Abstract: Based on the calculation model of vertical elastic grade beam, a method called virtual simply-supported beam method for design of sheet pile walls is introduced. In the virtual simply-supported beam method, artificial supports are set at the action spot of tie rods and the free end of the sheet pile separately. The sheet pile is assumed as a simply-supported beam on elastic foundation, and then the deformation compatibility equation between soil and sheet pile is established. Finally, the static equilibrium equation is obtained according to the actual boundary conditions of the sheet pile, and the inner force of the sheet pile and tensile force of the tie rods are calculated. Sixteen sheet pile docks in China are analyzed by using the virtual simply-supported beam method. The results are almost equal to those obtained using the software ANSYS.