Shear Lock® Slope Retention Piles
Shear Lock® is an engineered slope retention pile system.
Shear Lock is an innovative and cost-effective way to prevent or repair shallow landslides.
Shear Lock uses tried, and true engineering principles combined with Shear Lock Piles to quickly and efficiently retain unstable material and ‘lock’ the potential shear failure plane. (Shear Lock Piles are a Registered Design of Cirtex®)
Many areas, especially around road and rail infrastructure, are characterised by steep and unstable slopes, causing landslides to block the road or rail network during frequent storm events. With the Shear Lock system, the slipped soil can be pushed back on to the slope and compacted into place, then stabilised by installing Shear Lock Piles in a predetermined grid pattern.
The Shear Lock system is also commonly used when tension cracking or slumping is detected to reinforce the slope and prevent further damage. Shear Lock piles are made to order. Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the system last?
The longevity of the system is a function of corrosion of the pile steel and will vary from site to site. Cirtex Shear Lock piles are hot-dip galvanized to prevent corrosion and the galvanising can be expected to provide protection for up to 50 years in most sites without loss of pile strength. The effects of sacrificial corrosion can be evaluated to provide design lives beyond the life of the galvanising if required.
How steep a slope can be stabilised with Shear Lock?
Our standard design charts deal with slopes up to 35°. Steeper slopes can also be stabilised with specific engineering design.
What depth of landslide can be stabilised with Shear Lock?
At this stage, our modelling has been confined to failure planes up to 2.5m below the surface. We can provide Shear Lock Pile spacing charts based on research done by Tonkin & Taylor, however, site-specific inputs need to be considered in the final design.
How can we effectively reduce the presence of ground water?
Protecting the slope with a high performance turf reinforcement matting such as T-Recs will assist with shedding surface water. Also, installing Plati-Drain horizontal wick drains into the slope will reduce pore water pressure.
How much does ground water affect the system?
The Shear Lock system, as with any slope stability system, is sensitive to ground water. This is considered in design and higher ground water levels require close pile spacing.
Benefits & Features
- Prevents costly and time consuming cartage of slip material away from the site
- Fast design and execution due to extensive research of typical designs
- Can be used for repairing existing failures or stabilising known potential slides
- Backed up by extensive engineering research and computer modelling
Shear Lock® Conceptual Overview
This 3D diagram shows an overview of the Shear Lock system, and how it works to reinforce slips.
Please note, this is not an installation guide and only acts as a concept.
Specifications
Code
Product
Size
76291
Shear Lock Piles
N/A
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