Model experimental study on mechanical characteristics of prestressed concrete (PC) wall piles for waterway revetment

Bank protection engineering in inland waterways is crucial for maintaining channel stability and reducing sediment deposition. Precast bank protection piles have rapidly developed due to their structural advantages and economic construction. This study proposes a novel prestressed concrete wall pile (PC wall pile) characterized by high strength, excellent water resistance, and convenient installation. The mechanical properties were investigated through laboratory model tests replicating actual engineering conditions, analyzing pile deformation, horizontal load resistance, and pile-soil interaction characteristics. The results indicate that during load-bearing under dredging embankment conditions, the PC wall pile system rotates forward around the toe with localized deflection. The front soil pressure demonstrates essentially linear distribution, while the rear soil pressure exhibits significant nonlinear characteristics attributed to pile-soil interactions, soil arching effects, and soil unloading phenomena. Prestressing application reduces the maximum bending moment at ultimate state by 18%-25%. When pile length increases by 14%, the ultimate load-bearing capacity improves by 36%-47%. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing prestress levels and pile length ratios in practical PC wall pile designs. • Prestressed concrete wall piles enhance riverbank protection and sediment control. • Laboratory tests simulate load-bearing behaviour of PC wall piles under embankment load. • Soil pressure behind PC wall piles shows non-linear distribution due to soil interaction. • Prestressing reduces the maximum bending moment of PC wall piles by 18%-25%. • Pile length increase by 14% boosts load-bearing capacity by 36%-47%.