Slope Stabilisation may be required on both existing slopes and new excavations, in either made ground or natural soils or rocks.
The stability of any slope or excavation can be enhanced by improving slope drainage or earthworks; or by reinforcing the ground with soil or rock anchors, soil nails, rock-bolts or mini-piles.
Quantum offers a design and construct service that will provide a cost effective, practical solution to most slope stabilisation problems.
These may include:
- Soil slope stabilisation
- Rock slope stabilisation
- Embankments and cuttings for highways or rail projects
- Excavations for temporary works or a permanent solution
- Stabilisation of existing structures, whether retaining walls or tunnel portals
All these potential problems can be solved by applying sound engineering principles, utilising established methods, as well as innovative solutions, to resolve stability issues.
Soil Nailing reinforces and strengthens a slope by the drilling of steel reinforcing bars into the slope on a regular pattern at a specified angle and length, providing a reinforced slope mass able to retain the supported ground. Soil nailing lends itself to most slope stabilisation situations, whether it is instability of existing embankments or cuttings, new excavations, or improving the stability of existing structures.
Ground Anchors are employed where an active force is required to stabilise either a soil or rock slope, or an existing retaining structure. A steel reinforcing bar or cable tendon is installed in a grouted borehole, and the load required to anchor the structural load or earth pressures transmitted from the anchor head to the fixed anchor length embedded beyond any potential failure zone.
Rock Bolts are a simple method of securing unstable blocks or wedges within rock masses, where toppling, sliding or wedge failure may otherwise occur. A cement or resin grouted bar is installed in a drill-hole and secured with an anchor plate at the surface.
Slopes that are susceptible to ravelling or spalling of rock, or if it requires a temporary or permanent facing to a soil or rock slope, this can be stabilised effectively with a sprayed concrete face (shotcrete). The shotcrete is applied by specialist equipment in layers of between 50mm and 100mm often incorporating steel reinforcing mesh to provide additional support to the face and transfer of loads from nail or anchor heads to the slope face.
Quantum operates their own fleet of drilling rigs, and adaptable masts, to all aspects of slope stability problems, including limited access sites and where rope-access methods are necessary.