Design procedure for landslide stabilization using sheet pile ribs

Abstract

A design procedure was developed for a relatively unknown slope stabilization technique consisting of a series of parallel sheet piles installed parallel to the direction of slope movement. This technique was introduced in Alberta by R.M. Hardy in the 1970s and is locally referred to as “Hardy Ribs.” A case study is discussed where Canadian National (CN) Rail installed Hardy Ribs to stabilize a landslide affecting its rail line in western Manitoba. A proposed design procedure is discussed that consists of a de-coupled approach with a separate limit equilibrium slope stability analysis and laterally loaded pile analysis using p–y curves, where p is the soil reaction per unit length and y is the lateral deflection of the pile, to model the soil–pile interaction. Example calculations are provided for the proposed design procedure for the CN case study site to illustrate its use and to estimate the stabilizing effect from the Hardy Ribs at this site.