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FastSheetPileCalc

Preliminary embedded-wall checks

Rapid preliminary sheet-pile and embedded-wall checks for straightforward temporary works assessments.

Sign in with an approved StructCalc account to use the calculator. This guide is public.

Application version: v1.6.

Features

Method comparison

Compare cantilever Blum, single-prop free-earth and fixed-earth support, and multi-prop methods.

Pressure and action diagrams

Review pressure profiles, embedment, prop reactions, shear forces and bending moments.

Getting started

New to FastSheetPileCalc? Follow Compare wall support arrangements for the step-by-step workflow. Use Help by topic to find a particular field or control, and read Checks and limits before using the output.

Help by topic

Choose a topic for instructions, field guidance and controls.

Compare wall support arrangements

  1. Choose the method that matches the wall arrangement: cantilever Blum, single-prop free-earth support, single-prop fixed-earth support, or the multi-prop CIRIA method.
  2. Enter soil layers and strength/unit-weight data, groundwater, wall geometry, surcharge and support levels for the selected method.
  3. Review the pressure profile and calculation assumptions. Apply the method’s factor settings and check how they alter passive resistance or embedment.
  4. Run the calculation and review required embedment, prop reactions and the shear-force/bending-moment results shown for that method.
  5. Repeat for alternative geometry, support spacing or soil parameters to make a transparent preliminary comparison.

Methods at a glance

  • Blum estimates cantilever embedment using moment equilibrium about a rotation point and locates maximum moment near the zero-shear depth.
  • Free-earth support (FES) solves a single-propped wall by equilibrium about the prop; fixed-earth support (FixES) includes an equivalent beam response to embedded-soil restraint.
  • The multi-prop method provides a simplified route for walls with several support levels. Method-specific factor treatment is shown in the in-app notes.
  • Pressure and action diagrams are for comparison and preliminary design; the drawings are schematic and are not construction details.

Cantilever — Blum

Cantilever embedded wall using Blum's simplified method.

Theoretical embedment is solved from moment equilibrium about the rotation point. Maximum moment is evaluated at the zero-shear depth and reported as an absolute design magnitude.

Design depth d = fd × theoretical rotation depth d₀. The diagram annotation is calculated from the entered factor.

Pressure and bending-moment plots scale automatically; not a construction detail.

Single Prop — FES

Single-propped wall using the free-earth-support method.

The app applies Fp by reducing passive earth-pressure coefficients: Kp,design = Kp / Fp. Other project standards may prescribe a different partial-factor format.

Pressure profiles and the BMD use independent horizontal scales. Click the legend to reduce clutter.

Single Prop — FixES

Single-propped wall using the fixed-earth-support equivalent-beam method with full-wall action recovery.

Unlike FES, FixES assumes rotational restraint from the embedded soil and normally gives a deeper wall but lower upper-wall bending moments.

Applied as Kp,design = Kp / Fp. Confirm the partial-factor format required by the project standard.

Applied to the theoretical lower length x below the equivalent hinge: d = z0 + fd·x. Default 1.20.

Moment diagram closes at the equivalent hinge and theoretical toe; the additional design embedment is shown as an allowance below the theoretical toe.

Multi-Prop — CIRIA

Two- or three-propped wall using a continuous-beam upper model and CIRIA hinge-at-lowest-prop equilibrium.

The lowest prop is treated as a zero-moment hinge. The method is a staged simplified design model; it is not a soil–structure interaction analysis.

Applied as Kp,design = Kp / Fp. Confirm the required project partial-factor format.

Multiplies the theoretical embedment below dredge after equilibrium is solved. The force and moment solution remains based on the theoretical toe.

Upper moments are recovered from FEM reactions by exact distributed-load integration. The lower moment curve closes at the lowest-prop hinge and theoretical toe.

Areas in the app

Use these sections to locate the inputs, checks and results shown in the app:

  • Cantilever — Blum
  • Single Prop — FES
  • Single Prop — FixES
  • Multi-Prop — CIRIA

Tips and shortcuts

Keep the relevant field guidance open while you work.

Written tutorials

Follow these written walkthroughs. Each link opens the full instructions in Help by topic.

Video tutorials

No video tutorials have been added for FastSheetPileCalc yet. Use the written guidance above.

Checks and limits

Use as a preliminary check

Confirm groundwater levels, soil strata, pressure assumptions, surcharge extent, support stiffness and method applicability. Review both the pressure plot and the resulting actions; do not infer wall capacity from embedment alone.

The methods use simplified earth-pressure and wall-support assumptions. Independently check code factors, structural wall capacity, prop/anchor design, movement, basal stability, hydraulic failure and construction stages for the project.

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