Abstract: Based on the revetment reinforcement project at Huzhou section of Chang-Hu-Shen Waterway using sheet piles, soil pressure cells were buried on both sides of sheet pile during the precast period and at the bottom floor of revetment during constructing revetment. The pressure variation of earth pressure cell in the course of concrete setting and hardening, the rule of earth pressure distribution at both sides of sheet piles and the bottom floor of revetment were tested and analyzed. The results show that the course of setting and hardening of sheet pile will produce biggish tensile and compressive stresses and gradually become stable. Owing to construction load earth pressure on both sides of sheet pile and at the bottom floor of revetment produces a comparatively large adjustment in the period of initial construction and gradually become stable. The earth pressure distribution is obviously different at the bank side and near the water side; the active earth pressure distribution at the bank side is nonlinear that is firstly increased, then decreased and finally increased; the passive earth pressure distribution near the water side shows linear distribution. The differences are firstly little but gradually significant with the depth increasing between the calculated standard values using the method of Sheet Pile Wharf Design and Construction Specifications [1]and the measured. The calculated values are always less than the measured. Earth pressure distribution at the bottom floor of revetment shows large at two poles and little in the middle under revetment load, just like a parabolic distribution.

Key words: sheet pile, reinforced revetment, field test, stress mechanism, lateral earth pressure of sheet pile