Launched Soil Nail arrays can stops shallow landslides without excavation, drill cuttings and fluids, or significant site disturbance, often requiring only one lane of traffic closure during working hours. This translates to decreased enviornmental impact, a much reduced carbon footprint and significant project time and cost savings, compared to more traditional techniques.
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 1:
New Ways to Deal with Landslides that can cut costs in half
Look at the photo and sketches. Where the roadway or canal road width is not compromised, then the headscarp can
be nailed. This stops progression of the failure and preserves the platform -- without the cost of correcting the
landslide. This can cut cost by 75%, compared to traditional repairs! Plates, mesh and shotcrete are optional.
Where the slide is just beginning, the existing ground can be nailed in place. This removes the driving force from the
slide. Launched Nails in this application are typically much less expensive than more traditional repair techniques.
Launched Soil Nails can be hollow and serve double duty as Horizontal Drains. Multiple Horizontal Drains dry out the
toe area, making it stronger. These Launched Horizontal Drains are hollow steel bars, and provide significant increased
tensile capacity in the toe area. Wet areas, seeps, slide toes - anywhere water is not wanted -- we can relieve the
water and the pressure with a dense array of Launched Horizontal Drains.
The Launcher can reach across canals, over guard rail and between trees. It can even walk over railroad tracks,
wetlands, golf greens, high school running tracks...
NYSDOT Shallow Slope Repair Demonstration
Route 30A, Village of Fonda, Montgomery County, New York
This project showcased an
innovative design by the
NYSDOT Region 2. The
project required the removal
of the existing stone fill and
guiderail beam that was
installed on the side slope to temporarily retain the slope.
Geosynthetic fabric was then
placed on the slope and
galvanized SuperNails™ were
launched through the fabric to
reinforce the locally unstable
soil masses. The design
required approximately 180
launched SuperNails™ in three
rows on a staggered pattern
of 1.2 meter spacing both
horizontally and vertically.
The general contractor (The
Delaney Group, Inc.) then
placed medium sized stone fill
(175 cm) around the
protruding ends of the
launched SuperNails™ which
locked them in place on the
1½ : 1 slope.
Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. was
able to maintain traffic in the opposing lane during
construction and both lanes
after working hours. The
Launcher also worked
successfully over the existing
box beam guiderail and under
the overhead utility lines.
All work was performed in
accordance with the
construction documents and
the latest New York State
Department of Transportation
Engineering Instruction (EI).
Several local agency officials
and road maintenance
personnel from surrounding
counties were on hand to see
the demonstration project
which was completed in less
than three days.
Project Contacts
Perry A. Kairis, P.E.:
perry@soilnaillauncher.com
Before - Notice guardrail deflection and other various
maintenance repair attempts
During - The Launcher can maneuver around trees,
signs, overheads and other obstacles and within all
required safety distances
During - Medium sized stone (175 cm) facing
Nearing completion after only three days
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 2:
NYDOT Region 2 Herkimer Slides
NYDOT Region 2 had a series of progressive slides near Herkimer. The roadway shoulder was eroding and sliding. Cost for comprehensive traditional repairs seemed excessive. David Patterson, Region 2 Geotechnical Engineer, asked for a proposal to repair the sites with Launched Soil Nails, including areas of surface treatment with
erosion mat, steel mesh and shotcrete.
NYDOT determined Launched Soil Nails offered the advantages of both economy and rapid construction, and authorized C. P. Ward Construction of Scottsville to contract with Soil Nail Launcher, Inc. to jointly repair the series of slides.
Contacts:
DPatterson@dot.state.ny.us
rifinley2@yahoo.com (C. P. Ward Construction) Bob@SoilNailLauncher.com
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 3:
GRAND COUNTY-USFS LANDSLIDE -
U.S. Forest Service Research Pays Off
Grand County, Colorado and the U. S. Forest Service partnered on repairs to a fill slope failure two years ago. That attempt included a rock buttress and was
unsuccessful. The head scarp progressed to the shoulder and was ready to take out half a lane. Launched Soil Nails were inserted into the headscarp area and a highstrength
concrete wall was constructed with mesh and shotcrete. The work was performed under traffic and took about a day. Cost was half or less of "traditional"repairs.
Research pays off for the U. S. Forest Service. There is more to this case history. John Steward, then with the U. S. Forest Service, invited Bernard Myles of
Great Britain to conduct a demonstration project of the Soil Nail Launcher. The Launcher visited 4 states and repaired numerous slides. The video report of that demo
can be see on this website. The USFS reported that the Launcher was indeed a viable new tool for landslide repair. That $250,000 research investment has come full
circle. Both the USFS and Grand County saved a bundle on repair of a difficult slide. The future is bright for the Soil Nail Launcher.
Contacts:
Clark Branstetter, Grand County Road and Bridge Supervisor: cbranstetter@co.grand.co.us
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 4:
DOLORES USFS LANDSLIDE
The U. S. Forest Service conducted a Demonstration Project of the Soil Nail Launcher in 1992. John Steward of the USFS organized the project and Mike Burke of the
San Juan National Forest was one of the hosts. Mike selected a slide for trial repair with Launched Soil Nails on a USFS Road near Dolores, Colorado. That repair
continues to be effective.
The slide progressed beyond the repaired slope in recent years. Mike created a project and used the Soil Nail Launcher again to halt the expansion of the shoulder
failure at the Dolores Slide. This is about a good a testament of the efficacy of Launched Nails as could be found. The slide that was repaired 12 years ago continues
to hold. The roadway upgrade that was not nailed developed a failure.
Contacts:
Mike Burke, USFS Geotechnical Engineer
San Juan National Forest - mburke01@fs.fed.us
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 5:
MANITOU SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL RUNNING TRACK
Manitou Springs High School constructed a school facility at the top of a hill. The hilltop was leveled by cutting the high ground and filling along the outside. Some of
the rubberized asphalt running track was placed on the cut/fill transition. Cracking was observed in the surface, indicating excessive settlement or incipient failure.
While settlement could be tolerated to some degree, a failure would be most difficult to repair at this location. In addition, equipment used to improve stability of the
fill had to preserve the surface of the expensive running track.
The Soil Nail Launcher met all the constraints and at a much lower cost than "traditional" landslide repair techniques. Note in the photos that the track was not
harmed. You can see why the USFS calls the Launcher the "GREEN MACHINE". It can work around existing vegetation with little damage. This new tool has a myriad
of applications.
Contacts:
Gerrit Mahsman, Asst. Superintendent gmahsman@mssd14.k12.co.us
Shallow Landslide Mitigation 6:
SOIL NAIL LAUNCHER - The Oregon Demonstrations
Hood River County Public Works Director, Roger Kauble and County Engineer, Don Wiley, invited SNL, Inc. to demonstrate the new Soil Nail Launcher in a variety of
situations along county roads. Hood River County invited personnel from other counties, ODOT and USFS to observe the Launcher in action.
Tim Ruckman, SNL's field superintendent, and John Steward, PBS Geotechnical Engineer, explain how Launched Nails improve slope stability to County, State and
Federal visitors at the Hood River Demonstrations.
Bill Gille of Yamhill County and Mike Phillips of Multnomah County also hosted Demonstrations at some difficult slope stability situations. John Steward and John
Mohney of PBS, Inc Consultants are providing design criteria to all three Counties based on the successful results of that demonstration series.
Contacts: Don Wiley of Hood River County
don.wiley@co.hood-river.or.us