High Capacity Reinforced Flexible Systems for slope stabilization: an outstanding technology, not well known

摘要

"Flexible Systems" concept in stabilization refers to the installation of a steel grid (membrane in general sense), usually known as "mesh" or "net" depending on their manufacturing with a single wire (steel mesh) or wire ropes (steel net), over an unstable mass in a slope, anchored to transmit strengths onto stable terrain. Different kind of membranes have been widely used, but mainly in the lowest range of bearing capacity requirements, focused on locally retaining rock blocks in the maximum range of a few m~3, and without a real concept as a System. A System Concept was developed at middle of 90's in Spain, extending the range of a particular kind of membrane to global slope stability problems, for higher bearing capacity required and deeper failure surfaces problems. A successful history of many complex problems solved proves the excellent performance of this technology, unfortunately very low promoted outside the Spain and surrounding countries area up to now. It is described the System Concept, main elements, a brief summary of the history and state of the art on this technology, explaining the main benefits that can be obtained using these systems to solve problems under their range of application, proposing an effort to develop in other countries, and doing a call for further R&D.