SOIL NAILING

A GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHINIQUE

 INTRODUCTION

 Soil nailing is a technique

used to reinforce and
strengthen existing ground.
 Soil nailing consists of
installing closely spaced bars
into a slope or excavation.
ORIGIN

 Soil nailing evolved from the New Austrian Tunneling method

which is a system for underground excavations in rock.
 This concept was also been applied to the stabilization of rock
slopes since the early 1960s.
 The first application of soil nailing was implemented in 1972 for a
railroad widening project near Versailles, France.
Why Soil Nailing ???..
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF SOIL NAILING

Excavate Drilling Nail Installing Facing on

Small Cut Hole Grout and permanent
• Excavate the • Drill the hole Nail Bar walls
unsupported to appropriate • Place the nail • It includes
cut about 1 to depth required and grout it. shotcrete,
2m high. place the nail. bearing plates,
toe drain.
PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION
 INITIAL EXCAVATION

 This initial excavation will be carried

out by trimming the original ground
profile to the working platform level
where the first row of soil nails can
be practically installed.
 The pre-requisite of this temporary
excavation shall be in such a way
that the trimmed surface must be
able to self support till completion of
nail installation.
 DRILLING OF HOLES

 Drilling can be done by either air-

flushed percussion drilling,
auguring or rotary wash boring
drilling depending on ground
condition.
 The size of drilled hole shall be as
per the designed dimension.
Typically, the hole size can range
from 100mm to 150mm.
 INSERTION OF NAIL AND REINFORCEMENT AND
GROUTING
 The nail shall be prepared with
adequate centralizers at appropriate
spacing and for proper grout cover for
first defense of corrosion protection.
 In additional to this, galvanization and
pre- grouted nail encapsulated with
corrugated pipe can be considered for
durability.
 For conventional soil nail, the water
cement ratio of the grout mix ranges
from 0.4 to 0.5.
 SHOTCRETE / GUNITING

 Shotcrete or Gunite can be

continuous flow of mortar or
concrete mixes projected at high
speed perpendicularly onto the
exposed ground surface by means of
pneumatic air blowing for dry mix
or spraying for wet mix.
 FINISHES OF NAIL WALL

 Connection Components – The soil nail is connected to

the facing through a number of components including:
nuts, washers, bearing plates, and headed-studs.
The headed studs are attached to the bearing plate and
become embedded within the final facing.
 Drainage System – A drainage system is installed
behind soil nail walls to: (i) collect perched
groundwater or infiltrated surface water that is present
behind the facing; and (ii) direct the collected
groundwater away from the wall.
 The drainage system does not provide full coverage of
the wall area, but rather covers commonly 10-20%, or
more, of the excavation face, depending on the selected
strip drain spacing and commercial widths that
are available.
ADVANTAGES

 With the right soil and site conditions, a rapid and economical means of
constructing earth retention support systems and retaining walls.
 Creates less noise and traffic obstructions.
 Less impact on nearby properties
 Environmental friendly.
 Allow excellent working space in front of the excavation face,
 Grouting only once is required, saving time and labor.
 The technique is flexible, easily modified.
DISADVANTAGES

 Nail encroachment to retained ground rendering unusable

underground space,
 Tendency of high ground loss due to drilling technique, particularly
at course grained soil,
 Suitable only for excavation above groundwater.
CONCLUSION

Soil nailing is an accepted technology, the theoretical aspects of which are well
understood and well reported in technical literature.
However, research indicates that there are few practical guidelines available that
offer a comprehensive, experience-based insight into the construction considerations
that should be addressed before a soil nail system design is finalized and
implemented.
FINAL VIEW
THANK YOU