GeoStabilization’s Soil Nail Launcher™ is a compressed air cannon that accelerates a 1.5 in. diameter, 20 ft. long steel or fiberglass tube – a launched nail – up to 250 miles per hour in a single shot. The launcher is typically mounted on the arm of a modified tracked excavator; however, it can be mounted on vehicles, long reach excavators, or crane basket frames. This versatility allows the launcher to access remote locations with very little impact on the surrounding environment. GeoStabilization provides comprehensive Supernail™ design and installation services that is far superior than most traditional mitigation solutions.
“Launching nails can be a great short and/or long-term solution for facility access roads that are threatened by a landslide,” Corey Mislinski P.E., GeoStabilizations’ Project Development Engineer for Energy Services, said. “It is a fast and cost-effective way to stabilize, drain, and increase the strength of the soil.”
The launched nail enters the unstable soil slope without significant abrasion or loss of exterior corrosion protection. The soil particles collapse onto the nail in a relatively undisturbed state, yielding pullout capacities up to 10 times that of a driven or vibrated rod or tube. This method increases soil density in the nailed area, while conventional open-hole drilling techniques allow the soil to relax prior to installation.
GeoStabilization’s corrosion resistant launched SuperNail™ is perforated, allowing crews to pressure grout them with a variety of materials to increase bond capacity and improve soil properties throughout the nailed region. Once pressure grouted, an epoxy-coated inner bar can be installed inside the tube. Launched soil nails are also the fastest installations in the industry (nearly 250 20 ft. nails per day), allowing Upstream, Midstream, and Utility companies to act quickly to protect their assets.
The SuperNail™ services are a proven way to quickly and effectively mitigate landslide and erosion problems for even the most difficult to access locations.
