Soil Nailing

YOGESH R V
M V TARUN KUMAR
IDDP
AcSIR
CSIR-CBRI
Introduction
The origin of soil nailing can be traced to a support system for underground
excavations in rock referred to as the New Austrian Tunneling Method.

Source: Keller(2014)
This tunneling method consists of the installation of passive steel
reinforcement in the rock (e.g., rock bolts) followed by the application of
reinforced shotcrete.
Soil Nailing
Soil Nailing is a technique in which soil slopes, excavations or
retaining walls are passively reinforced by the insertion of relatively
slender elements -normally steel reinforcing bars.
• Top-down method of construction used.
• Installed at an inclination of 10 to 20 degrees with horizontal.
• Increases the overall shear strength of unsupported soils.

Source: Keller(2014)
Soil Nail Construction Method

Source: A. Lazarte( 2015)

Soil Nail Construction Method
Continued

Source: A. Lazarte(2015)
Principal Failure Modes of Soil Nail Walls
External failures

Source: A. Lazarte (2015)

Principal Failure Modes of Soil Nail Walls
Internal failures

Source: A. Lazarte (2015)

Principal Failure Modes of Soil Nail Walls
Facing failure modes

Source: A. Lazarte (2015)

Advantages of Soil Nailing
• Soil nail walls are relatively flexible and can accommodate
relatively large total and differential settlements.
• Measured total deflections of soil nail walls are usually within
tolerable limits.
• Soil nail walls have performed well during seismic events.
Disadvantages of Soil Nailing
• Inappropriate for applications where very strict deformation control
is required for structures.
• Not well-suited where large amounts of groundwater seeps into the
excavation.
• Construction of soil nail walls requires specialized and experienced
contractors.
Applications of Soil Nailing
• Roadway cuts
• Road widening under existing bridge abutments
• Tunnel portals
• Repair and reconstruction of existing retaining structures
• Hybrid soil nail systems
• Shored Mechanically Stabilized Earth (SMSE) walls
Conclusion
• The performance of soil nails during earthquake and its ability of
deflection within tolerable limit have made a way for huge
application in various fields.
• The advance research is necessary for implementing this techniques
where ground water seepages is present which will make this
technique as superior method.
Reference
• keller constructions(2014). Soil nailing and facing solutions. [online]
keller.co.uk. Available at:
https://www.externalworksindex.co.uk/company/33436/Keller-UK/ [Accessed 30
Jun. 2020].
• Lazarte, C., Robinson, H., E. Gómez, J., Baxter, A. and Cadden, A.
(2015). GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING CIRCULAR NO. 7 SOIL NAIL
WALLS - REFERENCE MANUAL. Washington: U.S. Department of
Transportation  Federal Highway Administration [Accessed 30 Jun. 2020].
• Sharma, M., Samanta, M., and Sarkar, S. (2017) A laboratory study on pullout
capacity of helical soil nail in cohesionless soil. Canadian Geotechnical Journal,
54 (10), pp. 1482-1495[Accessed 30 Jun. 2020].