Soil Nailing Design and Applications, A Collection of Papers, First Edition, 1991-PDF

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This 1991 Deep Foundations Institute collection examines soil nailing and related in-situ ground reinforcement methods, drawing on U.S. and European practice, project case histories, and design research.<br /><br />Soil nailing reinforces existing soil with closely spaced steel bars installed horizontally or at a slight downward angle, typically in drilled holes that are grouted. Construction generally proceeds top-down in short excavation stages, with a facing—often shotcrete—applied after each stage. The reinforced ground acts as a coherent mass, improving stability without removing and replacing the soil. Related techniques discussed include small-diameter piles for structural support and reticulated micropiles for retaining walls and slope stabilization.<br /><br />Applications include temporary and permanent excavation support, underpinning, highway cuts and embankments, landslide control, and work near existing buildings or utilities. Case histories describe projects in varied conditions, including clay, sand and gravel, glacial till, weathered rock, boulders, and faulted ground. Reported performance was generally satisfactory, with limited wall movement in monitored examples; some projects also achieved substantial cost savings over conventional retaining systems.<br /><br />The papers emphasize that design must consider overall stability, nail strength and pullout resistance, facing behavior, groundwater, drainage, corrosion protection, and acceptable deformation. Because soil conditions and installation methods strongly affect nail performance, field pullout tests and monitoring are important. Design approaches range from modified slope-stability calculations to more advanced analyses of combined failure mechanisms and predicted deformations.<br /><br />Key advantages are adaptability, relatively quick construction, reduced excavation, low vibration, and usefulness in restricted or environmentally sensitive sites. Limitations include weak or saturated soils, ground that cannot stand temporarily during staged excavation, deep-seated landslides, corrosion concerns, and uncertainty in design methods. The collection concludes that soil nailing has broad potential, but reliable application depends on appropriate site investigation, construction expertise, drainage, testing, and performance-based design.

Keywords

soil nailing

in-situ ground reinforcement

retaining walls

excavation support

shotcrete facing

micropiles

slope stabilization

groundwater drainage

pullout resistance

performance-based design