Reduced scale tests were performed in laboratory to evaluate the interlock shear force transmission between the interlock of two sheet piles. Tests were performed in a circular container filled with sand. A sheet pile specimen was vibratory driven into the sand tank between two receptive clutches to form two interlocks. The force-displacement relationship between two clutches was measured during a pull-out test of the specimen. The geometry of the clutches was the same as those used on real sheet-piles. It was observed, from the tests results, that the time needed to drive the sheet-pile in a dry sand had a considerable influence on the shear resistance in the interlock. A long vibrodriving increased the densification of the sand in the interlock and could even modify the soil grain size distribution by crushing some grains. This high densification caused a solidification of the sand within the clutch. The interlock resistance could be interpreted as the shearing of a quasi solid body. On the other hand, tests performed with saturated sands showed a very low shear transmission capacity. The load transfer model derived from the test results will be implemented in a finite elements code that evaluates the influence of the interlock friction on the flexural stiffness of sheet pile walls.
