When stormwater surges, the flooding is often uncontrollable and unpredictable. This can result in homes, businesses and even lives being lost. At the time they occur, there’s not much that can be done. There is, however, ways to prepare ground and embankments to mediate the impact that flooding can have.
Excavating the Surrounding Areas Flattening of slopes and excavating the natural lay of the land reduces the weight on unstable soil. By redirecting the flow of water away from high-risk areas, the chance of damages is reduced. Excavating and installing proper drainage is also very important, as is keeping drains open, ensuring the maximum amount of surface water can be redirected and moved safely underground.
Installing Piled or Retaining Walls One of the best ways to protect slopes is using professional ground support contractors to install piled and/or retaining walls. piled walls consist of a series of interlocking loads which hold groundwater at the rear of the wall (shown right). Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to stepped levels, which contain soil which would not naturally be held in place.
Bluey provides a range of slope stabilisation products, and we work closely with dozens of specialised and highly qualified contractors. Contact us for a recommendation of an approved contractor in your area.
PUR Injection Grouting Soil stabilisation by injection is a rapidly developing method to secure a slope and minimise damage caused by stormwater. The process involves using a vertical drill rig to drill holes up to 100mm in diameter. PVC tubes are later grouted into place, along with a mechanical packer, which is inserted to a predetermined depth. A polyurethane resin such as BluRez CSW can then be injected, filling voids, and ensuring the stability of structures and assets, such as roads, foundations and slopes.
Soil Nailing Soil nailing is a technique used to strengthen an existing slope by installing closely spaced GRP bars or steel nails, grouted into a slope or excavation. The nail bars are passively anchored into place, meaning that they are not under tension until the soil becomes unstable, when they then limit the displacement of the ground.
Soil nailing has shown to be one of the most effective ways to ensure the stability of a slope. Because of this, we’ve developed a Glass-Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GRP) continuously threaded solid bar which forms a high load-carrying capacity. Compared to traditional steel soil nails, BluGeo GRP60 has benefits such as 100-year design life, high tensile and shear strengths and easy handling and lightweight, reducing installation times and expenses.
