C60 International Conference

Tradition and Innovation - 60 Years of Constructions in Transilvania

Slope Protection and Stabilisation on DN1C, km 113

George Corbescu1, Marius Bucur1, Dorin-Vasile Moldovan2, Radu Vasile Cot2, Lavinia-Elena Muntean3
1

Geobrugg AG Geohazard Solutions, Aachstrasse 11, Romanshorn, Switzerland

2
The Technical University, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania
3
University of Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania

Abstract: Part of the investment Design and building of DN 1C Dej Baia Mare measures were required to
provide overall stability and protection against surface failure in the case of a slope situated at km 113. The objective of
this paper consists in presenting the solution chosen as early as the design stage and its implementation in the field.

Keywords: mesh, high tensile steel, nails, stabilisation.

Introduction
At the beginning of 2011, sector Dej - Baia Mare part of the national road 1C, which connects Cluj-Napoca city to the
North-West border of the country, crossing cities and towns such as Gherla, Dej, Baia Mare and Seini, was subject of
rehabilitation. In this respect, C.N.A.D.N.R. awarded the project Design and building of DN 1C Dej Baia Mare to
the Spanish Company FCC Construccion, Bucharest subsidiary.
Though the main objective of the project consisted in relaying the asphalt, other related works had to be put into place,
too, among which: building gutters, undercrossings or various protection works to prevent/ fight against ground sliding.
The works related to the stabilization of soil and slope protection at km 113 are included in the latter category
mentioned.

Solutions under analysis

Consequent to the cut into the slope to expand the carriageway, it became necessary to implement other complementary
measures to provide stability to the produced slope. Two categories of solutions were investigated (Fig. 1): stiff
solutions, such as support walls or flexible solutions, such as the anchored steel wire mesh. The stiff solution required a
large amount of cutting at the base of the slope to build the raft of the support wall. Moreover, the stability factor, which
was very close to the limit, would have turned into an under the unit ratio and the building time would have stretched
over some weeks. Oppositely, the anchored steel wire mesh solution did not require a modification of the slope
geometry, the building time would have been shortened and the visual and environmental impact would have been
minimal. The cost issue was another item to consider.
The financial analysis (cost-profit) also contributed to the decision of protecting and stabilising the slope with a high
tensile steel wire mesh system (Rt 1.770 N/mm2).
R.C. support wall

Figure 1: - Solutions under analysis/ Anchor positioning /Tecco High tensile steel wire mesh G65/3mm /Seam Rope anchor

C60 International Conference

Tradition and Innovation - 60 Years of Constructions in Transilvania

The TECCO slope protection system

The Tecco (picture 1) for stabilising slopes and sides performs this operation, irrespective of the nature of the soil and
protects the steep slopes against rock or weathered or loose boulders or stone falling/breakouts, under the action of
external factors and weather conditions.
For this purpose, the slope to be protected is covered with a high tensile steel wire mesh, after having been cleaned,
levelled and profiled. Dependent on the ground nature, the mesh is fixed with full core bars or self-drilling bars
tensioned by screwing the nut up to a tightening moment that is previously calculated.
Through the anchor spike plates, the mesh presses the slope surface and prevents deformations, slippage or breakout. As
it is an active system, the external stressing increases system safety and efficiency.
The systems actively stabilises the ground by tensioning, and gives provision against failures in a parallel plan to the
slope for a layer of maximum 1.50 m thickness and also against local failures among the anchor bars at a similar
thickness of 1.50 m. An external active tensioning for the surface with an average force of 5 kN/m2 is also supplied.
The system withstands UV radiation; it has a service life of about 50 years due to the Ultracoating anticorrosive
protective coating and does not require post assembly maintenance.
For the dimensioning of the Tecco system, the especially dedicated Ruvolum software was used. The software
requires as input data the geotechnical characteristics of the soil to be consolidated/stabilised as well as other
information related to the physical and mechanical characteristics of the nails. Ruvolum provides output data with
respect to the distance between nails, their type and diameter.

Picture 1: Active stabilisation of soil or rock slopes with high tensile steel wire mesh and nails

Ruvolum dimensioning concept for flexible systems of slope and side stabilisation
The Ruvolum dimensioning concept was developed to dimension flexible systems dedicated to the stabilisation of
slopes. The systems make use of high tensile steel wire mesh mixed with a various types of anchors. The software
investigates the local surface instability between anchor bars (Fig. 2) and surface instability parallel to the slope
(instability around the anchor bar Fig. 3). Earthquake effect and effect of underground water pressure are also taken
into account by the software.

Figure 2: Local instability between nails

C60 International Conference

Tradition and Innovation - 60 Years of Constructions in Transilvania
The investigation of the local instability between nails consists in assessing the forces occurring as a result of the push
of bodies predisposed to local siding between individual nails. The system should be dimensioned so as to retain all
bodies predisposed to slippage, to absorb and transmit the maximum forces, to the stable subsoil through anchor bars.
The investigation of the local instability between anchor bars (Figure 2) two strength tests should be performed:
1.
2.

Check the mesh for shear force at the edge of the anchor plate by applying force P; and
Check the strength of the mesh to transmitting force Z parallel to the slope to the upper bar.

Figure 3: Local instability around individual nails

The investigation of the surface instability parallel to the slope, around the anchor bar, consists in stabilising the surface
layer that tends to detach from the stable ground (as a combination of numerous instabilities between anchor bars). The
anchor bar has the purpose of stabilizing the unstable surface layer in its entirety. Thus a cube shaped body of width a,
length b and thickness t is mounted with a certain level of safety by the anchor bar.
When investigation surface instabilities parallel to the slope (Figure 3) three checks are required:
1.
2.
3.

Check the surface layer for sliding parallel to the slope;

Check the mesh for piercing;
Check the anchor bar to joined stresses.

Adopted solution
From a geological point of view, the slope in question consisted of marl clay powders, with a variable thickness of 2.20
m 4.00 m, followed by yellowish grit stone. Considering the ground nature, Ischebeck TITAN 40/16 mm bars were
chosen. Mixed stresses brought bars, in the most unfavourable circumstances, to a load of up to 89% of their bearing
capacity.
As an overall stability was necessary, the anchor lengths were selected at 4 m 6 m. As the type of anchor bars and
their lengths were determined, the superficial instabilities of the ground were analysed with the help of Ruvolum , a
software with predetermined physical and mechanical characteristics for the Tecco mesh of G65/3 (where 65 mm is the
diameter of the circle inscribed in the rhomboidal eyes of the mesh and 3 mm is the thickness of the mesh wire); the
resulting mesh square being 2.50 m x 2.00 m (where 2.50 m represents the distance between the anchor bars
horizontally, and 2.00 m is the distance along the vertical line).
The software is made available by the producer free of charge; it can be accessed online at:
http://applications.geobrugg.com

Implementation of solution on the ground

Once the solution was selected, the surface was prepared for stabilisation (Picture 1) and anchors were put into place
(Picture 2). The drilling technology was of self-drilling type with left inside core; the grout material was cement
suspension.

C60 International Conference

Tradition and Innovation - 60 Years of Constructions in Transilvania

Picture 1: Preparation of surface for stabilization

Picture 2: Nails building

To prevent washing of fine material, under the protection, the Tecmat erosion control mat was inserted. It has an
irregular structure made of polypropylene extruded monofilaments. The Tecco system was then mounted and
tensioned. The mesh ends are knotted together to avoid their breakout in the marginal areas. The connections by clips at
every mesh eye provide a strength that is at least equal to that of filed panels. When the slope is cut at an angle of 37,
i.e. above the consolidated area, re-vegetation by seeding in an erosion control mat was opted for.
-

Finally, let us remind the stages in the building and mounting of this system:
cleaning and bringing the slope at the angle specified in the design;
marking all important points on the slope (nails distance according to the design value, drilling points, etc.);
drilling and inserting of the nails;
laying the Tecmat erosion control mat;
laying and profiling the Tecco mesh;
connection of the individual mesh panels with clips;
installation of flexible head cable anchors and of the perimeter cables;
tensioning of the system, to comply with the design value by means of a dynamometric screwdriver.

Photo 3: Tecco system in use

References
Regger R., Flum D. Slope stabilization with high-performance steel wire meshes in combination with nails and anchors. Int.
Symposium, Earth Reinforcement, IS Kyushu, Fukuoka, Japan, 2001
Rorem E., Flum D. TECCO high-tensile wire mesh & revegetation, system for slope stabilization. International Erosion Control
Association, IECAs 35th annual conference, Philadelphia, USA, 2003
Flum D., Regger R. The dimensioning of flexible surface stabilization systems made from high-tensile wire mesh in combination
with nailing and anchoring in soil and rock. International Conference on Slope Engineering, Hong Kong, 2003