Z-shaped sheet piles are called Zs because the single piles are shaped roughly like a horizontally stretched Z. The interlocks are located as far away from the neutral axis as possible to ensure good shear transmission and increase the strength-to-weight ratio. Z piles are the most common type of sheet pile in North America and can be used in a wide variety of applications. Retaining walls, cofferdams, parking garages, environmental barrier walls, and bulkhead walls for ports are just a few of their varied uses.