advantages of gabion wall

8/17/2019 Advantages of Gabion Wall

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Advantages of Gabion WallUpdated on March 5, 2011

Have you ever wondered when driving and you saw tones of stones or rocksfilled in a basket of wire mesh !hat structure is called the gabion wall"

#ou can see this structure near the stream, embankments or road"

$hat does the gabion wall do %nd why use gabion wall $ell, one of the

functions of gabion wall is for slope stability, which is to support and protect slope

from erosion" &ike other retaining structures, gabion wall has its advantages and

limitations too"

Advantages

1" 'trong base that provides strength from being drag away by river or

stream"

2" (educe velocity of water as the energy dissipated by the rocks, thus

reduce erosion"

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)" *ts fle+ibility gives allowance to small ground movement"

" *n most cases, as time goes, voids will be filled by vegetations and silt

which will reinforce the structure and give e+tra strength"

5" -epends on the availability of material and e.uipments, handling and

transporting material is easy and this reduce the time of construction"

/" oids can be easily seen between the rocks which makes high

permeability to the gabion wall" *t allows water to flow through the structure

which can maintain the water level in the ground roundwater level3 to be

low"

Limitations

1" %esthetic impression is minimal" *n a town area, where slope is supported

by the gabion wall, the wire mesh basket can be seen and sometimes the

rocks were surrounded by algae" However, there are some types of gabion

wall that have high aesthetic impression and of course the cost will also be

higher"

2" *n a high velocity of flow, wire mesh could damage due to high impact of

large ob4ect"

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!he advantages and limitations depend on the site condition, availability of

material and e.uipmentmachine, and also manpower"

Site Condition

'ite can be access by heavy machine" *f it is near a river or stream, the depth of

the river or stream should not e+ceed the depth that causes the machine to

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damage" !he ground must also have a strength that is can support the weight of

a heavy machine" 6or soft ground, if the cost is too high or if the volume is too

large to remove the soft soil, then geosynthetic mattress might be re.uired to

increase the strength for the ground"

Availaility o! Material

&ocation of .uarry, and place for manufacturing the wire mesh which allows ease

of transportation to the site is a good indicator of utili7ing gabion structure"

"#uipments $ Machine

!he accessibility of the site condition ease of transportation to the site3, and the

e.uipmentmachines are available at that area"

Manpower

%part from operating the machines, most of the time filling and fastening the wire

mesh basket is also done by hand"

!here are more retaining structures other than gabion wall, such as reinforced

concrete retaining wall and bored pile retaining wall" *t re.uires a good decision

making process to choose the best retaining structures" %nalytical Hierarchy

8rocess %H83 is one of the decision making tool being utili7ed for decision

making in this case"

%elated Boo&s

Pros And Cons Of Using Gabion Walls

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HOW TO USE APPLICATIONS SECTION TO COMPLETE DESIGN

SOLUTION

The Applications sections within this web site have been configured to streamline the processdesigning Terra Aqua gabion products and solutions.

Read and review the text, photos, details, and information provided within the section.

Read and review sample calculations provided.

Run complete stability analysis with spreadsheet design calculator provided.

Choose the appropriate cross sections and typical details provided.

Provide plan view and profile view to correlate with typical section and cross sections.

o to the Technical !pecifications page of this web site to choose the appropriate product

specification and material type.

o to the Technical !pecifications page of this web site and choose Pro"ect !pecifications

complete the specifications section for gabion scope of wor#.

Terra Aqua$s gabion gravity retaining

wall systems are monolithic gravity

mass structures and follow standard

design methods for gravity retaining

walls. The following information is

provided by Terra Aqua as a design

guide to assist Professional %ngineers,

overnment Agencies, &and

'evelopers, and Contractors in the proper design, specification,

construction and inspection of gabion

gravity retaining walls.

'esign Considerations

Terra Aqua gabion walls are

constructed with natural stone. As

drainage occurs soil particles are

deposited into the small voids of the

natural stone fill within the gabion wa

allowing for poc#ets of vegetation to


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Terra Aqua always recommends that

the soil data utili(ed for gabion wall

design be based on a Certified

eotechnical !oils Report of the site

location. Terra Aqua can provide acomplete gabion retaining wall stability

analysis upon request.

ta#e root.

Pressure at the )aseThe total pressure of the gabion wall must be less than the anticipated bearing

capacity of the soil under the base of the wall. The contact pressure on a flexibl

gabion footing is not distributed in a planar fashion, but decreases from a

maximum at the point of application of the resultant to lesser values at the edge

of the footing. The pressure at the toe of a gabion wall is, therefore, generally

less than for a rigid wall.


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The calculations for the subgrade reaction in flexible foundation are aw#ward

and involve errors associated with evaluating the coefficient of subgrade

reaction. The error in assuming this is on the safe side, since the reaction is

assumed to have a planar distribution, as in rigid walls.

*oundation PreparationTerra Aqua gabion gravity retaining walls are typically placed directly on a

graded soil foundation. To increase the bearing capacity, minimi(e differential

settlement, and+or allow for additional drainage, a base layer of granular stonefill with consistent gradation ranging - //+0- may be placed and compacted

to local standards 1- /2- in depth as a founding course for gabion wall

placement.


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*oundation grade 3 4all batter5t may be determined, through an investigation and stability analysis, that

additional stability of the gabion wall may be required to achieve acceptable

factors of safety for sliding. 6ne option to pursue prior to enlarging the gabionwall cross section for additional stability is to place the gabion gravity retaining

wall on a 1 /7 degree batter towards the retained slope. This will require the

founding soils to graded and compacted to accommodate for the specified wall

batter.


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*oundation below grade Terra Aqua gabion gravity retaining walls may be placed or #eyed in below subgrade to prevent scour and wave action from undermining the toe of the

structure. The rule of thumb for depth of placement below sub grade is

approximately 0 times anticipated depth of scour.

!cour ApronA flexible double twisted mesh Terra Aqua gabion is designed to settle withoutfracture and adhere to the ground as scour occurs. raded fill material ranging

from 89:29 for standard gabions and ;9:19 for reno mattresses will ensureuniform flexibility of the apron and will create a new state of equilibrium of the

structure once settlement has occurred providing continued stability. abion

aprons are commonly used to protect the toe of a gabion retaining wall structur

from scour that could cause undermining in channel wor#s applications. 5t isrecommended that the gabion apron be a minimum of


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The gabion apron will require minimal excavation and grade wor#. enerally

the gabion apron is placed directly on the ground utili(ing a geotextile filter

fabric between the gabion apron soil interface to prevent and leaching of soils

from underneath the apron. 5f the gabion apron is placed in relatively deep watand efficient method of large scale placement is prefabricating the apron on a

barge and then launching it into the water. The si(e of the gabion apron that can

be placed by this method is limited only by the dec# area of the barge. abions

or reno mattresses may also be connected together filled and then placed into th

water with a sling arrangement. This method is frequently used for building

scour:resisting mats around bridge piers etc. abion aprons may be fabricatedusing Terra Aqua standard P=C gabion units or with Terra Aqua P=C reno

mattresses.

)ac#fill 3 Compaction

)ac#fill >aterial:abion gravity retaining walls, in comparison with reinforcesoil walls, allows for a wider range of soil types to be utili(ed as bac#fill

material. This is due to the gabion gravity walls configuration, typically low wa

heights, and porous facing. 5t is imperative to the overall long term

performance of a gabion gravity retaining wall that the specified bac#fill

material be properly placed and compacted. Poor compaction of bac#fill

materials can lead to structural settlement, lateral wall movement, and result in


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insufficient shear strength to perform as designed. !pecified bac#fill material

shall be placed and compacted to minimum !tandard Proctor


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!65& 'ATARecommendatio

n6f use for

bac#fill

!oil'escription

!oilClassification

Angle of 5nternal

*riction

nitweight o

!oil

%xcellent!tone, ravel,

!and

/ 3 0 P, 4,

>, C, !4, !P;7:;1

/77:/;?

pcf

oodClayey !ands,

!ilty !ands; !>, !C 02:;0

//7:/;7

pcf

Poor !oft Clay, !oft

!ilts 8 >&, C&, 6& 0?:;7//7:/0?

pcf

)ad !tiff Clay ? C&, CB 0?:;7?7://7 pcf

/. Clean sand, stone and gravel 4, P, !4, !P

0. 'irty sand and gravel of restricted permeability >, >:P, !>, !>:!P

;. !tiff residual silt and clays, silty fine sands, clays, sands and gravels C&,>&, CB, >B,!> !C, C.

8. =ery soft to soft clay, silty clay, organic silt and clay C&, >&, 6&, CB,

>B,6>.

?. >edium to stiff clay deposited in chun#s and protected from infiltration

C&, CB

*or type ? material B is reduced by 8 ft resultant Acts at a height of DB:8E+; above

base. Adapted from Terzaghi and Peck


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*ilter *abric eotextile filter fabric is a vital component of any gabion gravity retaining

wall. The void ratio of the stone fill confined within the gabion bas#ets allows

for free drainage of the retained soils and requires a filter fabric be placed between the gabion wall and the specified bac#fill soil interface. The

geotextile filter fabric will prevent loss of soil during drainage and drawdown

abion gravity retaining walls constructed without the placement of filterfabric will have a tendency to incur a loss of retained soils and grade elevation

behind the gabion wall. The type of bac#fill soil specified will determine the

type, and placement of the geotextile filter fabric. Call Terra Aqua for

recommendations on filter fabric.


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&ayoutTo provide the maximum resistance to soil forces the gabion bas#ets shall be

placed with the length dimension of the gabion unit running from the bac# of

the gabion wall to the front face of the gabion wall. This will result in the

internal diaphragms being placed perpendicular to the wall face and parallel to

soil thrust. 4hen gabion units shall be placed with the length dimension of the

gabion unit running parallel with the length dimension of the wall the vertical

seams shall be offset.

Compression &oads*or gabion gravity retaining walls that are /?$ ;7$ in height the gabion bas#e

foundation and bottom courses shall be placed in /.?$ vertical lifts to better

absorb the compression and shear stresses. Terra Aqua$s double twisted mesh

gabions shall withstand compression loads of 17,777 27,777 pounds per

square foot. The shear modulus of elasticity shall vary between ?,777 2,777

pounds per square foot and is relevant to deformation.


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abion 4all *ace ConfigurationTerra Aqua gabion retaining walls can be designed and configured with a

stepped front face or a smooth front face. 4hen utili(ing a gabion wall with a

smooth front face, the gabion wall shall always be placed on a 1:/7 degree

batter and is not recommended for wall heights above /2$. abion walls with stepped front face shall have a minimum /$:/.?$ hori(ontal set bac# for each ;

vertical lift.


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abion 4all BeightTerra Aqua gabion gravity retaining walls can be designed and constructed up

to approximately ;7$, however due to the configuration of gabion gravity

retaining walls their best suited for wall heights of /2$ or less. *or wall heightsof /2$: ;1$ see the !table !lope !ection of this web site.

abion 4all base width relative to wall height base width of a gabion gravity retaining wall is related to height of wall so as

the wall height increases the base of the wall becomes wider to ensure

structural stability. Terra Aqua has provided the diagram below to illustrate a

starting point for design analysis to determine the base width relative to wall

height. Terra Aqua recommends a conservative value of base width F 0+; wall

height. The stability analysis may determine that the gabion gravity retaining

wall base width be less than or greater than : 0+; wall height.

A)56G RA=5TH 4A&& !5I%! 3 '5>%G!56G!


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A)56G !T6G% *5&&

!tone *ill radation for abion )as#etsalvani(ed+alfan abions

2x/7cm

8 inches 2 inches '?7 1-

P=C Coated abions 2x/7cm 8 inches 2 inches '?7 1-

Acceptable stone for gabion construction shall be hard, durable, equallygraded, angular in shape, and shall not be less than 8- in any given dimension

and no larger than 2- in any given dimension. The specific gravity required fo

the stone fill shall be determined by the design and specified by the design

engineer. !pecific gravity for stone fill shall be no less than 0.?.

nit weight of gabion stone fillTHP% 6* R6CJ &)!+C)5C *T

)A!A&T /27

RAG5T% /17

&5>%!T6G% /;2


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!AG'!T6G% /87

nit weight of gabion stone fill: )ased on a porosity o7.;7 or ;7@

!P%C5*5C RA=5TH 6* >AT%R5A&!)A!A&T ;.7


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)R5CJ 0.7

)R6J%G C6GCR%T% 0.8

RAG5T5% 0.K

&5>%!T6G% 0.?

!AG'!T6G% 0.0

TRAP R6CJ 0.K

!A>P&% CA&C&AT56G!Proper design and construction of gabion retaining walls requires a thorough#nowledge of the lateral forces acting between the retaining structures and the

soil masses being retained. These lateral forces lateral forces are due to lateralearth pressure. Therefore, analysis and determination of lateral earth pressure

are necessary to design gabion retaining walls.

The classical lateral earth pressure analysis and calculations are based on the

Ran#ie theory by considering the soil in a state of plastic equilibrium, and the

Coulomb theory by assuming a place failure surface. )oth Ran#ine and

Coulomb approached and developed lateral earth pressure problem with

several essential assumptions such as an isotropic and homogeneous bac#fill

soil, a plane bac#fill surface, a rigid failure wedge body etcL

As for the conditions which do not fit the Ran#ine and Coulomb theories suchas irregular bac#fill surface, multiple soils etcL the Trial:4edge D&imit

%quilibriumE method, a graphical solution can be applied for estimating the

lateral earth pressure, and an analytical solution based on the Theory of

%lasticity can also be used. Currently these methods are practical and popular

by utili(ing a computer program. Terra Aqua can complete the global stability

analysis upon request.

Terra Aqua abion ravity Retaining 4all


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Posted by:Ella Andrews , July 6, 2015

If you have been thinking about introducing some gabion walls to your property, asretaining walls or perhaps even

some interesting outdoor seating, you might be wondering whether they really are the best choice. Like anything,

these walls have their advantages and disadvantages. In order to determine whether gabions are the right choice for

the project you have in mind, you will need to weigh these pros and cons against each other.

Pros

There are a number of advantages associated with the introduction of gabion walls, including:

Their strong bases, which prevent them from being dragged away during heavy downpours and even by vandals.

They help to reduce the velocity of running water, as the rocks dissipate its energy, which helps to reduce erosion.

The flexibility of the baskets and the rocks they contain allows from small movements as the ground below shifts.

As time passes, gaps between the rocks will be filled by vegetation and silt, which will further reinforce the wall.

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Handling and transporting the materials is quite simple, which helps to reduce the time taken to build the gabions.

Gaps between the rocks allow water to flow through the structure, helping to maintain a low groundwater level.

Cons

There are also a number of disadvantages associated with gabion walls that you need to be aware of:

In some cases, the aesthetic impression of the walls is minimal (as the wire basket can be seen and algae may be

present).

High velocity water could cause the gabion to be damaged through the impact of a large or heavy object.

It is important to keep in mind that the advantages and disadvantages will also depend on the condition of the site, the

availability of materials and equipment, and the availability of manpower.

Site Condition – If the ground is relatively soft, you will need to create a concrete or stone base for the baskets to sit

on top of (lest they sink into the mud). This can add significant time and cost. If the ground is relatively hard, you will

be able to build the wall immediately.

Availability of Materials & Equipment – If the supplier has baskets and rock in stock, you will be able to erect the

gabions as soon as you get everything home. If they have to order materials in, you will have to wait until they’re

delivered. Equipment may also be required.

Availability of Manpower – Fillingthe baskets with rock is something that is done by hand, which can be time

consuming (if you have a lot of baskets to fill) and can lead to injury if you’re not careful. If you have helpers, you will

get the project done faster.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basket


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We hope that you have found the information provided above useful in determining whethergabion wallsare the right

choice for your upcoming project or not. Whilst these walls do look fantastic and can add a real sense of luxury to

your property, it is important to note that they aren’t for everyone. If you have decided to introduce some gabions, it is

important that you put the baskets together properly and fill them with the correct stone.
http://www.yarrabee.com.au/gabion-basketshttp://www.yarrabee.com.au/gabion-baskets

advantages of gabion wall

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