Nailed wall

A soil nailed retaining structure stabilizes and reinforces the soil mass in situ. The technique consists of inserting and grouting - usually subhorizontally - closely spaced slender steel reinforcing bars or “nails” typically anchored in a steel grid reinforced shotcrete facing applied on the excavation front in order to provide continuity in support. Soil nail walls are relatively flexible, suitable only for excavation above groundwater.

Construction chart

Construction sequence

Excavation one level after another

1. Initial excavation of a small, unsupported cut, typically 1 to 2 m high and installation of the reinforcement mesh

2. In situ soil reinforcement by installing and grouting of not pre-tensioned, passive elements or ‘nails’, immediately followed by placing the facing element, i.e. shotcrete

3. Construction of the subsequent excavation levels, installation of the next rows of nails and projection of concrete facing until the wall has stabilized

4. Final nailed wall

Fields of application

• Soil reinforcement, construction of earth retention support systems

• Suitable for confined areas with difficult and restricted access

• Underpinning and stabilization

• Realization of high and/or steep cuttings to maximise development space

• Not usable in soils without short-term cohesion because soil nail walls require soil (slope, excavation) deformation to efficiently mobilize the soil nail forces

Environmental impact

• Vibration-free

• Soil removal

• Limited to working areas without presence of groundwater table during the excavation

• Protection of the immediate surroundings when projecting shotcrete (buildings, compounds, …)

• A stable, dry and flat work platform is needed

Technical specifications

• The surfaces between the nails are stabilized by applying reinforced shotcrete

• Nails and shotcrete are progressively installed as the exaction works progress

• The result is a gravity wall, almost vertical or inclined

Atlas Fondations

Franki Foundations

Franki Foundations is the undisputed leader in the Belgian market, offering a wide range of deep foundation solutions. The group has affiliates in Belgium and Luxemburg, France (Atlas Fondations), Netherlands (Franki Grondtechnieken) and the UK (Franki Foundations UK). We are also active in the DRC (Congo), the UAE and Qatar. Franki Foundations is a member of BESIX Group. Our more than 250 staff will do its utmost to find and effect the right solution to your foundation problem, big or small!