APPENDIX B

CHARTS FOR PRELIMINARY DESIGN

A series of design charts were developed as a design aid to provide preliminary nail length and
maximum design tensile forces. The charts were developed using the computer program SNAIL
(see Section 5 and Appendix F). These charts are only strictly applicable for the conditions they
were developed for. The charts should only be used to obtain preliminary design values and should
not be used in lieu of comprehensive analyses.

The charts were developed for a range of face batter, α; backslope, β; effective friction angle, φ’;
and normalized bond strength, µ. The normalized bond strength is defined as:

q u D DH
µ =
FS b γ S H S V

where: qU is the ultimate bond strength (presented in Chapters 3 and 5); DDH is the drillhole effective
diameter; FSP is the factor of safety against pullout (see Table 5.3), γ is the total unit weight of the
soil behind the wall; and SH and SV are the nail horizontal and vertical spacing, respectively. Table
B.1 presents the geometric and material conditions used for the development of the design charts.

Two types of charts were created. The first type of chart (Figures B.1a through B.6a) provides the
necessary normalized nail length, L/H, required to achieve a global safety factor of FSG=1.35,
where L is the necessary nail length and H is the wall height. L/H varies as a function of the
normalized pullout resistance. The values L/H were obtained for the most critical failure surface for
the selected geometry and material properties. A total of six charts were created, one for each
combination of α and β values shown in Table B.1. For intermediate values of α and β values, it is
acceptable to interpolate between charts.

TABLE B.1
VARIABLE PARAMETERS

Parameter Units Values

Face Batter degrees 0, 10
Backslope degrees 0, 10, 20, 30
Effective Friction Angle degrees 27, 31, 35, 39
KPa 52, 104, 172, 276, 689
Ultimate Bond Strength
psi 8,15,25,40,100

The second type of charts (Figures B.1b through B.6b) provides the normalized maximum design
nail force, tmax-s, as a function of µ. The value tmax-s is defined as:

B-1
 Tmax −s
t max −s =
SH SV

where Tmax-s is the maximum design nail force. Values of tmax-s were obtained from analyses with
SNAIL by setting the factor of safety for global stability FSG = 1.0. As discussed in Chapter 5, FSG
is set at 1.0 when determining the nail maximum design force to allow a rational utilization of the
steel strength that is consistent with the soil strength mobilization. After Tmax-s is determined and a
steel tensile strength is selected, the necessary cross sectional area of the nail can be calculated.

Other design parameters listed in Table B.2 remained constant throughout the development of the
design charts. Subsequently, these parameters were varied (see ranges in Table B.2) to investigate
the influence of the specific parameters on the nail length and maximum design nail force calculated
using the design charts. Nail inclination was kept constant at 15 degrees. The results indicate that
the normalized length and maximum forces in the nail also depend on the global factor of safety,
drillhole diameter, and the soil cohesion. The effect of the wall height was not significant, and
thereby is not longer considered.

TABLE B.2
ADDITIONAL PARAMETERS
Fixed Value
Included Studied Range of
Parameter Units used for Design
in µ? Values
Chart

Pullout Factor of Safety, FSP - 1.0 0.5 - 1.0

Nail Horizontal Spacing, SH m (ft) 1.5 (5) 1.2 - 1.8 (4 - 6)

Included
Nail Vertical Spacing, SV m (ft) 1.5 (5) 1.2 - 1.8 (4 - 6)

Total Unit Weight, γ kN/m3 (pcf) 18.9 (120) 17.3 - 20.5 (110 - 130)

Global Factor of Safety, FSG - 1.35 1.35 - 2.0

Drillhole Diameter, DDH mm (in.) 100 (4) 100 - 300 (4 – 12)

Not Included
Cohesion, c kPa (psf) 5 (100) 5 – 24 (100 – 500)

Wall Height, H m (ft) 12 (40) 6.0 – 24 (20 – 80)

If the conditions of the problem being analyzed differ from those for which the charts were
developed, the values L/H and tmax-s obtained from the charts must be corrected. Two sets of
correction factors have been developed. One set of correction factors, C1L, C2L, and C3L, were
developed to correct the value L/H for drillhole diameter, soil cohesion, and global factor of safety,
respectively. Values of C1L are shown graphically as a function of the drillhole diameter, DDH in
B-2
Figure B.7. Values of C2L and C3L are expressed as mathematical formulas also included in Figure
B.7.

The second set of correction factors, C1F and C2F, were developed to correct tmax-s for drillhole
diameter and soil cohesion. No correction for global safety factor is necessary for tmax-s. Values of
C1F are shown graphically as a function of the drillhole diameter, DDH, in Figure B.7. Values of C2F
are expressed as a mathematical formula included in Figure B.7.

B-3
 Face Batter Backslope
α=0 β=0 µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02 t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35 = Tmax-s/γ H SH SV

DDH= 100 mm
For other FS, c*, and DDH,
see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
31
35
1 39
27
L/H

0.5

(a)
00
0.4
Normalized Design Nail Force, tmax-s

0.3

0.2

0.1

(b) Nail forces for FSG = 1.0

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ SH SV

Figure B.1: Batter 0O - Backslope 0O

B-4
 Backslope
Face Batter β = 10O
α=0 µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02 t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35 = Tmax-s/γ H SH SV
DDH= 100 mm For other FS, c*, and DDH,
see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
27
31
1 35
39
L/H

0.5

(a)
00
0.4
Normalized Max. Design Force, tmax-s

0.3

0.2

0.1

NOTE:
(b) Nail forces are for FSG = 1.0
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ S H SV

Figure B.2: Batter 0O - Backslope 10O

B-5
 Backslope
Face Batter β=0
α = 10O µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02 t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35 = Tmax-s/γ H SH SV

DDH= 100 mm For other FS, c*, and DDH,

see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
27
31
1 35
39
L/H

0.5

(a)
00
0.4
Normalized Max. Design Force, tmax-s

0.3

0.2

0.1

NOTE:
(b) Nail forces are for FSG = 1.0
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ S H SV

Figure B.3: Batter 10O - Backslope 0O

B-6
 Backslope
Face Batter β = 10O
α = 10O µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02 t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35 = Tmax-s/γ H SH SV

DDH= 100 mm For other FS, c*, and DDH,

see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
27
31
1 35
39
L/H

0.5

(a)
Normalized Max. Design Nail Force, tmax-s

00
0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
NOTE:
Nail forces are for FSG = 1.0
(b)
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ SH S V

Figure B.4: Batter 10O - Backslope 10O

B-7
 Backslope
Face Batter β = 30O
α=0 µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02 t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35 = Tmax-s/γ H SH SV
DDH= 100 mm
For other FS, c*, and DDH,
see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
39

1
L/H

0.5

(a)
00
0.4
Normalized Max. Design Force, tmax-s

0.3

0.2

0.1
NOTE:
Nail forces are for FSG = 1.0
(b)
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ SH S V

Figure B.5: Batter 0O - Backslope 30O

B-8
 Backslope
Face Batter β = 30O
α = 10O µ = (qaDDH)/(γ SH SV)
L
qa = qu/FSP

γ, c, φ c* = c / γH
H SV
c* = 0.02
t max-s = Normalized Maximum Design Force in Nails
FS=1.35
= Tmax-s/γ H SH SV
DDH= 100 mm
For other FS, c*, and DDH,
see Figure B7

1.5
Friction Angle
(degrees)
39

1
L/H

0.5

(a)
00
0.4
Normalized Max. Design Force, tmax-s

0.3

0.2

0.1
NOTE:
Nail forces are for FSG = 1.0
(b)
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
q aD DH
Normalized Bond Strength, µ =
γ SH SV

Figure B.6: Batter 10O - Backslope 30O

B-9
Corrections of Soil Length
L L
(corrected ) = C1L × C2L × C3L × (from charts for D DH = 100 mm, c * = 0.02 , FSG = 1.35)
H H

where:

C1L = Correction for Drillhole Diameter see chart (a) below

C2L = Correction for Soil Cohesion see formula (b) below
C3L = Correction for Global Factor of Safety see formula (c) below

Corrections of Normalized Maximum In-Service Nail Force

t max - s (corrected ) = C1F × C2F × t max -s (from charts for D DH = 100 mm, c * = 0.02)

C1F= Correction for Drillhole Diameter see chart (a)

C2F= Correction for Soil Cohesion see formula (b)

(a) Correction for Drillhole Diameter

1 2
Correction for Length, C1L

Correction for Force, C1F

0.9 C1F 1.8

0.8 1.6

0.7 1.4

0.6 1.2
C1L

0.5 1
100 150 200 250 300
Drillhole Diameter, DDH (mm)

Figure B.7: Correction Factors

B-10