When a concrete spillway or culvert is designed without a lid, the surrounding earth doesn't stop pushing. Over time, lateral earth pressure can cause the tops of the walls to migrate inward. Without intervention, this leads to structural cracking and, eventually, a total collapse of the channel.
In our latest project gallery, we highlight a site where Spillway Wall Support was critical to saving the existing infrastructure.
The Challenge: Inward Wall Migration
At this site, the earth pressure was winning. The spillway walls were beginning to cave in, threatening the integrity of the entire drainage system. Because the culvert had no lid to provide natural structural bracing, an external solution was required to "push back" against the soil.
The Solution: Ellis STL-55HD with Custom Pivoting Tops
To stabilize the walls, the customer utilized the Ellis STL-55HD Heavy Duty Steel Shore. These aren't your standard jack posts; they are designed for high-capacity loads where safety is the priority.
Key Features of this Setup:
- Custom Pivoting Tops: For this specific application, the shores were fitted with custom pivoting heads. This allows the top of the shore to rest securely on the edge of the wall at an angle, ensuring the force of the inward-moving wall is transferred directly through the center of the Steel Shore.
- Opposing Force Bracing: By placing the shores horizontally across the gap, the inward load of one wall pushes against the other. The STL-55HD acts as a rigid bridge, stopping the collapse in its tracks.
- Durability: Given the exposure to the elements in an open spillway, the heavy-duty construction of the Ellis Shoring System ensures long-term stability.
Why It Works
By using the Ellis STL-55HD, the contractor was able to provide an immediate "stop-gap" to the wall movement without the need for expensive total reconstruction of the spillway. It is a cost-effective, incredibly strong method for Foundation Repair and structural stabilization.
