Topic 1 Soil Nail

Background
1. Soil nailing is a construction remedial measure to treat unstable natural soil slopes.
2. 原理: 向下 sliding 既泥向 soil nail 拖加力(下圖藍色)，此力可拆分左一個 along soil nail 既力 (下圖綠色)及
另一個力(下圖紅色)，對於綠色來說，soil nail 會對泥產生一個反作用力(拉番住 D 泥)，令到 active zone
與 resistant zone 之間的 normal stress 上升，從而 friction force 上升，達至穩定作用。

Design
1. Soil nailing is a technique that involves inclusion of an unstressed reinforcement to improve the behavioral
properties of an in-situ soil mass.
2. The principal action of soil nails is in tension.
3. Below figure shows the force distribution for a soil nail:

此點的 internal axial stress 最大:

原因: 可以想像到，當綠色力出現時，resistant zone
會有一拉回的 distributed load, 所以由 active zone 轉
到 resistant zone 時，力的方向便相反了。

The design of soil nails involve the following steps:

1. Identify a number of critical slip surfaces (using limit equilibrium methods or other methods) [try 不同的 slip
surface angle]
- be aware that the location of the critical slip surface may change after applying external stabilising forces (i.e. by soil
nail)
2. Assume nail inclination and spacings [typical inclinations are 10º, 15º, 20º]
3. Calculate the required external force (i.e. by soil nail) to achieve the target FoS
4. Check the tensile capacity of the steel bar
5. Check pull-out resistance along soil-grout interface
 6. Check pull-out resistance along steel-grout interface
Prescriptive design [GEO PUBLICATION 2009]
For old cut-slopes, GEO has recommended a prescriptive method which is derived based on the experience from over
100 case histories. This is a simple and suitably conservative design approach without the need to carry out detailed
ground investigations, laboratory testing and stability analyses.

Construction
In Hong Kong, the most common reinforcement is high yield steel bar
Merits and advantages:

1. Suitable for sites with difficult access because of the relatively mobile drilling rig (空間小也可以)

2. Minimal environmental impact (無咁大陣像)

3. The ductile behaviour of soil nails gives warning prior to failure.(比較 retaining wall overturing)

Limitations and disadvantages:

1. Not suitable if many underground utilities are present
2. Subjected to spatial constraints; installation of long nails needs approval from the owner of the adjacent lot
3. Need to make more consideration for aggressive ground conditions

4. Not suitable for sites with highly fractured ground conditions due to potential grouting problem (走漿=grouting
mater 滲入 fracture 中，grout 極都 grout 唔到).

Acceptance
Soil Nail External failure modes:

Soil Nail internal failure modes:[within active zone]

Internal failure modes of the nails
Next time:

soil nail head

Nail inclinations

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