For this mission-critical project, GeoStabilization International® responded to a call to mitigate a landslide threatening the TransColorado Pipeline near Mancos, Colorado.
The repair site was on a very steep, limited-access slope. To reach the area and carry out the repair, GeoStabilization’s technicians suspended a drill from a large bulldozer and used it to launch solid bar soil nails to depths reaching 20 feet.
GeoStabilization’s crews then spread and anchored a high-capacity steel mesh over the slope to contain and prevent future landslides. The wire mesh had a special mat made of seeding and jute-type material to encourage plant regrowth on the repaired slope.
Erosion, rockfall, landslides, ground movement, and other geohazards pose serious risks to mission-critical energy infrastructure. Conventional solutions normally involve replacing or re-grading the failed soil in the area. While effective in repairing the compromised areas, this method often causes significant site and environmental disturbance and does not increase the stability of the slope in the long term.
GeoStabilization International® takes a different approach. Before beginning work on the site, the company’s engineers build a stability model of the area. They then utilize that model to identify and design the most appropriate geohazard mitigation solutions using innovative technologies. The goal is not just to repair the site but also to strengthen the slope with minimal site disturbance.
Soil nails are reinforced steel bars that are inserted into natural or artificial slopes to stabilize them and prevent erosion, rockfall, and landslides.
Traditionally, soil nails are drilled and grouted into the rock or soil mass, but GeoStabilization’s preferred method is soil nail launching. The company’s proprietary Soil Nail Launcher™ uses compressed air to launch up to 20-foot-long nails into the ground at speeds reaching 250 mph.
Compared to conventionally drilled nails, launched soil nails are faster to install, as they eliminate the need for drilling, filling the holes with cement, and waiting for it to harden. Unlike drilled nails, launched nails can also bear load immediately after installation.
Soil nails are often paired with other slope stabilization solutions for extra strength and erosion control. Steel-reinforced rigid shotcrete is a popular choice in the industry, but GeoStabilization’s engineers often opt for installing high-capacity steel wire mesh instead, which is a more economical and environmentally friendly alternative to shotcrete.
Woven wire mesh can be installed with or without post-tensioning to protect the slope from erosion and help direct the soil nail forces into the ground. The steel mesh grid pattern also allows vegetation regrowth in the affected area.
GeoStabilization International® offers a wide range of geohazard mitigation solutions, including erosion control, landslide remediation, slope stabilization, engineered soil repairs, and more.
Contact GeoStabilization International® today to learn more about its services or request a no-cost, no-obligation rapid site assessment. GeoStabilization maintains a 24-hour emergency response.
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.
