Sheet piling retains soil, using steel sheets with interlocking edges. Sheet piling are used to support excavations, construct seawalls and bulkheads and create barriers to groundwater flow.

Sheet piles are installed in sequence to design depth along the planned excavation perimeter or seawall alignment. The interlocked sheet piles form a wall for permanent or temporary lateral earth support with reduced groundwater inflow. 

Sheet pile walls have been used to support excavations for below-grade and are designed to provide a long service life. Vibratory hammers are typically used to install sheet piles. If soil is too hard or dense, an impact hammer can be used to complete the installation. At certain sites where vibrations are a concern, the sheets can be hydraulically pushed into the ground.