Practical Shoring Systems

Prepared By: Dr. Amjad Barghouthi Regional g Manager g ACES

1.0 Introduction
Shoring systems (Earth Support Structures) are required in several situations in construction construction. . The construction of deep basements requires shoring systems to retain the top soil / fill materials down to the competent p rock depth depth. p . One problem that appears always is that the designer utilizes the full area of the lot without allowing any space for the shoring system. system . This is usually because of the high cost of land or lack of consideration of the necessity of a shoring system. system.

ACES (Arab Center for Engineering Studies) have designed and utilized shoring systems that will not take significant space from the land area and have proved very feasible systems for fill / top p soil heights g from 315 15m m. The systems are are: : 1. Soldier Piles and Rock Nails. The soldier piles are constructed at an angle of 7o 9o with the vertical. 2. Soil Nailing.

2.0 Soldier Piles and Rock Nails

2.1 Components of the System The main components of the system shown in Figure 1 are: I. Ground / Rock Nails / Anchors The employed system uses ground nails that consist of reinforcement bars usually 32 32mm mm in diameter installed to the required q length g in holes of diameter 10 15 15cm cm and the bonded length is grouted by cement grout usually with non non-shrink additives additives. . These nails are usually anchored in rock hence, the name although they are not pre pre-stressed stressed. . The steel bars are just tightened and locked in place place. .

Figure 1: Soldier Piles and Rock Nails

II.

Soldier Pile Usually steel I or H beams are installed in pre pre-drilled holes with the required diameter diameter. . The bottom part of the steel beams as also grouted to fix it in rock. rock.

III.

Waler Beams Waler beams usually y consist of two steel channels installed at the anchor locations locations. .

IV. Lagging Several options for lagging may be used: 1. Steel Plates Thickness of the plates may be as small as 3mm mm. . these steel plates area reinforced with steel angles at certain intervals intervals. . 2. Wood Lagging Would purlins may also be used used. .

V.

Connections The connection consists of steel plate and nut at the location of anchors anchors. . This is usually left for the contractor to design design. .

2.2 Design Basis 2.2.1 Methodology The design bases is similar to any shoring system in terms of analysis and distribution of bending moments and shear forces to anchors, walers walers, , and soldier piles piles. . Earth p pressure ( (including g surcharge g loads and any y water pressure) can be selected based on the wellwellestablished Pecks Rules Rules. .

However, due to the flexibility of the system and to insure that the maximum forces are transmitted to the lower anchors (usually well embedded in rock), active conditions have been used successfully y in all designed g projects. projects . This approach has been verified by plaxis analysis (finite element) and by actual monitoring of displacements at several sites sites. . An excel sheet has been developed specifically for this system y and has been used in all p projects. projects j . Hand calculations to verify the designs are also used used. . Plaxis software helps in determining the expected deformations of the system as well as the settlement of the ground ground. .

2.2.2 Design Parameters

1. 2 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Height of fill / top soil H in m. Unit weight, friction angle of fill. Surcharge loads. Spacing between soldier piles. Yield stress of steel. Hole diameter. Yield stress of steel bar for anchors. Allowable stresses for grout (grout / soil and grout / steel). Cantilever height and the height of the two spans spans. Properties of steel plates and steel angles.

9 9. 10.

2.2.3 Calculations 1. Active earth pressure is calculated using the first 3 design parameters (, , H). H) 2. Analysis and Design:
a) b) c) d)

Check the cantilever moment moment. . Check the maximum span moment moment. . Select section for largest (moment spacing) spacing). . Design steel plates maximum i moment. moment t. based on average

e) f)

Select angle and spacing spacing. . Determine forces in anchors based on tributary areas. areas . Determine the diameter and length of bonded length of anchors determine the total length length. . Determine the diameter of hole. hole.

g) )

h)

2.2.4 Design Verification The forces in anchors, bending moments can be determined using plaxis software software. . If the results match those calculated, determine deformation of the structure and settlements of the ground ground. . Note that plaxis require the properties of rock for the model. model . It also shows the deformations in rock. rock.

2.2.5 Example The shown example shows that there is a good match between the results of plaxis and the active conditions calculation. calculation . This system requires competent rock at a depth depth. .

3.0 Soil Nailing System

3.1 Components of the System The main components of the system shown in Figure 2 are:
I.

Soil Nails The soil nails are holes drilled into the ground with diameter ranging from 100 200 200mm mm to the design length length. . A steel bar of the designed g diameter, , usually y 20 32 32mm, mm, , is installed at the center of the hole with the help of spacers. spacers . The hole is fully grouted grouted. . The soil nails are generally spaced at 1.0 2.0m horizontally and vertically. vertically.

II.

Shotcrete Shotcrete with thickness varying from 100 150 150mm mm are usually sufficient for most applications applications. . The specified strength is usually 30 30N/mm N/mm2 at 2828-days days. .

III.

Waler Bars Usually y 2-horizontal and 2-vertical steel bars are used as wailers connecting the nails. The common size used is 18mm. 18 mm.

IV.

Wiremesh One layer of wiremesh is required for the shotcrete shotcrete. . In case of soil sloughing and thick shotcrete layer, layer 2 layers of wiremesh may be used. used.

V.

Connection Ap plate and not is required q at the end of steel bar on top p of the waler bars bars. .

Figure 2: Typ pical Soil Nailing Sec ction

3.2 Design Basis (The Design Basis are Adopted from Manual for Design & Construction Monitoring of Soil Nail Walls by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration). Administration) . The basic design concept is to reinforce the soil. soil. Due to the interaction between and the soil a tension load is developed including a force at the nail head head. . The maximum tensile loads often considered as dividing the soil mass into two separate zones zones; ; an active zone close to the facing where the shear stress try to pull the reinforcement out of the ground and a resistant zone where the shear stresses are directed inward and tend to restrain the reinforcement reinforcement. .

3.2.1 Nail Pullout Capacity Ultimate Pullout Resistance Qu Q = Unit Qu U i Ul Ultimate i b bond d stress x D Ultimate bond stress Cohesionless soils

Ultimate Bond Stress Cohesive Soils

3.2.2 Simplified Design (Service Load Design) Nails are usually drilled at an angle of 15o. The top row should be at a depth of less than 1.0m (Cantilever) usually at 0.75 75m m. Factors to consider in design:
1. 2. 3.

Spacing p g of Nails and Angle. g Nail Length and Hole Diameter. Thickness of Shotcrete and Details of Wiremesh Wiremesh. . (Punching P hi Sh Shear and dM Moment tC Capacity) it ) Plate Thickness Thickness. .

4.

4.0 Conclusions
The presented solutions are practical solution to issue of lack lack of space for the shoring works in addition it:
a) ) b) c)

Simple to analyze. analyze Does not require heavy machinery to construct. Does not require great experience in installation.