Hot Rolled U Type Steel Sheet Piles are classical structural profiles featuring interlocks on both sides, forming continuous retaining walls with a centerline located in the middle of the double-U section.
Due to their symmetrical geometry, U-type sheet piles provide excellent stability during installation and in service. Compared with other profiles, they offer superior stacking performance, making them suitable for both permanent and temporary engineering projects.
With more than 100 years of global application history, millions of tons of U-shaped sheet piles have been used in infrastructure, marine, and foundation works. U-type sheet piling remains the traditional and most widely used system, especially in Asia markets.
Key Advantages of U Type Sheet Piles
- Wide Range of Sections
Multiple series with different geometrical characteristics allow optimal selection for both technical performance and cost efficiency.
👉 Regular stock exceeds 80,000 tons
- Excellent Structural Performance
Deep profile combined with thick flanges ensures high moment of inertia and section modulus
- Symmetrical Design
Enhances structural balance and makes piles highly suitable for reuse
- Factory-Assembled Double Piles
Possibility of pairing piles during production improves installation accuracy and overall performance
Asia Standard Hot Rolled U Sheet Pile (Common Types)
| Section | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Area (cm²/pile) | Weight (kg/m) | Wall Weight (kg/m²) | Inertia (cm⁴/m) | Modulus (cm³/m) |
|---|
| ⅠA | 400 | 85 | 8 | 45.21 | 35.5 | 88.8 | 4500 | 529 |
| Ⅱ | 400 | 100 | 10.5 | 61.2 | 48 | 120 | 8740 | 874 |
| Ⅲ | 400 | 125 | 13 | 76.4 | 60 | 150 | 16800 | 1340 |
| ⅢA | 400 | 150 | 13.1 | 74.4 | 58.4 | 146 | 22800 | 1520 |
| Ⅳ | 400 | 170 | 15.5 | 97 | 76.1 | 190 | 38600 | 2270 |
| ⅤL | 500 | 200 | 24.3 | 133.8 | 105 | 210 | 63000 | 3150 |
| ⅥL | 500 | 225 | 27.6 | 153 | 120 | 240 | 86000 | 3820 |
| ⅡW | 600 | 130 | 10.3 | 78.7 | 61.8 | 103 | 13000 | 1000 |
| ⅢW | 600 | 180 | 13.4 | 104 | 81.6 | 136 | 32400 | 1800 |
| ⅣW | 600 | 210 | 18 | 135.3 | 106 | 177 | 56700 | 2700 |
Note: Common brands such as FSP, NSP, SKSP, JFESP follow the same dimensional standards.
European Standard (Larssen Sheet Piles)
Larssen sheet piles are widely used in Europe and global engineering projects. Typical profiles include the GHU Series (600mm / 750mm width) and GHL Series. These profiles are produced with high precision rolling technology, ensuring stable interlock performance, strong bending resistance, and a wide range of section modulus options to meet different engineering requirements.
Hot Rolled Sheet Piling – Industry Background
Hot rolled sheet piles have been the mainstream solution in foundation engineering for over 100 years. Global annual consumption exceeds 3 million tons for permanent projects and 1 million tons for temporary works.
Historically, production was concentrated in Europe, Japan, the UK, and the USA under the well-known Larssen system. Today, China has become a major global supplier, offering competitive pricing and large-scale production capacity.
Common global systems include AZ, AU, PU, GU, FSP, PZ, PZC, ASTM, Hoesch, and Larssen profiles.
👉 Key Selection Factor:
The most critical parameter is the section modulus. Profiles with similar section modulus can generally be substituted across different brands and standards.
Material & Performance Considerations
The performance of sheet piles depends mainly on thickness and steel grade. Thickness affects driving performance and service life, while steel grade determines corrosion resistance.
Common Steel Grades
- China / Asia: SY295 / SY390
- Europe: S240GP / S355GP / S430GP
- Marine Grade: S460AP
- USA: ASTM A572 / A588 / A690
👉 Corrosion resistance varies depending on soil conditions, water type (fresh or salt), and environmental pollution levels.
Installation Methods
Steel sheet piles can be installed using various methods depending on site conditions:Vibratory hammer，Hydraulic piling rigs，Impact driving systems.
Installation selection is based on soil condition, pile length, and section thickness.
Temporary vs Permanent Applications
Temporary Applications：Used for short-term construction support such as excavation safety systems. Sheet piles can be extracted and reused after project completion, reducing overall costs.
Permanent Applications：Used in long-term structures such as marine engineering, flood protection systems, and retaining walls, where sheet piles remain in place permanently.
Supply & Production Notes：Due to production requirements, hot rolled sheet piles usually require a minimum rolling quantity of several thousand tons.
Standard surface condition is mill finish, with large stock availability for common sizes. Custom production can be arranged based on project specifications including length, thickness, and steel grade.
Advanced Processing & Custom Solutions
Pile Configurations：Single piles，Triple piles，Double piles (crimped recommended).
Crimped piles offer better alignment, easier installation, and reduced bending risk during driving.
Bent & Corner Piles
Bent piles can be supplied with a maximum bending angle of 25°.
Common corner and connection types include:C9，C14，Delta 13，Omega 18
These are widely used in corner sections, junction connections, and combined wall systems.
Box Pile Systems
U-type sheet piles can be combined to form box structures:Double U box piles (CAU, CU, CPU-R, CGU)，Triple box piles，Quadruple box piles.
These systems are suitable for deep foundation reinforcement and high-load structural applications.
Conclusion
Hot Rolled U Type Sheet Piles provide a proven and reliable solution for modern engineering projects. With high structural efficiency, flexible configurations, and strong global adaptability, they are widely used in foundation engineering, marine construction, and excavation support systems worldwide.
