At GeoStabilization International®, we offer a comprehensive range of slope stabilization solutions to mitigate the risk of road collapses, personal injury, and property damage. These services include but are not limited to rock scaling, shotcrete applications, and shear key construction. Contact us to learn more about our shear key roadside repair solutions.
In the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States, a rockslide presented a variety of problems for the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT). The rockslide caused massive boulders to obstruct both travel lanes on a local state road. To alleviate the emergency, the DOT hired GeoStabilization International® to mitigate the rockfall with an innovative slope stabilization system, completed safely and efficiently.
Due to the active nature of the rockslide, special safety precautions had to be enforced to protect the GeoStabilization and DOT team members. The work was completed from each end and then progressed to the middle of the unstable area. Each stabilization phase had to be completed in sequence before crews could work below the rock slope.
The cause of the rockslide was a highly weathered layer of rock that became unstable. As water entered the cracks in the unstable rock formation, large rock sections began to fall. The failed layer left a void in the rock slope that previously supported the entire rock mass above.
GeoStabilization’s crews quickly responded to the site to aid in breaking down and removing the fallen material and begin constructing a slope stabilization system. The rocks that had covered the roadway were too massive to remove. Instead, the crews drilled into the rocks and injected an expansive, non-explosive demolition agent to break the large rocks into manageable pieces that could be removed with traditional excavation equipment; without introducing blasts or vibrations that could destabilize the upper rock slope. Once the failed material was removed from the roadway, the rock stabilization process could begin.
The crews drilled shear dowels into the stable material to support a reinforced shotcrete beam. The beam spanned the entire failure surface and worked with the installed dowels to support the unstable rock material above. Once the unstable rock material was supported, GeoStabilization’s crews applied a concrete stain to the shotcrete to provide a natural look that would blend in with the surroundings.
Shear Key mitigation is a cost-effective method to stabilize low slopes. This mitigation process involves the excavation of a continuous gravel trench from the ground surface through the sliding surface. This gravel-filled trench acts as an interceptor drain that controls the groundwater levels in the area.
Rock scaling involves the controlled removal of loose rock structures from a cliff face to prevent future rockfalls. First, rope access technicians thoroughly assess the slope to determine the most effective scaling methods. Then, scaling work begins, starting from the top of the slope or cliff face down to the bottom.
In most cases, rock loosening tools, such as pry bars and limited-access rock drills, effectively loosen fractured rock structures. However, when dealing with large slabs or boulders, GeoStabilization International® technicians will use a non-demolition agent to break these structures into smaller pieces.
GeoStabilization International® takes various precautionary steps to protect surrounding infrastructures during a rock scaling service. Our team only uses scaling methods that will not destabilize or loosen intact rock structures.
Shotcrete, or gunite, is a type of concrete that crews apply in wet form and at a high velocity to a cliff face or other slope. The shotcrete material conforms to the shape of the slope surface and hardens, forming an impenetrable barrier. The shotcrete can adhere to any surface material. After hardening, this material has the same characteristics as cast-in-place concrete applications. However, shotcrete surfaces are not susceptible to cold-joint issues, unlike cast-in-place concrete.
We often recommend shotcrete to stabilize infrastructures such as tunnel roofs and steep road slopes. Other shotcrete applications include the stabilization of roadways and the shoring of berth faces and bridges. Shotcrete is a versatile and long-lasting stabilization solution. The shotcrete material also dries quickly, which is ideal for preventing an imminent rockfall.
A rock bolt installation involves anchoring loose rock structures to more intact ones, preventing small-scale rockfalls. GeoStabilization International® crews often combine rock bolt mitigation with an anchored mesh installation to create a uniform system that affixes loose rock structures to a steep slope or tunnel roof.
A rock bolt installation starts with drilling a hole into the rock, inserting a steel rod, and connecting the high-capacity wire mesh to the anchor with a bolt. A mechanical rock bolt installation involves using an expansion shell that presses against the borehole wall and keeps the anchor in place.
At GeoStabilization International®, our rockfall mitigation teams have over 20 years of experience in rock scaling, shear key placements, and other landslide prevention services. Contact our office at 855-579-0536 to learn about our geohazard mitigation solutions for geotechnical applications.
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.
