I River training I Earth control and

soil conservation r Retaining structures

Landscaping u Lining of canals a

Marine works Rockfall protectio

Gabion baskets an ancient concept in a modern form... Although it is known that gabions have been used from ancient times, it is only in the last few decades that their widespread use has led them to become an accepted

construction material in civil engineering. Modern technology has made possible the manufacture of these reliable and sound products, using mild steel wire mesh.

The wire is woven into an hexagonal pattern, with double twist joints which prevent the whole mesh from unravelling should a wire break or be cut.

...supported today by laboratory tests. Research into the behaviour of gabions and Reno mattresses has been carried out in both full and model scales at:

Fig. 1 - U.S.A. - Colorado Hydraulic Laboratory at the Engineering Research Centre, Colorado State University.

Fig. 2 - FRANCE - Grenoble SOGREAH Ingenieurs Conseils.

Fig. 3 - HOLLAND - Rotterdam Delft Hydraulic Laboratory at Hartel Kanaal.

Fig. 4 - ITALY - Bologna University of Bologna Laboratorio di Scienza delle Costruzioni.

Fig. 5 - ITALY - Bologna Officine Maccaferri SpA Factory, in cooperation with Bologna University's Laboratorio di Tecnica delle Costruzioni.

I Advantages of Maccaferri gabion and Reno mattress structures

I

1979

1987

Flexibility An outstanding advantage of tine gabion is its flexibility. Its double-twist hexagonal mesh construction permits it to tolerate differential settlement without fracture, fig. 6. This property is especially important when a structure is on unstable ground or in an area where scour from waves or currents can undermine i t

Strength The strength and flexibility of the steel wire hexagonal mesh from which gabions and mattresses are made is utilized to withstand and absorb the forces generated by retained earth or flowing water.

Permeability Hydrostatic heads do not develop behind gabion structures because of their permeable nature. Their ability to combine drainage and retention functions make them ideal structures for slope stabilization, fig. 7.

Durability A Maccaferri gabion or Reno mattress is a heavy monolithic gravity unit able to withstand earth thrust. Its efficiency increases instead of decreasing with age since further consolidation takes place as silt and soil collect in the voids and vegetation establishes itself (fig. 8-9).

Economy Gabion installations are more economical than rigid or semi-rigid structures for a number of reasons. The following are the most important ones: Little maintenance is required. Gabion construction is simple, does

not require skilled labour. Suitable stone fill is available

normally on site or from nearby quarries.

Minimum foundation preparation is required, the surface needs to be only reasonably plane.

No costly drainage provision is required, as gabions are permeable.

Ecology Because gabions permit the growth of vegetation and maintain the existing environment, they provide attractive and natural building blocks for decorative landscaping.

Description of the l\/laccaferri box gabion

Applications

Zinc coated box gabions Box gabions consist of rectangular units, fabr icated f rom a double-twist , hexagonal mesh of soft annealed, heavily zinc coated wire. The wire quali ty and the zinc coat ing meet all internat ional speci f icat ions. The mesh panels are reinforced at all edges wi th wires of a larger d iameter than that used for manufactur ing the mesh, to s t rengthen them and to faci l i tate const ruc t ion. Gabions may be divided into cells by f i t t ing d iaphragms wh ich have the funct ion of reinforcing the structure and making assembly and erect ion easier.

Zinc coated box gabions with P V e sleeve The character ist ics of these products are similar to those of the z inc-coated gabions; however the wire, prior to manufactur ing the mesh, is coa ted wi th a 0.4 to 0.6 m m th ick special PVC (polyvinyl chloride) cont inuous sheath. A comple te protect ion against possible corrosion is thus obta ined making the gabions suitable for use in marine or pol lu ted envi ronments.

Diaphragms are always recommended when gabions are subject to cont inuous stress caused by wave mot ion, or high water veloci ty, etc. Filled wi th s tone, gabions become a large, f lexible and permeable bui lding b lock f rom which a broad range of st ructures may be built.

RIVER TRAINING

4

Applications

EARTH C O N T R O L AND S O I L CONSERVATION J RETAINING S T R U C T U R E S

Fig. 14 - REPUBLIC OF CAPE VERDE. Fig. 15 - SAUDI ARABIA. Series of structures for soil conservation in Santiago Island. PVC coated gabion wall near Dahran.

RETAINING S T R U C T U R E S BR IDGE AND C U L V E R T P R O T E C T I O N S

Fig. 16 - SWITZERLAND. Fig. 17 - BRASIL - S. Paulo. Retaining wall for the protection of the railway near Aipnach. Bridge abutments on Turvo river, near S. Jos dos Campos.

LANDSCAPING MARINAS AND S E A S H O R E P R O T E C T I O N

Fig. 18 - CANADA - Quebec. Fig. 19 - CANADA - Quebec. River wall to a city parlc along the St. Lawrence in Candiac. Marina walls at Matane; the work was carried out using PVC coated gabions.

5

Description of the l\/laccaferri Reno mattress

Zinc coated Reno mattress The Reno mattress is a special form of gabion with a large plan area/thickness ratio. It is fabricated from a similar but smaller doubie-twist hexagonal mesh of that used to manufacture the gabions. The wire characteristics are the same. Diaphragms are spaced usually at 1.00 m centres, and a continuous panel of mesh forms the base, the side and the end walls of the unit to obtain an open-topped multicell container. The same mesh is used for the base, diaphragms, and the separate lid. All panel edges are selvedged with a wire of larger diameter than that used for the mesh, so as to strengthen the structure.

Zinc coated Reno mattress with P V C sleeve The wire of the Reno mattress can be coated with PVC in the same manner as that for gabions.

Applications RIVER TRAINING S O I L C O N S E R V A T I O N

Fig. 22 - U.S.A. - New York. Fig. 23 - ITALY - Tuscany. Gabion bank protection near Buffalo. Drainage ciiannei to stabilize a slope near Florence.

6

Applications

Fig. 24 - IRAQ. Fig. 25 - U.S.A. - Maryland, Revetment of the Razaza drainage channel near Kerbala. Lining of a stream near Frederick, along highway A40.

C U L V E R T P R O T E C T I O N BR IDGE P R O T E C T I O N

Fig. 26 - CANADA - Ontario. Fig. 27 - AUSTRALIA, Culvert protection near Cornwali. Protection of abutments of tfie "Sfieridan" Bridge, State Highvay No. 2.

IMPERMEABLE LINING O F DAMS MARINAS AND S E A S H O R E P R O T E C T I O N

Fig. 28 - Reno mattresses can be seaied Fig. 29 - U.K. - Dawlish Warren. by fiot poured sand aspiialt mastic, in order to provide Protection of the sand spit at the mouth of the Exe river an impermeable revetment to dams, reservoirs, channels, etc. with PVC-coated Reno mattress.

7

Description of the l\/laccaferri sacic gabion

These consist of a single sheet of mesh, which forms a cylinder open either at one end or at the side. The characteristics of mesh, wire, zinc coating and PVC coating are identical to those of the box gabions.

Applications

Fig. 31 - ITALY-Lombardy. Assembly of a sack gabion using a special maciiine.

Fig. 32 - BRASIL - S. Paulo. Sack gabion foundation for a bank protection wall on the Tamanduati river.

33

Fig. 33 - ITALY - Emiiia-Romagna. Closing a breach of the Po river, near Ferrara.

Fig. 34 - IRAQ. Sack gabion foundation for a bank revetment on the Tigris river

8

I Description of l\/laccaferri ^ rockfall protection netting

ij

Wire mesli netting is often used to prevent rocl

Tables of weights and sizes The weights l isted here do not include lacing and tie wire and are sub ject to usual to lerances.

BOX GABIONS - ZINC COATED

Sizes 10 X 12 8 X 10 6 X 8

Length Width Height App rox ima te we igh t each (Kg)

Wi re 0 2.7 m m Wi re 0 3.0 m m Wire 0 2.7 m m Wi re 0 3.0 m m Wire 0 2.7 m m

m m m Without

diaphragms With

diaphragms Without

diaphragms With

diaphragms Without

diaphragms With

diaphragms Without

diaphragms With

diaphragms Without

diaphragms With

diaphragms

2 1 0.50 10.000 11.000 12.200 13.500 11.500 12.500 14.300 15.000 13.500 15.200

3 1 0.50 14.000 15.300 16.700 19.500 15.700 17.500 19.400 21.500 19.200 22.000

4 1 0.50 17.300 19.300 21.200 24.500 20.200 23.000 24.600 28.000 - 29.000

1.50 1 1 11.600 - 13.800 - 12.800 - 15.500 - 15.000 -

2 1 1 13.600 15.000 16.600 18.000 15.700 17.000 19.200 21.000 18.500 20.600

3 1 1 18.500 20.500 22.500 26.000 21.300 24.500 26.000 30.000 25.200 29.300

4 1 23.500 27.000 28.500 33.500 27.000 31.500 32.400 38.500 36.750

BOX GABIONS - ZINC AND PVC COATED

Sizes

Diaphragms

no.

10 X 12 8 X 10

Length

m

Width

m

Height

m

Diaphragms

no.

A p p r o x i m a t e w e i g h t each (Kg) Length

m

Width

m

Height

m

Diaphragms

no. Wire 0 int. 2.7 - 0 ext. 3.7 Wire 0 int. 2.7 - 0 ext. 3.7 mm

2 1 0.50 1 12.500 14.500

3 1 0.50 2 18.000 21.000

4 1 0.50 3 23.000 26.000

2 1 1 1 17.000 20.000

3 1 1 2 24.000 28.500

4 1 1 3 31.000 36.500

JUMBO GABIONS

Sizes

Diaphragms

no.

10 X 12 8 X 10

Length

m

Width

m

Height

m

Diaphragms

no.

A p p r o x i m a t e w e i g h t each (Kg) Length

m

Width

m

Height

m

Diaphragms

no.

Zinc coated Zinc and PVC coated Wire mm 0 int. 2.7 0 ext. 3.7

Zinc coated Zinc and PVC coated

Wire mm 0 int. 2.7 0 ext. 3.7

Length

m

Width

m

Height

m

Diaphragms

no. Wire 0 2.7 mm Wire 0 3.0 mm

Zinc and PVC coated

Wire mm 0 int. 2.7 0 ext. 3.7 Wire 0 2.7 mm Wire 0 3.0 mm

Zinc and PVC coated

Wire mm 0 int. 2.7 0 ext. 3.7

3 2 0.50 2 26.500 33.000 31.000 30.500 39.000 36.000

4 2 0.50 3 35.000 43.000 41.000 40.000 50.500 47.000

5 2 0.50 4 43.000 53.000 50.000 49.000 61.000 58.000

3 2 1 2 36.000 43.000 42.000 41.500 49.000 47.500

4 2 1 3 47.000 56.000 54.500 54.500 65.000 62.500

5 2 1 4 58.000 68.000 66.000 67.000 80.000 76.000

10

RENO MATTRESS WITH POCKETS

6 X 8 5 X 7

Sizes A p p r o x i m a t e weig t i t (Kg) Sizes Approx. weigt i t (Kg)

Length Width Height Zinc coated Zinc and PVC coated Length Width Height Zinc coated Poci

Fig. 58 SWEDEN. Retaining wall along ttie coast road near Stromstad.

Fig. 59 - U.S.A. - California. Longitudinal wails along ttie Guadalupe river.

Fig. 60 - SAUDI ARABIA. Coast protection near Damman.

Any reproduction, including pi^otocopy, film and microfilm, is forbidden. All ng/ i ts reserved worldwide

O F F I C I N E M A C C A F E R R I S.p.A. 40123 Bologna - Italy Via Agrest i , 6 - P.O. Box 396 Tel. (051) 27.97.01 - 23.43.03 Telegr.; Gabb lon imac - Bologna Telex: 510649 - 510371 Gabion I Telefax: 0039-51-234304 Gabionfax

1987 Officine Maccaferri S.p.A. - Bologna - Italy / Printed by Ronografica Bologna

In Nederland ver tegenwoord igd door:

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