Photo showing installation of a soil nail wall

How Does a Soil Nail Wall Work?

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / January 25, 2021

How does a soil nail wall work? Concept Soil nail walls are typically designed using a limit equilibrium analysis.  Think of the sliding block experiment in high school physics lab where you may have calculated what force is required to overcome friction and move a sandpaper block along an incline.  In a soil nail wall,…

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Photo of Alex Smith

Alex Smith is the New Managing Member

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / January 8, 2021

Congratulations to Alex Smith on becoming the new Managing Member at Subsurface Construction.  Alex is a professional engineer, a partner at Subsurface, a volunteer in his community and our friend.  We sat down with Alex to see what makes him tick. Briefly describe what you do all day. For the first 12 years at Subsurface,…

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Permanent soil nail wall during shoring construction project

Soil Nail Wall Advantages

By Jeffrey W. Coonse, PE / January 5, 2021

What are the advantages of a soil nail wall? Speed and Cost Soil nail walls are installed more quickly and cost effectively than other shoring systems.  Soldier pile walls or sheet pile walls require large equipment to drill in place or drive the piles or sheets.   Soil nails avoid the time and cost of installing…

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