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...
Althou gh it is known that gabions
have been u sed from ancient times,
it is only in the last few decades
that their widespread u se has led
them to become an accepted
constru ction material in civil
engineering. Modern technology has
made possible the manu factu re of
these reliable and sou nd produ cts,
u sing mild steel wire mesh.
The wire is woven into an hexagonal
pattern, with dou ble twist joints
which prevent the whole mesh from
u nravelling shou ld a wire break or be
cu t.
...supported today by laboratory tests.
Research into the behaviou r of
gabions and Reno mattresses has
been carried ou t in both fu ll and
model scales at:
Fig. 1 - U.S.A. - Colorado
Hydrau lic Laboratory at the
Engineering Research Centre,
Colorado State University.
Fig. 2 - FRANCE - Grenoble
SOGREAH Ingenieu rs Conseils.
Fig. 3 - HOLLAND - Rotterdam
Delft Hydrau lic Laboratory at
Hartel Kanaal.
Fig. 4 - ITALY - Bologna
University of Bologna
Laboratorio di Scienza delle
Costru zioni.
Fig. 5 - ITALY - Bologna
Officine Maccaferri SpA
Factory,
in cooperation with
Bologna University's
Laboratorio di Tecnica
delle Costru zioni.
I Advantages of Maccaferri gabion
and Reno mattress structures
I
1979
1987
Flexibility
An ou tstanding advantage of tine
gabion is its flexibility.
Its dou ble-twist hexagonal mesh
constru ction permits it to tolerate
differential settlement withou t fractu re,
fig. 6. This property is especially
important when a stru ctu re is on
u nstable grou nd or in an area where
scou r from waves or cu rrents can
u ndermine i t
Strength
The strength and flexibility of the steel
wire hexagonal mesh from which
gabions and mattresses are made is
u tilized to withstand and absorb the
forces generated by retained earth or
flowing water.
Permeability
Hydrostatic heads do not develop
behind gabion stru ctu res becau se of
their permeable natu re.
Their ability to combine drainage and
retention fu nctions make them ideal
stru ctu res for slope stabilization, fig. 7.
Durability
A Maccaferri gabion or Reno mattress
is a heavy monolithic gravity u nit able
to withstand earth thru st.
Its efficiency increases instead of
decreasing with age since fu rther
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
stru ctu res for a nu mber of reasons.
The following are the most important
ones:
Little maintenance is requ ired.
Gabion constru ction is simple, does
not requ ire skilled labou r.
Su itable stone fill is available
normally on site or from nearby
qu arries.
Minimu m fou ndation preparation is
requ ired, the su rface needs to be
only reasonably plane.
No costly drainage provision is
requ ired, as gabions are permeable.
Ecology
Becau se gabions permit the growth of
vegetation and maintain the existing
environment, they provide attractive
and natu ral bu ilding blocks for
decorative landscaping.
Description
of the l\/laccaferri box gabion
Applications
Zi nc coated box gabi ons
Box gabi ons consi st of r ect angu l ar u ni ts,
f abr i cat ed f r om a dou bl e- t wi st , hexagonal
mesh of sof t anneal ed, heavi l y zi nc coat ed
wi re. The wi re qu al i t y and t he zi nc coat i ng
meet all i nt er nat i onal speci f i cat i ons. The
mesh panel s are r ei nf or ced at all edges
wi t h wi r es of a l arger di amet er t han t hat
u sed f or manu f act u r i ng t he mesh, t o
st r engt hen t hem and t o f aci l i t at e
const r u ct i on. Gabi ons may be di vi ded i nt o
cel l s by f i t t i ng di aphr agms whi ch have t he
f u nct i on of r ei nf or ci ng t he st r u ct u r e and
maki ng assembl y and er ect i on easi er.
Zi nc coated box gabi ons with
PVe sl eeve
The char act er i st i cs of t hese pr odu ct s are
si mi l ar t o t hose of t he zi nc- coat ed gabi ons;
however t he wi re, pri or t o manu f act u r i ng
t he mesh, is coat ed wi t h a 0.4 t o 0.6 mm
t hi ck speci al PVC (pol yvi nyl chl ori de)
cont i nu ou s sheat h. A compl et e pr ot ect i on
agai nst possi bl e cor r osi on is t hu s obt ai ned
maki ng t he gabi ons su i t abl e f or u se in
mar i ne or pol l u t ed envi r onment s.
Di aphr agms are al ways r ecommended
when gabi ons are su bj ect t o cont i nu ou s
st ress cau sed by wave mot i on, or hi gh
wat er vel oci t y, et c. Filled wi t h st one,
gabi ons become a l arge, f l exi bl e and
per meabl e bu i l di ng bl ock f r om whi ch a
br oad range of st r u ct u r es may be bu i l t.
RI VER TRAI NI NG
4
Applications
EARTH CON T ROL AND SOI L CONSERVATI ON J RETAI NI NG ST RUCT URE S
Fig. 14 - REPUBLIC OF CAPE VERDE. Fig. 15 - SAUDI ARABIA.
Series of stru ctu res for soil conservation in Santiago Island. PVC coated gabion wall near Dahran.
RETAI NI NG ST RUCT URE S BRI DGE AND CUL VERT PROT ECT I ON S
Fig. 16 - SWITZERLAND. Fig. 17 - BRASIL - S. Pau lo.
Retaining wall for the protection of the railway near Aipnach. Bridge abu tments on Tu rvo river, near S. Jos dos Campos.
LANDSCAPI NG MARI NAS AND SE ASHOR E PROT ECT I ON
Fig. 18 - CANADA - Qu ebec. Fig. 19 - CANADA - Qu ebec.
River wall to a city parlc along the St. Lawrence in Candiac. Marina walls at Matane; the work was carried ou t u sing PVC coated gabions.
5
Description of the l\/laccaferri
Reno mattress
Zi nc 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 bu t
smaller dou bie-twist hexagonal mesh
of that u sed to manu factu re the
gabions. The wire characteristics are
the same. Diaphragms are spaced
u su ally at 1.00 m centres, and a
continu ou s panel of mesh forms the
base, the side and the end walls of the
u nit to obtain an open-topped mu lticell
container.
The same mesh is u sed for the base,
diaphragms, and the separate lid. All
panel edges are selvedged with a wire
of larger diameter than that u sed for
the mesh, so as to strengthen the
stru ctu re.
Zi nc coated Reno mattress with
PVC sl eeve
The wire of the Reno mattress can be
coated with PVC in the same manner
as that for gabions.
Applications
RI VER TRAI NI NG SOI L CON SERVAT I ON
Fig. 22 - U.S.A. - New York. Fig. 23 - ITALY - Tu scany.
Gabion bank protection near Bu ffalo. 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.
CUL VERT PROT ECT I ON BRI DGE PROT ECT I ON
Fig. 26 - CANADA - Ontario. Fig. 27 - AUSTRALIA,
Cu lvert protection near Cornwali. Protection of abu tments of tfie "Sfieridan" Bridge, State Highvay No. 2.
I MPERMEABLE LI NI NG OF DAMS MARI NAS AND SE ASHOR E PROT ECT I ON
Fig. 28 - Reno mattresses can be seaied Fig. 29 - U.K. - Dawlish Warren.
by fiot pou red sand aspiialt mastic, in order to provide Protection of the sand spit at the mou th 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 u sing a special maciiine.
Fig. 32 - BRASIL - S. Pau lo.
Sack gabion fou ndation for a bank protection wall on the Tamandu ati river.
33
Fig. 33 - ITALY - Emiiia-Romagna.
Closing a breach of the Po river, near Ferrara.
Fig. 34 - IRAQ. Sack gabion fou ndation
for a bank revetment on the Tigris river
8
I Description of l\/laccaferri
^ rockfall protection netting
ij
Wire mesli netting is often u sed to
prevent rocl<s and debris from falling
on to roads and railw/ays. This solu tion
can also help to establish vegetation.
Maccaferri rockfall mesh has the same
characteristics as that u sed for
gabions and Reno mattresses.
Thanks to the dou ble-twist weaving, it
is strong enou gh to withstand the
force of the falling rocks and, u nlike
chain-link mesh, does not u nravel
shou ld some of the wires break.
y
I
I
Fig. 39 - U.S.A. - Tennessee. Fig. 40 - ITALY.
Erection of netting by means of a crane, aiong interstate 40. Lacing the netting.
9
Tables of
weights and
si zes
The wei ght s l i st ed here
do not i ncl u de l aci ng and
t i e wi re and are su bj ect
t o u su al t ol er ances.
BOX GABIONS - ZINC COATED
Si zes
10 X 12 8 X 10 6 X 8
Length Width Height Appr oxi mat e wei ght each (Kg)
Wi r e 0 2.7 mm Wi r e 0 3.0 mm Wi r e 0 2.7 mm Wi r e 0 3.0 mm Wi r e 0 2.7 mm
m m m
Withou t
diaphragms
With
diaphragms
Withou t
diaphragms
With
diaphragms
Withou t
diaphragms
With
diaphragms
Withou t
diaphragms
With
diaphragms
Withou t
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
Si zes
Diaphragms
no.
10 X 12 8 X 10
Length
m
Width
m
Height
m
Diaphragms
no.
Appr ox i mat e wei ght 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
Si zes
Diaphragms
no.
10 X 12 8 X 10
Length
m
Width
m
Height
m
Diaphragms
no.
Appr ox i mat e wei ght 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
Si zes Appr oxi mat e wei gt i t (Kg) Si zes Appr ox. wei gt i t (Kg)
Length Width Height Zinc coated
Zinc and
PVC coated
Length Width Height Zinc coated Poci<ets
Wire 0 2.2 mm
Wire
0int2.2mm 0ext.3.2mm
Wire 0 2.0 mm
m m m i<g/each l<g/each m m m i<g/each no.
4 2 0. 23 26. 500 3. 300 32. 500 4. 100 4 2 0.15 26. 500 3. 300 4
5 2 0. 23 32. 000 3.200 40. 000 4. 000 5 2 0.15 32. 000 3.200 5
6 2 0. 23 38. 000 3. 150 46. 500 3.900 6 2 0.15 37. 000 3. 100 6
4 2 0.30 28. 000 3. 500 34. 000 4. 300 4 2 0.25 28. 000 3. 500 4
5 2 0.30 34. 000 3.400 42. 000 4. 200 5 2 0.25 34. 500 3. 450 5
6 2 0.30 39. 600 3.300 49. 500 4. 150 6 2 0.25 41. 000 3.400 6
SACK GABIONS
8 X 10
Si zes Appr ox i mat e wei ght each (Kg)
Length Diameter Capacity Zinc coated Zinc and PVC coated
m m m-^ Wire 0 3.0 mm Wire 0 int. 2.7 mm 0 ext. 3.7 mm
2 0.65 0.65 10. 000 9. 400
3 0.65 1.00 13. 500 13. 000
2 0.95 1.40 15. 700 15. 200
3 0.95 2.15 21. 000 20. 200
DOUBLE TWIST HEXAGONAL NETTING
Zi nc c oat ed Zi nc and PVC c oat ed
Mesh type
Wire
0 mm
Approx. weight
I<g/m2
Rolis width
m
fyiesh type
Wire 0 mm
int./ext.
Approx. weight
kg/m2
Rolls width
m
10 X 12
2.7 1.200 2-3
10 X 12 2.7/3.7 1.450 2-3
10 X 12
3.0 1.450 2-3
8 X 10
2.7/3.7 1.750 2-3
8 X 10
2.7 1.400 2-3
6 X 8
2. 2/ 3. 2 1.500 2-3
8 X 10
3.0 1.700 2-3
Above l i st ed net t i ng is su ppl i ed
in 25 t o 200 m l ong rolls
6 X 8
2.2 1.150 2-3
Above l i st ed net t i ng is su ppl i ed
in 25 t o 200 m l ong rolls
6 X 8
2.7 1.750 2-3
Above l i st ed net t i ng is su ppl i ed
in 25 t o 200 m l ong rolls
5 X 7
2.0 1.250 2-3
Above l i st ed net t i ng is su ppl i ed
in 25 t o 200 m l ong rolls
Fig. 58 SWEDEN.
Retaining wall along ttie coast road near Stromstad.
Fig. 59 - U.S.A. - California.
Longitu dinal wails along ttie Gu adalu pe river.
Fig. 60 - SAUDI ARABIA.
Coast protection near Damman.
Any reproduction, including pi^otocopy,
film and microfilm, is forbidden.
All ng/ i t s r eser ved worldwide
OF F I CI N E MACCAF ERRI S. p. A.
40123 Bol ogna - Ital y
Vi a Agr est i , 6 - P.O. Box 396
Tel . (051) 27.97.01 - 23. 43. 03
Tel egr.; Gabbl oni mac - Bol ogna
Tel ex: 510649 - 510371 Gabi on I
Tel ef ax: 0039- 51- 234304 Gabi onf ax
1987 Officine Maccaferri S.p.A. - Bologna - Italy / Printed by Ronografica Bologna
In Neder l and ver t egenwoor di gd door:
KWS - HEERHUGOWAARD
Cel si u sst raat 6
Tel . 02207- 19744 - Fax. 02207- 44063