Soil Nailing is a drilling technique used to stabilise slopes, retaining structures and excavation faces by installing passive steel bars into the soil mass. The method creates a reinforced soil structure that works as a composite system, increasing stability and shear resistance.
The system consists of drilled holes, steel reinforcement bars (nails) and cementitious grout that bonds the reinforcement to the surrounding soil. A facing system, often composed of shotcrete and reinforcement mesh, is typically applied to provide surface stability and erosion control.
Soil nailing is particularly effective in cohesive or lightly cemented soils and is widely used in infrastructure, transportation and urban excavation projects.
Typical applications include:
- Slope stabilisation
- Temporary and permanent excavation support
- Road and railway cuttings
- Landslide mitigation
- Retaining system rehabilitation
