Repairing the rupture may be difficult because material must be removed from one or more of the cell structures  15 A- 15 C and/or the structure otherwise supported (e.g., by retaining wall(s) added inside one or more of the cell structures  15 A- 15 C) to allow the repairs. Because the cell structures  15 A- 15 C are interconnected, sometimes material must be removed and/or an additional retaining wall system installed within multiple (e.g.,  5-8  different) cell structures even though some of these cell structures did not rupture and/or were not damaged. 
     Therefore, a need exists for new open cell sheet pile retaining systems. Systems configured to be more easily repaired and/or systems that do not require repair if ruptured, are particularly desirable. The present application provides these and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a prior art bulkhead. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of a redundant open cell sheet pile retaining system used to construct a bulkhead. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first exemplary implementation of a junction (that includes an X-Wye connector) of the bulkhead of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a first embodiment of an X-Wye connector that may be used to connect a front face of a bulkhead to one or more tail walls of the bulkhead. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a second embodiment of an X-Wye connector that may be used to connect a front face of a bulkhead to one or more tails walls of the bulkhead. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second exemplary implementation of the junction of the bulkhead of  FIG. 2  using the connector of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a bulkhead that was repaired using a method illustrated in  FIG. 9  after one of the front faces of the bulkhead was damaged. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a bulkhead that was repaired using the method illustrated in  FIG. 9  after a section of the bulkhead that included more than one of its front faces and/or one or more of its X-wye connectors was damaged. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of the method of repairing a damaged section of a bulkhead. 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a bulkhead constructed using the redundant open cell sheet pile retaining system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , adjacent front faces  12 A- 12 C in the prior art system  10  are coupled to a shared tail wall. For example, the front faces  12 A and  12 B are both connected to the shared tail wall  14 B by a first Y-shaped wye pile or connector YAB. Similarly, the front faces  12 B and  12 C are both connected to the shared tail wall  14 C by a different second Y-shaped wye pile or connector YBC. The wye connectors YAB and YBC are substantially identical to one another. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, only the wye connector YAB will be described in detail. 
     The Y-shape of the wye connector YAB balances the forces at the junction of the pair of adjacent front faces  12 A and  12 B and their shared tail wall  14 B. For the purposes of illustration, force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “T 1 ”) that are substantially parallel with the tail wall  14 B will be referred to as being transverse components, and force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “L 1 ”) substantially orthogonal with the transverse components will be referred to as being longitudinal components. At the wye connector YAB, a first inside angle A 1  is defined between the front face  12 A and the shared tail wall  14 B, and a second inside angle A 2  is defined between the front face  12 B and the shared tail wall  14 B. The first and second inside angles A 1  and A 2  are approximately equal, which balances the longitudinal components (in the directions identified by the double headed arrow “L 1 ”) of the face tensile load and allows transmission of only the transverse components (in the directions identified by the double headed arrow “T 1 ”) to the tail wall  14 B. If the structural integrity of one of the front faces  12 A and  12 B is compromised (and is thereby not transferring or resolving load), the wye connectors YAB and YBC as well as the tail walls  14 A- 14 D of the system  10  are subjected to an unbalanced load. In other words, each of the cell structures  15 A- 15 C is dependent upon adjacent ones of the cell structures to balance forces developed within the cell. These forces must be rebalanced to repair the rupture. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of an open cell sheet pile retaining system  100  used to construct a bulkhead (e.g., a bulkhead  102 , a bulkhead  500  depicted in  FIG. 10 , and the like). For ease of illustration, the bulkhead (e.g., the bulkhead  102 , the bulkhead  500  depicted in  FIG. 10 , and the like) will be described as being constructed at a shoreline between land  104  and water  106 . However, the system  100  is not limited to use at a shoreline. As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the system  100  may be used to construct a bulkhead at other locations as well as other types of boundaries and structures. By way of non-limiting examples, the system  100  may be used to build retaining walls on land, levees, docks, bridge abutments, fish passages, in-take structures, soil containment barriers, elevated platforms, man-made islands, erosion protection, artificial reefs, cofferdams, dams, and the like. While the bulkheads  102  and  500  have been illustrated as extending along a substantially straight line, this is not a requirement. As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the bulkheads  102  and  500  may be contoured and/or may include one or more bends, corners, and/or curves. Further, the bulkhead  102  need not terminate at first and second ends  108  and  109 . The bulkheads  102  and  500  may be continuous and define a closed shape (e.g., a man-made island or cofferdam). 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the system  100  includes a plurality of curved front faces  112 A- 112 C anchored to the land  104  by a plurality of tail walls  114 . Each of the front faces  112 A- 112 C and each of the tail walls  114  is constructed using one or more conventional flat web sheet pile sections (e.g., like sheet pile sections  115 A- 115 E illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6 ) that are interlocked together along their edges. The tail walls  114  extend into the land  104  and are typically buried underground. While the system  100  has been illustrated as including the three front faces  112 A- 112 C and the twelve tail walls  114 , as is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the system  100  may include any number of front faces and tail walls. 
     The front faces  112 A- 112 C are arranged in a series and connected together end-to-end to define a boundary (e.g., between the land  104  and the water  106 ). Each of the front faces  112 A- 112 C has a tethered first end  120  opposite a tethered second end  122 . Each the first and second ends  120  and  122  of each of the front faces  112 A- 112 C is tethered to one, two, or three of the tail walls  114 . When more than a single tail wall is coupled to the same end of the same front face to provide alternative load paths, those tail walls are referred to as being redundant. This redundancy may eliminate or reduce an imbalance in the forces within the system  100  when one of the front faces  112 A- 112 C is ruptured. 
     The tail walls  114  may optionally include a plurality of curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H. The curved tail walls  130 A,  130 C,  130 E, and  130 G may be substantially identical to and parallel with one another, and the curved tail walls  130 B,  130 D,  130 F, and  130 H may be substantially identical to and parallel with one another. Further, the curved tail walls  130 A,  130 C,  130 E, and  130 G may be mirror images of the curved tail walls  130 B,  130 D,  130 F, and  130 H, respectively. Each of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H has a tethered end  132  opposite a free end  134 . One or more soil anchors  136  may be connected to and/or integrated into each of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H. By way of a non-limiting example, a different one of the soil anchors  136  may be connected to the free end  134  of each of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H. 
     The tail walls  114  may optionally include one or more tail walls  140 A- 140 D substantially identical to the tail walls  14 A- 14 D (see  FIG. 1 ). The tail walls  140 A- 140 D may be substantially linear and substantially identical to one another. In the example illustrated, the tail walls  140 A- 140 D are substantially parallel with one another. However, this is not a requirement. Each of the tail walls  140 A- 140 D has a tethered end  142  opposite a free end  144 . One or more soil anchors  146  may be connected to and/or integrated into each of the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. By way of a non-limiting example, a different one of the soil anchors  146  may be connected to the free end  144  of each of the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. 
     As originally constructed, the bulkhead  102  includes the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C and the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. If the bulkhead  102  is later damaged, one or more of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H may be added to the bulkhead  102 . For example, one or both of the optional curved tail walls  130 A and  130 B may be positioned on either side of tail wall  140 A. By way of another non-limiting example, one or both of the optional curved tail walls  130 C and  130 D may be positioned on either side of tail wall  140 B. By way of yet another non-limiting example, one or both of the optional curved tail wall  130 E and  130 F may be positioned on either side of tail walls  140 C. By way of yet another non-limiting example, one or both of the optional curved tail walls  130 G and  130 H may be positioned on either side of tail walls  140 D. 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 10 , as originally constructed, the bulkhead  500  may include the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C and the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H. If the bulkhead  500  is later damaged, repairs to the bulkhead  500  are not required or may be made, if desired, more easily. 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , each of the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C defines a portion of a different open cellular structure or open cell. In the example illustrated, the front faces  112 A- 112 C define portions of the open cells  150 A- 150 C, respectively. The open cells  150 A- 150 C have openings  152 A- 152 C, respectively, opposite the front faces  112 A- 112 C, respectively. 
     The sides of each of the open cells  150 A- 150 C are defined by one or more of the tail walls  114 . For example, first and second sides of the first open cell  150 A may be defined by one or more of the tail walls  114  coupled to the first and second ends  120  and  122 , respectively, of the front face  112 A. Similarly, first and second sides of the second open cell  150 B may be defined by one or more of the tail walls  114  coupled to the first and second ends  120  and  122 , respectively, of the front face  112 B. Additionally, first and second sides of the second open cell  150 C may be defined by one or more of the tail walls  114  coupled to the first and second ends  120  and  122 , respectively, of the front face  112 C. 
     By way of a non-limiting example, referring to  FIG. 10 , the curved tail walls  130 A and  130 D may define the first and second sides, respectively, of the open cell  150 A, and the curved tail walls  130 C and  130 F may define the first and second sides, respectively, of the open cell  150 B. In this example, the open cell  150 A overlaps with the open cell  150 B. Further, the curved tail walls  130 E and  130 H may define the first and second sides, respectively, of the open cell  150 C that overlaps with the open cell  150 B. The first and second sides of each of the open cells  150 A- 150 C counteract and balance longitudinal components of forces applied to the front face  112 A,  112 B, or  112 C of the open cell. Thus, adjacent front faces are not needed to balance the longitudinal components within the bulkhead  500 . In other words, each of the open cells  150 A- 150 C may be characterized being self-supporting and independent because each of the open cells  150 A- 150 C is not dependent on any adjacent open cells to balance forces developed within the open cell itself. 
     However, referring to  FIG. 2 , those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the front faces  112 A- 112 C, the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H, and the tail walls  140 A- 140 D may be combined to define alternately configured open cells and such alternative configurations are within the scope of the present teachings. 
     The open cells  150 A- 150 C are each filled with material (e.g., soil) that pushes on and applies a forwardly directed force (e.g., in a direction toward the water  106 ) on the front faces  112 A- 112 C, which causes tension in the front faces  112 A- 112 C. The tail walls  114  balance (or counteract) the forwardly directed force applied to the front faces  112 A- 112 C and prevent the front faces  112 A- 112 C from being pushed forwardly by the material inside the open cells  150 A- 150 C. 
     As mentioned above, the front faces  112 A- 112 C are arranged end-to-end. In the example illustrated, the first end  120  of the front face  112 A is positioned at the first end  108  of the bulkhead  102 , and the second end  122  of the front face  112 C is positioned at the second end  109  of the bulkhead  102 . Therefore, in this example, neither the first end  120  of the front face  112 A nor the second end  122  of the front face  112 C is adjacent to another one of the front faces  112 A- 112 C. The first end  120  of the front face  112 A is anchored to the land  104  by the tail wall  140 A (and optionally, the tail wall  130 A). The second end  122  of the front face  112 C is anchored to the land  104  by the tail wall  140 D (and optionally, the tail wall  130 H). Alternatively, in the bulkhead  500  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the first end  120  of the front face  112 A and the second end  122  of the front face  112 C are coupled to front faces  112 D and  112 E, respectively (that are anchored to the land  104  by the tail walls  130 B and  130 G, respectively). 
     A junction is defined at locations where adjacent front faces  112 A- 112 C are connected together. For example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the second end  122  of the front face  112 A is connected to the first end  120  of the front face  1126  at a first junction  160 A, and the second end  122  of the front face  1126  is connected to the first end  120  of the front face  112 C at a second junction  160 B. 
     As mentioned above, as originally constructed, the bulkhead  102  includes the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C and the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. In such embodiments, each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B is connected to the first end  142  of a different one of the tail walls  140 B and  140 C. For example, the first junction  160 A may be connected to the first end  142  of the tail wall  140 B, and the second junction  160 B may be connected to the first end  142  of the tail wall  140 C. In such embodiments, the first end  120  of the front face  112 A is anchored to the land  104  by the tail wall  140 A and the second end  122  of the front face  112 C is anchored to the land  104  by the tail walls  140 D. If after construction, the curved front face  112 A is damaged, one or more of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 D may be added to the bulkhead  102 . Similarly, if the curved front face  112 B is damaged, one or more of the curved tail walls  130 C- 130 F may be added to the bulkhead  102 . Additionally, if the curved front face  112 C is damaged, one or more of the curved tail walls  130 E- 130 H may be added to the bulkhead  102 . 
     Alternatively, referring to  FIG. 10 , as originally constructed, the bulkhead  500  includes the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C and the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H. In such embodiments, each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B is connected to the first ends  132  of a different pair of the tail walls  130 C- 130 F. For example, the first junction  160 A is connected to the first ends  132  of the tail walls  130 C and  130 D, and the second junction  1606  is connected to the first ends  132  of the tail walls  130 E and  130 F. The curved tail walls connected to each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B extend outwardly therefrom in different directions and balance the load (or forces) at the junction. Thus, in the example illustrated, the curved tail walls  130 C and  130 D extend outwardly from the first junction  160 A in different directions, and the curved tail walls  130 E and  130 F extend outwardly from the second junction  1606  in different directions. At its first end  132 , the curved tail wall  130 C may extend along an arc defined by the first end  120  of the front face  112 B. Similarly, at its first end  132 , the curved tail wall  130 D may extend along an arc defined by the second end  122  of the front face  112 A. The first end  120  of the front face  112 A is anchored to the land  104  by the tail wall  130 A and the second end  122  of the front face  112 C is anchored to the land  104  by the tail wall  130 H. The curved tail wall  130 B may be omitted if the front face  112 D is omitted, and the curved tail wall  130 G may be omitted if the front face  112 E is omitted. If after construction, the curved front face  112 A is damaged, repairs to the bulkhead  500  are not required or may be made, if desired, more easily. Similarly, if the curved front face  112 B is damaged, repairs to the bulkhead  500  are not required or may be made, if desired, more easily. Additionally, if the curved front face  112 C is damaged, repairs to the bulkhead  500  are not required or may be made, if desired, more easily. 
     By way of yet another non-limiting example, referring to  FIG. 2 , the system  100  may be used to construct a bulkhead that includes the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C, the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H, and the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. By way of yet another non-limiting example, as originally constructed, the system  100  may include the curved front faces  112 A- 112 C, a portion of the curved tail walls  130 A- 130 H, and a portion of the tail walls  140 A- 140 D. For example, as originally constructed, the junction  160 A may be connected only to the curved tail walls  130 C and  130 D and the junction  160 B may be connected only to the tail wall  140 C. 
       FIG. 3  is perspective view of an exemplary implementation of the first junction  160 A. In  FIG. 3 , the first junction  160 A (which connects the front faces  112 A and  112 B together) is depicted as being connected to the tail wall  140 B and the curved tail walls  130 C and  130 D. However, as explained above, as originally constructed, the first junction  160 A may be connected to only the tail wall  140 B or the only the curved tail walls  130 C and  130 D. Referring to  FIG. 3 , at the first junction  160 A, together the front face  112 A and the curved tail wall  130 D (when present) form a first curved line of an X-like shape that crosses a second curved line (of the X-like shape) defined by the front face  112 B and the curved tail wall  130 C (when present). Similarly, referring to  FIG. 2 , at the second junction  160 B, together the front face  112 B and the curved tail wall  130 F (when present) form a first curved line of an X-like shape that crosses a second curved line (of the X-like shape) defined by the front face  112 C and the curved tail wall  130 E (when present). 
     When the tail wall  140 B is present, a Y-like shape is also defined at the first junction  160 A by the front faces  112 A and  112 B and the tail wall  140 B. Similarly, referring to  FIG. 2 , a Y-like shape may be defined at the second junction  160 B by the front faces  112 B and  112 C and the tail wall  140 C. In such embodiments, the connections formed at each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B may be characterized as having an XY or X-wye shape. 
     The X-like shape formed at each of the junctions  160 A and  1606  provides additional (and/or redundant) counterbalancing for the load applied to the front faces  112 A- 112 C. For example, referring to  FIG. 10 , at each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B, a pair of the curved tail walls  130 C- 130 F together counteract at least a portion of the forwardly directed force applied to those of the front faces  112 A- 112 C also connected at the junction. If the front face  112 B ruptures or is damaged, at least some of the tension in the front face  1126  is released. This means the front face  1126  may no longer be balancing the longitudinal force components applied to the junctions  160 A and  1606  by the front faces  112 A and  112 C. However, the curved tail walls  130 D and  130 E are configured to at least partially counteract and balance longitudinal components supplied by the front faces  112 A and  112 C, respectively. Thus, in the event of a rupture, the bulkhead  500  is more balanced and redundant than the system  10  (see  FIG. 1 ), which makes repairing the bulkhead  500  easier. Further, even if damaged, the bulkhead  500  may remain balanced, which further reduces or eliminates the amount of work required to repair the bulkhead  500 . 
     The bulkhead  500  constructed by the system  100  (see  FIG. 2 ) may be characterized as being an intrinsically redundant open cellular bulkhead that includes two (or three) tail walls at each of the junctions  160 A and  160 B where adjacent ones of the front faces  112 A- 112 C are connected together. This structure allows each of the open cells  150 A- 150 C within the bulkhead  500  to act as a self-supporting unit that is not dependent on adjacent cells to balance forces developed within the open cell itself. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a first embodiment of a connector  200  that may be used to connect the first and second ends  120  and  122  (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ) of each of the front faces  112 A- 112 C (see  FIG. 2 ) to one or more of the tail walls  114  (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ). For example, the connector  200  may be used to implement one of the junctions  160 A and  160 B (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ). By way of another example, the connector  200  may be used to implement the first and second ends  108  and  109  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the bulkhead  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the connector  200  has a plurality of arms  201 - 205  that extend radially outwardly from a central portion  210 . Optionally, the arm  205  may be omitted. The arms  201 - 205  have free end portions  212 A- 212 E, respectively, with edge connectors  214 A- 214 E, respectively, formed therein. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the edge connectors  214 A- 214 E are configured to be coupled to corresponding edge connectors  216 A- 216 E, respectively, extending along a vertically oriented edge of the flat web sheet pile sections  115 A- 115 E, respectively. 
     The edge connectors  214 A- 214 E may be implemented using any connectors configured to mate with the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E. In the embodiment illustrated, the edge connectors  214 A- 214 E are substantially identical to the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E. Further, the edge connectors  214 A- 214 E are substantially identical to one another, and the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E are substantially identical to one another. 
     As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, the sheet pile sections  115 A- 115 E may be substantially identical to one another. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, only the sheet pile section  115 D will be described in detail. As mentioned above, the sheet pile section  115 D has the edge connector  216 D, which is opposite another sheet pile connector  218  that may be substantially identical to the edge connector  216 D. The edge connectors  216 D and  218  are connected together by a flat web  220 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , for the purposes of illustration, at the connector  200 , force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “T 2 ”) substantially parallel with the arm  205  will be referred to as being transverse components, and force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “L 2 ”) substantially orthogonal with the transverse components will be referred to as being longitudinal components. 
     The arm  201  is collinear with the arm  204 , and the arm  202  is collinear with the arm  203 . Together the arms  201  and  204  form a first line of an X-like shape that crosses a second line formed by the arms  202  and  203 . The first and second lines cross at or near the central portion  210 . A first inside angle θ 1  is defined between the arm  201  and the arm  205 , and a second inside angle θ 2  is defined between the arm  202  and the arm  205 . The first and second inside angles θ 1  and θ 2  are substantially identical. A third inside angle θ 3  is defined between the arm  203  and the arm  205 , and a fourth inside angle θ 4  is defined between the arm  204  and the arm  205 . The third and fourth inside angles θ 3  and θ 4  are substantially identical. Further, an inside angle defined between the arms  201  and  203  is substantially identical to an inside angle defined between the arms  202  and  204 , and an inside angle defined between the arms  201  and  202  is substantially identical to an inside angle defined between the arms  203  and  204 . 
     When the arm  205  is present, the arm  205  extends outwardly from the central portion  210  between the arms  203  and  204 . Together the arms  201 ,  202 , and  205  define a Y-shape. Thus, when the arm  205  is present, the connector  200  may be characterized as being an XY or X-wye connector. On the other hand, when the arm  205  is omitted, the connector  200  may be characterized as being an X-shaped or X connector. 
     As mentioned above, the connector  200  may be used to implement one of the junctions  160 A and  160 B (see  FIG. 2 ). The junctions  160 A and  160 B are substantially identical to one another. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the connector  200  will be described as implementing the first junction  160 A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second end  122  of the front face  112 A may be implemented using the sheet pile section  115 A, which has the edge connector  216 A positioned along one of its upright edges. The edge connector  214 A is configured to interlock with the edge connector  216 A. Across the interlocked edge connectors  214 A and  216 A, the arm  201  may be aligned or collinear with the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 A. Alternatively, the interlocking may laterally offset the arm  201  from the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 A. By way of another non-limiting example, the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 A may be positioned at an angle with respect to the arm  201 . 
     The first end  132  of the curved tail wall  130 D may be implemented using the sheet pile section  115 D, which has the edge connector  216 D positioned along one of its upright edges. The edge connector  214 D is configured to interlock with the edge connector  216 D. Across the interlocked edge connectors  214 D and  216 D, the arm  204  may be aligned or collinear with the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 D. Alternatively, the interlocking may laterally offset the arm  204  from the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 D. By way of another non-limiting example, the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 D may be positioned at an angle with respect to the arm  204 . 
     The first end  120  of the front face  112 B may be implemented using the sheet pile section  115 B, which has the edge connector  216 B positioned along one of its upright edges. The edge connector  214 B is configured to interlock with the edge connector  216 B. Across the interlocked edge connectors  214 B and  216 B, the arm  202  may be aligned or collinear with the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 B. Alternatively, the interlocking may laterally offset the arm  202  from the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 B. By way of another non-limiting example, the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 B may be positioned at an angle with respect to the arm  202 . 
     The first end  132  of the curved tail wall  130 C may be implemented using the sheet pile section  115 C, which has the edge connector  216 C positioned along one of its upright edges. The edge connector  214 C is configured to interlock with the edge connector  216 C. Across the interlocked edge connectors  214 C and  216 C, the arm  203  may be aligned or collinear with the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 C. Alternatively, the interlocking may laterally offset the arm  203  from the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 C. By way of another non-limiting example, the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 C may be positioned at an angle with respect to the arm  203 . 
     When present, the first end  142  of the tail wall  140 B may be implemented using the sheet pile section  115 E, which has the edge connector  216 E positioned along one of its upright edges. The edge connector  214 E is configured to interlock with the edge connector  216 E. Across the interlocked edge connectors  214 E and  216 E, the arm  205  may be aligned or collinear with the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 E. Alternatively, the interlocking may laterally offset the arm  205  from the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 E. By way of another non-limiting example, the flat web  220  of the sheet pile section  115 E may be positioned at an angle with respect to the arm  205 . 
     The connector  200  may be constructed by cutting the flat web of each of a pair of sheet pile sections (e.g., like the sheet pile sections  115 A- 115 E) lengthwise to obtain four partial sheet sections each having an edge connector opposite a cut edge. Then, the cut edges of three of the partial sheet sections may be welded to a third (complete) sheet pile section with their edge connectors facing outwardly. By way of another non-limiting example, five partial sheet sections may be welded together to form the connector  200 . The connector  200  is not limited to being constructed by any particular method and may be constructed using methods other than those presented herein. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a second embodiment of a connector  300  that may be used to connect the first and second ends  120  and  122  (see  FIG. 2 ) of each of the front faces  112 A- 112 C (see  FIG. 2 ) to one or more of the tail walls  114  (see  FIG. 2 ). For example, the connector  300  may be used to implement one of the junctions  160 A and  160 B (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ). By way of another example, the connector  300  may be used to implement the first and second ends  108  and  109  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the bulkhead  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). The connector  300  may be formed by an extrusion or welding process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the connector  300  has a plurality of arms  301 - 303  that extend radially outwardly from a central portion  310 . Optionally, the arm  303  may be omitted. The arm  301  terminates with a pair of edge connectors  314 A and  314 C. The edge connectors  314 A and  314 C are positioned back-to-back and formed as a single unit. Similarly, the arm  302  terminates with a pair of edge connectors  314 B and  314 D that are positioned back-to-back and formed as a single unit. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the edge connectors  314 A- 314 D (see  FIG. 5 ) are configured to be coupled to the edge connectors  216 A- 216 D, respectively, of the sheet pile sections  115 A- 115 D, respectively. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the arm  303  terminates with an edge connector  314 E configured to be coupled to the edge connector  216 E (see  FIG. 3 ) of the sheet pile section  115 E (see  FIG. 3 ). The edge connectors  314 A- 314 E may be implemented using any connectors configured to mate with the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E (see  FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , for the purposes of illustration, at the connector  300 , force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “T 3 ”) substantially parallel with the arm  303  will be referred to as being transverse components, and force components extending in directions (identified by a double headed arrow “L 3 ”) substantially orthogonal with the transverse components will be referred to as being longitudinal components. 
     The arm  301  is collinear with the arm  302 . The arms  301  and  302  extend outwardly from the central portion  310  in opposite directions. A first line of an X-like shape extends through the edge connectors  314 A and  314 D. The first line crosses a second line that extends through the edge connectors  314 B and  314 C. The first and second lines cross at or near the central portion  310 . 
     When present, the arm  303  is substantially orthogonal to the collinear arms  301  and  302 . Together the edge connector  314 A, the edge connector  314 B, and the arm  303  define a Y-shape. Thus, when the arm  303  is present, the connector  300  may be characterized as being an XY or X-wye connector. On the other hand, when the arm  303  is omitted, the connector  300  may be characterized as being an X-shaped or X connector. 
     As mentioned above, the connector  300  may be used to implement one of the junctions  160 A and  160 B (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ). The junctions  160 A and  1606  are substantially identical to one another. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the connector  300  will be described as implementing the first junction  160 A. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the edge connectors  314 A- 314 E (see  FIG. 5 ) are configured to interlock with the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E, respectively. These interlocking connections may be substantially identical to the interlocking connections formed between the edge connectors  214 A- 214 E (see  FIG. 3 ) and the edge connectors  216 A- 216 E, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the connectors  200  and  300  each have four and optionally five sheet pile connection points. Specifically, referring to  FIG. 4 , the connector  200  includes the edge connectors  214 A- 214 D and, optionally, the edge connector  214 E. Similarly, referring to  FIG. 5 , the connector  300  includes the edge connectors  314 A- 314 D and, optionally, the edge connector  314 E. 
       FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of a method  450  of repairing damage to a section of a bulkhead (e.g., a bulkhead  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the bulkhead  400  includes a plurality of front faces (e.g., front faces  412 A- 412 D) that are each substantially identical to one of the front faces  112 A- 112 C (see  FIG. 2 ) of the bulkhead  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). The bulkhead  400  also includes a plurality of tail walls (e.g., tail walls  414 A- 414 D) that are each substantially identical to one of the tail walls  140 A- 140 D (see  FIG. 2 ) of the bulkhead  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). The tail wall  414 A (see  FIG. 7 ) is connected to the front face  412 A by an X-wye connector  418 A (e.g., one of the connectors  200  or  300  illustrated in the  FIGS. 4 and 5 , respectively). Similarly, the front faces  412 A and  412 B are both connected to the shared tail wall  414 B by an X-wye connector  4186 , the front faces  412 B and  412 C are both connected to the shared tail wall  414 C by an X-wye connector  418 C, and the front faces  412 C and  412 D are both connected to the shared tail wall  414 D by an X-wye connector  418 D. Before the repair, the front faces  412 A- 412 D and the tail walls  414 A- 414 D define open cells  415 A- 415 D that are each substantially identical to one of the open cell structures  150 A- 150 C (see  FIG. 2 ) of the bulkhead  102  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     In a first example illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the damaged section includes only the front face  412 B of the single open cell  415 B. As explained above, after the front face  412 B has been damaged, the front face  412 B is no longer able to balance longitudinal force components received from the adjacent undamaged open cells  415 A and  415 C (via the front faces  412 A and  412 C, respectively). In a second example illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the damaged section includes the front faces and/or X-wye connectors of multiple adjacent open cells. For illustrative purposes, the damaged section will be described as having included both of the front faces  412 B and  412 C and/or the X-wye connector  418 C positioned between the front faces  412 B and  412 C. Thus, in this example, the adjacent open cells  415 B and  415 C were damaged and were no longer able to balance longitudinal force components received (via the front faces  412 A and  412 D) from the adjacent undamaged open cells  415 A and  415 D. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in first block  470 , at least one redundant or reinforcing tail wall is installed and connected to at least one of the X-wye connectors  418 A- 418 D of the bulkhead  400 . The reinforcing tail walls are used to balance forces received from undamaged open cells adjacent to the damaged section. For example, referring to  FIG. 7 , a curved reinforcing tail wall  430 D was installed and connected to the X-wye connector  418 B, and a curved reinforcing tail wall  430 E was installed and connected to the X-wye connector 418 C. The reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 E are configured to balance the force components received from the front faces  412 A and  412 C, respectively. In  FIG. 7 , the reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 E are oriented in line with the front faces  412 A and  412 C, respectively, allowing direct transfer of load from the front faces  412 A and  412 C to the reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 E, respectively. Thus, the reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 E help support the adjacent open cells  415 A and  415 C. The reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 E may be substantially identical to the curved tail walls  130 D and  130 E (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ), respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the curved reinforcing tail wall  430 D was installed and connected to the X-wye connector  418 B, and a curved reinforcing tail wall  430 G was installed and connected to the X-wye connector  418 D. The reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 G are configured to balance the force components received from the front faces  412 A and  412 D, respectively. The reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 G are oriented in line with the front faces  412 A and  412 D, respectively, allowing direct transfer of load from the front faces  412 A and  412 D to the reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 G, respectively. Thus, the reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 G support the adjacent open cells  415 A and  415 D. The reinforcing tail walls  430 D and  430 G may be substantially identical to the curved tail walls  130 D and  130 G (see  FIGS. 2 and 10 ), respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , in optional block  480 , the damaged section is repaired or replaced. For example, referring to  FIG. 7 , the front face  412 B may be repaired and/or replaced. In embodiments in which block  480  is omitted, the front face  412 B may be left in service. By way of another non-limiting example, referring to  FIG. 8 , the front faces  412 B and  412 C and/or the X-wye connector  418 C may be repaired and/or replaced. In embodiments in which block  480  of  FIG. 9  is omitted, the front faces  412 B and  412 C and/or the X-wye connector  418 C may be left in service. 
     Conventionally, repairing the damaged section(s) could be complex and expensive. By utilizing the X-wye connectors and installing the reinforcing tail walls in block  470 , substantially less work is required to repair the bulkhead  400 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the reinforcing tail walls installed in block  470  (e.g., the tail walls  430 D and  430 E illustrated in  FIG. 7 , or the tail walls  430 D and  30 G illustrated in  FIG. 8 ) are left in place permanently (e.g., because they resolve the loads developed at the front faces (e.g., the front faces  412 A- 412 D illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     Then, the method  450  terminates. 
     The method  450  may also be used to repair a bulkhead configured differently than the bulkhead  400  illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a damaged section may include only the front face  112 B of the single open cell  150 B. As explained above, the open cells  150 A- 150 C may be configured to be self-supporting. Therefore, when the front face  112 B of the open cell  150 B is damaged, the other open cells  150 A and  150 C may not need additional support. Thus, the bulkhead  500  need not be repaired or only the open cell  150 B may be repaired, if desired. Alternatively, the damage may be extensive enough that additional support is needed. For example, at least one tail wall (e.g., one of the tail walls  140 B and  140 C depicted in  FIG. 2 ) may be installed and connected to at least one junctions (e.g., one of the junctions  160 A- 160 B) of the bulkhead  500 . For example, the tail wall  140 B (see  FIG. 2 ) may be installed and connected to the X-wye connector at the first junction  160 A, and the tail wall  140 C (see  FIG. 2 ) may be installed and connected to the X-wye connector at the second junction  160 B. 
     As is apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, additional tail walls may be installed anywhere within the bulkheads  102  (see  FIG. 2 ) and  500  (see  FIG. 10 ) and used to provide support. Further, in bulkheads (like the bulkhead  2  illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) that do not include X-wye connectors (e.g., the connector  200  illustrated in the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , or the connector  300  illustrated in the  FIGS. 5 and 6 ), one or more X-wye connectors may be installed and used to connect at least one redundant or reinforcing tail wall to the bulkhead. For example, if the bulkhead  2  is damaged, the connector YAB and/or the connector YBC may be replaced with an X-wye connector. Then, in block  470  (see  FIG. 9 ), at least one redundant or reinforcing tail wall may be installed and connected to each of the replacement X-wye connectors. These reinforcing tail walls may be left in place permanently. In optional block  480  (see  FIG. 9 ), the damaged section may be repaired or replaced. Alternatively, the damaged section may be left in service. 
     The foregoing described embodiments depict different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). 
     Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.