Dynamic Response and Failure Analysis of Steel Sheet Pile Support Structures in Bank Slopes under Pile Driving Impact Loads

During the construction of bank slopes involving pile driving, ensuring slope stability is crucial. This requires the design of appropriate support systems and a thorough evaluation of the failure mechanisms of pile structures under dynamic loading conditions. Based on the Huarong Coal Wharf project, various support schemes are analyzed using numerical simulation methods to calculate and compare slope stability coefficients. The optimal scheme is then identified. Under the selected support scheme, a numerical model of double-row suspended steel sheet piles is developed to investigate the dynamic response of the pile structures under pile driving loads. A time-history analysis is performed to assess the slope’s dynamic stability. The results show that the maximum displacements of the upper and lower steel sheet pile rows are 2.51 and 3.14 cm, respectively. The maximum principal stresses remain below 20 MPa in both rows, while the maximum von Mises stresses are 20.85 MPa for the upper row and 25.40 MPa for the lower row. The dominant frequencies of the steel sheet pile structures fall between 30 and 35 Hz, with a frequency bandwidth ranging from 0 to 500 Hz. The stability coefficient of the pile structures varies over time during the pile driving process, ultimately reaching a value of 1.26—exceeding the required safety threshold. This research provides practical guidance for designing support systems in wharf piling projects and offers a reliable basis for evaluating the safety performance of steel sheet piles in bank slopes.