Slope Stabilization (Soil Nailing)

Soil nailing can be defined as the reinforcement of the terrain, as excavation progresses, by introducing passive bars, usually sub-horizontal, that primarily work in tension. This reinforcement of the terrain consists of improving its shear strength along potential plasticization or failure surfaces by including the described elements; it could also be referred to as rock bolting, a term commonly used in rock reinforcement. In a soil nailing slope, the bars are placed in previously drilled boreholes, which are then filled with injection grout or mortar.

The slope is completed with the construction of a vertical face to prevent soil from falling between the points where the inclusions are placed. This effect is usually achieved by constructing a shotcrete skin, often reinforced with steel mesh.