Experimental evaluation of stabilizad excavated wall using composite soil nailing and anchor

Stabilizing of vertical slopes is one of the important problems in civil engineering. Different methods are being used for slope stabilizing that composite soil nailing is one of them. By using this method, shear resistance of soil increases that led to increases the stability of system. In this study a small-scaled physical model was prepared in which a strip footing adjacent to excavated wall was considered. Composite soil nailing including two row nails and one row anchors has been used in order to stabilize the excavated wall. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been undertaken to investigate the behavior of composite soil nailing with pre-stressed anchor system. First, the model has been prepared and elements were located in specific positions. Digital photographs were taken after each step of excavating and also after each step of footing loading. Using image processing on sequences of digital images, behavior of system was observed. Results show that for special length of anchors located in middle row, bearing capacity of footing increases and horizontal displacement of wall decreases. It was also observed that maximum horizontal displacement of wall occurs in lower part of that by using composite soil nailing with pre-stressed anchors, although in soil nailing, maximum horizontal displacement occurs in top of the wall.