ABSTRACT
The major construction activities involved in a soil nailing project include excavation, nail installation, grouting, nail head and facing construction, surface and subsurface drainage provisions, etc. Successful construction of a soil nailed structure is attributed to many factors, including good project planning, good quality of materials, effective construction method, good workmanship, and construction safety. In this chapter, the key aspects during the construction stage concerning the safety and quality of soil nailed structures are identified and discussed. These include various soil nail installation methods, construction sequence, and the key elements of the quality assurance system. Difficulties that may be encountered during the construction of soil nails, together with the corresponding preventive and mitigation measures, are also highlighted. It is of paramount importance that designers, contractors, and site supervision teams fully understand the merits and limitations of the soil nailing technique, the key design assumptions, site settings, scope of works, and the possible challenges that may be encountered during construction. The development and application of non-destructive testing method in enhancing the quality of soil nailing works are also discussed in this chapter.
