Advantages and Disadvantages of Steel Sheet Piles and PVC Sheet Piles

Steel Sheet Piles: The King of Strength and Rigidity. Their advantages lie in their extremely high structural strength and reusability, making them suitable for supporting high loads, deep foundation pits, and permanent structures. Their disadvantages include high cost, weight, and corrosion susceptibility.

PVC Sheet Piles: The Expert in Corrosion Resistance and Economy. Their advantages lie in their excellent corrosion resistance, lightness, ease of installation, and low cost. Their disadvantages lie in their limited strength and rigidity, making them suitable for temporary or permanent retaining walls and revetment projects with medium to low loads.

1. Material Strength and Rigidity
PVC Sheet Piles: Disadvantages
• Flexural and impact strengths are significantly lower than those of steel.
• Low rigidity, prone to deformation under high soil or water pressure.
• Not suitable for deep foundation pits or high loads.

Steel Sheet Piles: Advantages
• Extremely high strength and rigidity (especially with U- or Z-shaped sections).
• Able to withstand significant soil and water pressures, as well as external shocks. • Suitable for heavy-duty projects such as deep-sea ports, large docks, and deep foundation pits.

2. Corrosion Resistance
PVC Sheet Piles: Great Advantages
• Excellent resistance to seawater, freshwater, chemicals, and acidic and alkaline environments.
• Rust-resistant, with extremely low maintenance costs.
• Ideal for corrosive environments (such as seawater and sewage treatment plants).
Steel Sheet Piles: Disadvantages
• Steel is susceptible to electrochemical corrosion, especially in seawater and soil.
• Anti-corrosion measures (such as coating, galvanizing, and cathodic protection) are required, increasing initial and long-term maintenance costs.

3. Weight and Installation
PVC Sheet Piles: Advantages
• Extremely light (approximately 1/5 to 1/6 the weight of steel), making them easy to transport and handle.
• Typically using snap-on or snap-on connections, installation is simple and quick, requiring no large, specialized equipment.
• Manual installation is required, requiring minimal site requirements. Steel Sheet Piles: Disadvantages
• Very heavy, requiring large lifting equipment and a vibratory/impact hammer for installation.
• Requires specialized construction teams and equipment.
• The interlocking connection requires high precision in construction, resulting in high noise and vibration during construction.
4. Cost
PVC Sheet Piles: Advantages
• Low initial material cost.
• Low installation labor and equipment costs.
• Competitive lifecycle costs in corrosive environments (due to virtually no maintenance).
Steel Sheet Piles: Disadvantages/Advantages
• High initial material and installation costs.
• However, if the project allows for multiple reuse (such as in temporary foundation pit support), the per-use cost can become very economical.