Gabions are rectangular woven wire mesh baskets filled with rock to form flexible, permeable, monolithic structures such as retaining walls for commercial, industrial and road projects. They are also used for erosion control, bank stabilisation, architectural and urban design features, noise attenuation structures and weirs.
The Gabion strength comes from a double twisted hexagonal mesh of steel wire which is reinforced by selvedge’s of heavier gauge wire running along the edges and by transverse internal diaphragms at 1m centres. In the event of accidental breakage of one or more of the wires, the double twisted wire configuration will ensure that the mesh will not unravel.
The woven wire mesh can either be Galmac (95% Zinc 5% Aluminium Mischmetal Alloy) coated mild steel or Galmac coated with an additional PVC coating if required. Galmac has significantly improved corrosion resistance to zinc in both chemical and physical terms. This technology when applied to steel wire products provides up to about three times greater protection per unit coating mass, than do zinc coatings.
PVC coated units are recommended in River or fluvial conditions where abrasive sediments may exist, marine conditions, mining applications, where soil is highly acidic or alkalinic or where an extended design life is required.
Why Consider our woven mesh
Gabions as an option:
Flexible – Unlike welded mesh, mass concrete blocks, concrete mats or reinforced concrete, double twist woven mesh Gabions are able to accommodate significant differential settlement
Monolithic – the fastening (lacing) procedure ensure the units act as one homogeneous structure
Permeable – pore water pressures are easily dissipated through the structure
Durable – Double twisted mesh with heavily Galmac + PVC coated wire and 40 year old Australian installations, disprove the fallacy that Gabion type structures are temporary solutions
Adaptable – Gabions can be stepped, vertical or battered to suit specific project requirements. They can be filled in-situ or prefilled and placed in position depending on site conditions. They can also be cut and laced on site into non-standard shapes and sizes
Economical – Generally,
Gabion installation does not require any special equipment (only pliers, wooden formwork, fence tensioner, crowbars etc.). Against other systems,
Gabions compare favourably in terms of supply and installation costs
Environmentally friendly – Vegetation can easily establish, eventually re-creating the pre-existing environment. The added use of bio-degradable coir mats, Jute blankets or Cocologs will accelerate the vegetative process if required.
Gabions are manufactured using 2.7mmØ diameter wire (3.7mmØ O/D for PVC) and in an 80mm x 100mm (nominal) hexagonal mesh configuration. They are available in the following standard sizes (note dimension tolerances apply):
|
Unit
|
Length (L)
|
Width (W)
|
Height (H)
|
|
2 x 0.5 x 0.5
|
2m
|
0.5m
|
0.5m
|
|
2 x 1 x 0.5
|
2m
|
1m
|
0.5m
|
|
2 x 1 x 1
|
2m
|
1m
|
1m
|
|
2 x 1.5 x1 ***
|
2m
|
1.5m
|
1m
|
|
4 x 1 x 0.5
|
4m
|
1m
|
0.5m
|
|
4 x 1 x 1
|
4m
|
1m
|
1m
|
|
6 x 2 x 0.5
|
6m
|
2m
|
0.5m
|
*** Supplied with separate base and lid
