Optimization of Soil Nailing under Some Uncertainties

Soil Nailing is generally practiced in Malaysian slopes for highway and hillside development projects as a stabilization method for very steep cut slopes. Due to its ease of construction and is relatively maintenance free as an effective slope stabilization method, soil nail slopes with a height greater than 20 m is gradually being used for slopes in Malaysia. In this study, “Slope A” which is an existing cut slope with reinforcement of soil nailing is being reanalyzed in order to minimize the cost. Therefore, parametric studies are conducted using this existing project model to study the effects of certain factors such as slope geometry, water table level, soil parameters and factor of safety on the slope stability. Also, a few areas such as the soil nailing configuration (arrangement and length) and other parameters are taken into account to determine the optimization in terms of project cost. A software, named SLOPE/W is used by applying soil nails to improve the slope stability and to propose the most economical slope condition. The results obtained from the study will determine the most economical slope which optimize in terms of reduction in total length of soil nailing.