Context:
The state highways department of Tamil Nadu has initiated a project titled ‘slope stabilization using soil nailing and hydroseeding method’ along several areas surrounding the Nilgiris’ major roads. This project aims to prevent soil erosion and enhance stability in vulnerable areas, thereby ensuring safer and more resilient road infrastructure in the region.
Relevance:
GS III: Science and Technology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Soil Nailing Overview
- Hydroseeding Explanation
Soil Nailing Overview:
- Soil nailing is a technique in geotechnical engineering aimed at fortifying specific areas of soil by introducing reinforcing elements.
- The process involves inserting steel tendons into the soil and grouting them, creating a composite mass akin to a gravity wall.
Methods of Soil Nailing:
- Drilled and Grouted Soil Nailing: Nails are inserted into pre-drilled holes and filled with grouting materials.
- Driven Soil Nailing: Primarily for temporary stabilization; fast but lacks corrosion protection for the steel.
- Drilling Soil Nailing: Utilizes hollow bars, drilled and injected with grout; typically faster than driven nails.
- Jet Grouted Soil Nailing: Involves creating holes in eroding soil, installing steel bars, and grouting with concrete.
- Launched Soil Nailing: Steel bars are forcefully nailed into the soil in a single shot using compression by an air mechanism.
Common Applications:
- Stabilizing slopes and landslides
- Supporting excavations
- Repairing existing retaining walls
Hydroseeding Explanation:
- Hydroseeding is the process of spreading a blend of seeds, fertilizer, organic materials, and water onto soil to encourage grass and plant growth.
- The resulting vegetation helps bind the topsoil, preventing erosion.
-Source: The Hindu
