In the world of retaining wall construction, there’s no such thing as “one size fits all.” Since different walls face different demands, a design choice that’s ideal for one of these structures might not work for another.
Because of that, soldier pile spacing can vary significantly from one wall to the next. When you understand soldier pile spacing in retaining walls, you’ll have no trouble ordering lagging panels that meet your needs.
Soldier Pile and Lagging Walls: A Review of the Basics of Earth Pressure
Soldier pile and lagging walls are among the most commonly used retaining wall varieties today. In these structures, steel beams known as “soldier piles” resist lateral earth pressures.
The soldier piles in these retaining walls are connected by lagging panels, which also transfer lateral loads to the beams. To function as intended, a wall’s lagging panels need to fit the space between soldier piles as closely as possible.
Why Is Pile Spacing Variable in Retaining Walls?
The soldier piles in a retaining wall should be installed at regular intervals throughout the wall’s span. However, that doesn’t mean that every retaining wall has identical soldier pile spacing.
Soldier piles in a retaining wall are usually spaced about 5 to 10 feet apart on center. The ideal distance between your wall’s piles will depend on factors such as:
- Lagging span capacity
- Lateral earth pressure
- Surcharges
Your wall’s soldier pile spacing can have an impact on the fit, support, and performance of its lagging panels. To avoid problems during retaining wall construction, you’ll need to understand how your arrangement of soldier piles could affect your panels and plan accordingly.
The Risks of Wide Pile Spacing
When a retaining wall is built with widely spaced soldier piles, its lagging panels receive less bearing support than they would get otherwise. That, in turn, can increase risks of movement, slipping, and insufficient flange contact.
Wide gaps between piles can also put higher levels of stress on lagging panels. As a result, your panels could crack or fail entirely.
Problems With Narrow Pile Spacing
Widely spaced piles aren’t the only pile spacing arrangement that can cause problems for projects like yours. Piles that are too close together for your panels can be just as problematic.
If your soldier pile spaces are especially narrow, you may struggle to fit panels between them. In some cases, you might even find yourself having to cut or adjust panels in the field.
How To Make Lagging Panels Work With Your Soldier Piles
No matter how wide or narrow your soldier pile spacing is, you can still get lagging panels that meet your wall’s needs. The key to success is paying close attention to your lagging panel requirements at every step of your project.
To get the best possible results from your lagging panels, make a point of:
Verifying Field Measurements
Before you place an order for lagging panels, you need to confirm the actual spacing of your soldier piles. By doing that, you can make sure your panels will fit your retaining wall with zero difficulties.
Knowing Other Crucial Details
Having as much information as possible about your lagging panels is the key to stress-free installation. While making retaining wall plans, make sure you know your:
- Ideal lagging panel material. Precast concrete and timber are two of the most popular lagging panel materials on the market. However, timber can’t compete with precast concrete’s resistance to water and pests, not to mention its average lifespan of 50-100 years (according to the National Precast Concrete Association).
- Installation tolerances. Having clear tolerances for your project will help to ensure its success over the long term. That includes (but definitely isn’t limited to) tolerances for pile spacing variability.
- Necessary panel thickness. Length and width aren’t the only measurements you should know for your lagging panels. Depending on your retaining wall’s location, you may need thicker or thinner panels.
Finding a Reliable Panel Supplier
Since lagging panels must meet tight tolerances, the company you buy them from matters. If you’re looking for a lagging panel supplier, look for businesses that produce made-to-order panels that fit the exact dimensions clients provide.
Ideally, the company supplying your lagging panels will go beyond the bare essentials. The best panel suppliers also offer:
- Visual customization options. Whether you want your lagging panels to blend in or stand out, your manufacturer should be ready to deliver the exact look you need.
- Assistance with engineering. Retaining wall engineering can be a challenge, especially if you’re doing this work by yourself. With that in mind, look for a supplier that can give you a hand with tasks like geotechnical work and panel connection design.
- Set-in-place/delivery assistance. One of the most noteworthy benefits of precast concrete is the fact that you don’t have to worry about pouring concrete on your job site. Truly exceptional concrete companies can also help with panel delivery and installation.
Other Benefits of Careful Panel Planning
Putting effort into the panel ordering process won’t just make it easier to install these components. When you take lagging panel planning seriously, you can avoid:
- Reorders. In addition to being an inconvenience, reordering lagging panels can easily cut into your project’s budget.
- Delays. Having to wait for new lagging panels to arrive could put construction work on your wall on hold indefinitely. And even if you’re able to make imperfect panels work, taking time to modify these panels will also slow down the installation process.
- Compromised performance. Retaining panels that don’t quite fit between your soldier piles like they should won’t perform as effectively as panels that are free of this problem.
Don’t Cut Corners on Lagging Panels
Lagging panels are among the most important components in any retaining wall. If these panels don’t meet your project’s tolerances, or if they have any other problems, your new wall will be at a disadvantage from day one.
Getting precise, reliable lagging panels is as easy as working with American Precast Concrete Inc. for your retaining wall project. Get in touch today for a spec sheet and typical details package!