The Colorado-based Transportation Technology Research, Inc. (TTCI), a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) that performs railway equipment testing and training, contracted GeoStabilization International® to fix a collapsed railroad embankment at their research site.
The test embankment consisting of Mississippi Buckshot clay had failed twice, compromising the railway line and causing the tracks to sink by several inches.
After surveying the site, GeoStabilization’s engineers proposed an economical and effective soil stabilization solution: launching a series of soil nails into the clay mass to improve its shear resistance to the dynamic loading of passing trains and prevent future ground collapse.
The British Army developed the precursor to GeoStabilization’s proprietary Soil Nail Launcher™ a few decades ago to launch chemical weapons. Today, the equipment is retired from military service, and GeoStabilization uses an improved version of it as an advanced soil stabilization technology.
The Soil Nail Launcher™ uses compressed air to accelerate and launch reinforced hollow bars made of steel or fiberglass into the rock or soil mass at speeds reaching 250 mph. The 20-foot-long bars increase soil density and soil retention in the target area, allowing them to stabilize and solidify active landslides, collapsing ground, or retention wall systems quickly.
Launched soil nails have a higher production rate and up to 10 times more pullout capacity than conventional drilled, driven, or vibrated soil nails. Traditional open-hole drilling also loosens the soil before the installation of the soil nails, which can negatively impact bond capacity. Tests confirm that launched soil nails produce a stronger nail/soil bond than traditional drilling methods.
By using the Soil Nail Launcher™ to launch soil nails into the collapsed railroad embankment, GeoStabilization’s crews were able to stop the ground collapse and deliver rapid installation while reducing track downtime and enabling regular train flow. In the coming years, TTCI research staff and GeoStabilization’s engineers will carry out in-depth monitoring and analysis of the slope to determine optimal installation parameters.
With over 5,500 landslides fixed to date, GeoStabilization International® is the world’s leading geohazard mitigation company. Its soil stabilization innovations have been critical to the success of multiple mission-critical railroad projects in the U.S., Canada, and Australasia.
The company’s specialized tools for railway geohazard mitigation, such as the Soil Nail Launcher™, make it possible to provide cost-effective and expedited installation even on remote and limited-access sites.
Thanks to the equipment’s high mobility, GeoStabilization’s crews can work with minimal environmental disturbance and track closures. Trains run on schedule, and mitigation projects often cost half as much as conventional repairs such as piling, caissons, and retaining walls. No other soil stabilization companies can match the performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness of GeoStabilization’s structures.
Want to learn more about the company’s engineered soil repairs and soil stabilization services for the railroad industry or request assistance with your project? Call GeoStabilization at 855-579-0536 or contact the company today.
If you are interested in a no-obligation site visit to determine if our services fit your geohazard mitigation needs, call us at 855-579-0536 or fill out our contact form.
