Design of Soil Nails in Loose Fill

Cheung Yu Kit
&
Lam Chi Hang Joseph
2006/5/2

Introduction
The slope upgrading works at Shun Tin
Estate
Located at the south of Tin Chi House and
the multi-storey car park of Shun Tin
Estate

841300

98.2

841400

SH UN TIN ESTAT E

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11 NE-D/F142

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Tin

ark k

r
Car P ar Ptaop)
tor ey re y Croof-

83.4

o t
-s
lti i -st n a
Mu ul t r de
M Ga
(

83.8

11 NE-D/F143

82.2

use
hi Ho

11NE-D /C6 82

E
11 N

Basketball

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820600

- D /C

Cour t

11NE-D /FR 140

820600

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84.1

EN
RO

D
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11 NE-D/FR14
4
68.2

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|

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67.5

66.5

L
73.9

L
68.9

333

66.4
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/F
11 NE -D
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FTk

841300

841400

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Slope Features
It is approximately 25m in length and has a
maximum height of 6m.
The average slope angle of the feature is
approximately 45o.
The slope surface is covered by shotcrete.
Previous stability analysis indicated that it
does not satisfy the requirements of the
current geotechnical standards
4

Objectives
Installation of soil nails with concrete
grillage beam system, and
Installation of prescriptive raking drains

GROUND Investigation (GI)

WORKS and laboratory tests
Field Work
A drillhole, six trial pits and one stripping were
carried out to confirm the geological profile of
the feature.
Laboratory testing on soil samples retrieved
from the ground investigation works was
conducted. The tests consisted of soil
classification tests and triaxial compression tests
6

LEGEND:
Feature Boundary

Existing Stripping Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 199701751-025
Existing Stripping Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-005
Existing Drill Hole Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-005
Existing Trial Pit Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-005
Existing Drill Hole Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-002
Existing Trial Pit Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-002
Existing Drill Hole Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 200317768-004
Existing Drill Hole Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 199701751-025
Existing Trial Pit Carried Out Under HKHA Works Order No. 199701751-025
Existing Drill Hole Carried Out by Gammon (HK) Ltd under W.O. 25

Drawing Title

Project Title

CIEM 572 Advanced Foundation Design

Group Project
Topic: Design of Soil Nails in Loose Fill

GEOLOGICAL SECTION 11

Scale
Date

1:200
04/06

Figure 2

Geotechnical Assessment

Geology
Soil Stability Analysis
Groundwater Regime Monitoring
Degree of Compaction of Existing Fill
Material
Slope Stability Analysis

Geology
The fill material is classified as loose to
medium dense, light yellowish brown
slightly clayey silty fine to coarse SAND
with some occasional subangular fine
gavel of quartz, which agrees with the
previous ground investigation results.

10

Soil Stability Analysis

Soil Parameters for Analysis
The tests included
moisture content, particle size distribution
determinations, and
consolidated undrained triaxial compression
tests.

11

Design Shear Strength

Parameters of soil
Soil Type

Effective
Cohesion
c (kPa)
0

Effective
Angle of
Friction (o)

Fill

Bulk
Density
(kN/m3)
19

Fill*

19

26

CDG

19

36

36

* - Lower bound shear strength parameters before the onset

of undrained behaviour

12

Groundwater Regime Monitoring

G.I.
Stations

Ground
Level
(mPD)

Tip
Level
(mPD)

BH5

+91.79

+81.25

Highest
Ground
Water
(mPD)
+84.50

C682DH1

+91.62

+76.16

+80.76

Measured
Period

Jul 84
Dec 84
May 05
Sept 05
13

Degree of Compaction of
Existing Fill Material
Trial Pit
No.

Depth
(m)

Moisture
Content
(%)

Dry Density
(Mg/m3)

Max. Dry
Density
(Mg/m3)

Relative
Compaction
(%)

TP1

1.0

14

1.48

1.77

84

TP2

1.0

14

1.69

1.77

95

TP2

2.0

17

1.26

1.70

74

TP3

1.0

14

1.48

1.76

84

TP4

1.0

15

1.48

1.74

85

TP5

1.0

13

1.49

1.81

82

TP5

2.0

18

1.49

1.70

87

TP5

3.0

17

1.34

1.69

79

TP6

1.0

12

1.72

1.87

92

TP6

2.0

15

1.49

1.80

83

TP6

3.0

15

1.39

1.78

78

Conclusion: Degree of compaction < 95%

14

Slope Stability Analysis

Table 3.4 Factor of Safety of the feature in existing condition

Calculated Minimum FoS of existing

feature for Slips (circular) passing
through feature toe, Perched
Groundwater Table within Fill Layer
Section 1-1
Required
Min. FoS

0.65

1.40*

* C-T-L Category 1 slopes in accordance with WBTC No. 13/99.

15

DESIGN OF UPGRADING WORKS

Soil Nail with Grillage Beam System
Surface Drainage
Sub-surface Drainage

16

Soil Nail with Grillage Beam System

Final Report on a Preliminary Study on Soil
Nails in Loose Fill Slopes (HKIE) and Special
Task Design of Soil Nails and Structural
Facing/Grillage in Stabilising Loose Fill Slope
(Black Veatch Hong Kong Limited)
A minimum factor of safety of 1.10
A frictional shear strength of c=0kPa and =33

17

Calculated Minimum FoS of Upgraded

feature for Slips (circular) passing through
feature toe, Perched Groundwater Table
within Fill Layer
Strength
of Fill

Steady State
Undrained
Strength

Frictional Shear
Strength

Section
1-1

1.21

3.60

Reqd
Min. FoS

1.10

1.40

18

GENERAL VIEWS OF THE FEATURE

Plate 1:
General view
of setting out
soil nails.
Plate 2:
General view
of drilling
process for
19
test nail

GENERAL VIEWS OF THE FEATURE

Plate 3:
General view of
the process of
pull-out test nail

20

General view of drilling process for

permanent nails

21

General view of bar installation for

permanent nails

22

Surface Drainage
The adequacy of the existing surface
drainage system on the feature is assessed
in accordance with the Geotechnical
Manual of Slopes.
A rainfall intensity based on a return
period of 1 in 200 years is assumed.

23

General view of the process of the

excavation of grillage beam

24

General view of the excavation of

grillage beam

25

General view of the erection of steel

reinforcement

26

General view of the process of the

erection of formwork

27

Sub-surface Drainage
Raking drains are proposed to be a
prescriptive measures to relieve the
possible ground water pressure to be built
up in the fill material.

28

General view of the process of the

installation of raking drains

29

General view of drilling process for

raking drains

30

Recommendations and
Conclusions
Feature No. 11NE-D/C682 comprises a
soil fill slope and it has a maximum height
of 6m.
The stability of the study feature is found
to be below the current standards.
Therefore, slope upgrading works for the
study feature are considered necessary.
31

Recommendations and
Conclusions (Cont)
Works involving installation of soil nails are
designed to improve the slope to achieve the
required FoS.
A reinforced concrete grillage beam system on
the slope will be constructed together with the
soil nail heads so that the required nail force is
developed and the potential sliding soil mass can
be adequately restrained.
Prescriptive raking drains are also proposed with
due regard to the possibilities of rising of perch
ground water level in the loose fill.
32

References
HKHA Stage 2 Study for Shun Tin Estate,
Binnie Black & Veatch Hong Kong Ltd
Works Bureau Technical Circular No. 13/99,
April 1999, Hong Kong Government.
Works Order No. 200315926-001 Ground
Investigation Works of Features No. 11NED/C682 at Shun Tin Estate DrilTech Ground
Engineering Ltd.
HKIE(2003). Final Report on a Preliminary
Study on Soil Nails in Loose Fill.
33