Commercial Services: Soil Nailing

Bridges

Building Walls

Concrete Pumping

Decorative

Paving

Retaining Walls

Slabs

Soil Nailing

Waterproofing

The basic concept of soil nailing is to reinforce and strengthen the existing ground by installing closely spaced steel bars, called "nails," into a slope or excavation as construction proceeds from the "top down." This process creates a reinforced section that is itself stable and able to retain the ground behind it. The reinforcements are passive and develop their reinforcing action through nail ground interactions as the ground deforms both during and following construction. Nails work predominantly in tension, but are considered by some to also work in bending/shear under certain circumstances. Generally, the soil nails significantly increase the apparent cohesion of the soil through their ability to carry tensile loads. A construction facing is also usually required, and is typically shotcrete reinforced by welded wire mesh. For permanent walls, the shotcrete construction facing is typically covered in cast-in-place concrete facing.

Soil nailing appears similar to reinforced fill. However there are some differences in the construction especially since the nails are inserted directly into an existing mass of earth as opposed to being installed with the fill. Also the construction process for excavated faces commences at the top level and proceeds downwards such that the upper nails are loaded. For reinforced fill the lower reinforcements are loaded first as a consequence of constructing by layers.

Two common applications are the construction of new slopes in cuttings and remedial works for unstable slopes. Soil nailing may be used in any natural ground but some ground conditions are more suitable than others.

We at Wright Concrete have all the equipment necessary to drill, anchor and spray your most difficult retention projects.