This defensive structure surrounds a masonry or concrete pier in a river or tidal zone to shield it from the direct impact of water, debris, and ice. Builders construct it by driving closely spaced timber or steel piles into the riverbed, often filling the interior with rubble. The barrier breaks the current and prevents the flowing water from scouring the foundation away.
The blueprints call for a steel sheet starling around the central pier to handle the seasonal ice flow.
Also heard as
- sterling
Related terms
Cofferwork
A traditional masonry wall construction consisting of a rubble core faced with cut stone.
Piling rig
A heavy, track-mounted machine used to drill or drive deep foundation piles into the ground.
Waterwork
The traditional term for civil engineering infrastructure that controls, treats, or supplies water.