About Drilling Technology - Understanding Drilled Shaft, Soil Nails, Retaining Walls

1. Article - Dmidrilling.com Drilling Technology - Understanding Drilled Shaft, Soil Nails, Retaining Walls Earth drilling is an extremely specialized filed - one that requires top notch equipment and tools for executing projects effectively. Here is an article that will help you understand some basic drilling concepts and systems that are commonly used at the project site. Drilled Shafts Drilled shafts are used for bridges and large structures, where large loads and lateral resistance are a major factor. They are a cost effective and help in building an excellent performing deep foundation system. A Drilled shaft is a deep base or substructure (foundation) that is constructed by placing fluid material in a drilled hole. They are also called caissons, drilled piers or bored piles. Its utilization is worldwide. Drilled shafts are high capacity, cast-in-place, deep foundation elements, constructed using an auger. The finished substructure (which is the foundation) element resists compressive, uplift and lateral or side loads. They are used to support buildings, towers, tanks and bridges. Soil nails Soil nails or soil nailing is a construction skill that can be used as a remedial or cure measure to treat any unstable natural soil slopes. It is an earth control technique that uses grouted tension-resisting steel elements (nails) that can be design for permanent or temporary support. Tension-resisting steel bars are put into the holes and grouted. It is a technique or a skill in which the soil slopes and retaining walls are strengthened by inserting relatively slender elements into the surface. The function of the soil nail is to provide tensile resistance; therefore the pullout capacity of the nail is of major importance. The design capacity is verified on site by conducting pullout tests in conjunction with the installation. Soil nails are used to stabilize slopes and landslides, provide earth retention for excavations, for buildings, plants, and deep cuts, tunnels, parking structure and for repairs in existing retaining walls. It is a method of strengthening the natural soil slopes by installing grouted steel bars (which are called nails), into the soil slope for increasing the shear capacity of the surface. The nails are placed through the potential failure planes; the frictional force developed between the grouting around the nails and the soil provides the required stabilization force. Retaining walls A Retaining wall is a structure that retains or holds back any material (usually earth) and prevents it from sliding away. It is designed to combat the pressure of material that it is being held back. These walls are of many types such as: gravity walls, brick, hybrid system etc. Retaining wall are used to bound soil between two different elevations, often in areas of terrain possessing undesirable slopes or in areas where the landscape needs to be shaped severely. These walls are engineered for more definite purposes like hillside farming or roadway overpasses. Every retaining wall supports a "wedge" of the soil. The most important consideration in proper design and installation of retaining walls is to recognize and prevent the inclination of the retained material and prevent it from moving downslope due to gravity. The wall is

2. Article - Dmidrilling.com also designed to retain the water. For more information, visit www.Dmidrilling.com. About the Company DMI Drilling Construction has been providing retaining wall services to clients across Washington State since 1991. The company specializes in a variety of techniques, including the creation of caissons, soldier pile wall, piers and soil nails, that are meant to ensure stable foundations and safer working conditions.