Components of braced excavation

A braced excavation consists of the following parts.

        ground surface
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
     |                       |
   --|=====[ strut ]=========|--  level 1
     |   wale          wale  |
     |                       |
   --|=====[ strut ]=========|--  level 2
     |                       |
     | sheeting     sheeting |
     |_____ excavation ______|
     |<--- width of cut --->|
        embedded toe below base

1. Sheeting (sheet piles, or soldier piles with timber lagging): the vertical wall in contact with the soil; it carries soil pressure to the wales.
2. Wales (walers): horizontal beams (steel or timber) fixed along the sheeting at the strut levels; they collect the load from the sheeting and pass it to the struts.
3. Struts: horizontal compression members across the cut at one or more levels; they transfer the load from one wall to the other. Diagonal struts (rakers) are used for wide cuts.
4. Anchors or rakers (alternative): tie-backs or inclined struts supported from the ground or base.
5. Embedment (toe) of sheeting below the base level, to resist bottom heave and provide support.
6. Dewatering system and surcharge control, where needed.