CETN-III-31
12/86
A s an additional design consideration, Brown (1979) proposed an equation
for computing gabion thickness in the presence of wave action.
STONE FILLED GABIONS
DESIGN WATER LEVEL
GRAVEL
FILTER FABRIC
...
STONE TOE PROTECTION
Figure 3. Typical Gabion Installation
C . Flexibility. Gabions can adjust to limited localized stresses Induced
b y small foundation settlement and deflection. When deformed within these
l i m i t s , the structure should remain intact, maintaining its strength and
a d a p t i n g itself to soil movements.
D . Ease of maintenance. Simple field maintenance, such as replacing lost
s t o n e and repairing damaged wire mesh with new wire, is feasible without the
u s e of heavy equipment. Gabions should be inspected regularly and after storms
t o ensure that low grade damage is repaired immediately. If conditions
c h a n g e , the structure can be modified by adding or deleting sections.
2 . Potential Limitations:
T h e following is a listing of gabion limitations extracted from
p e r f o r m a n c e reports of field applications:
A . Baskets may be difficult to fill completely with stone. When the
b a s k e t s are not completely filled, flexing occurs, which leads to wire fatigue
a n d eventual failure.
B . The PVC wire coating may be prone to cracking and wear.
c . Structure lifespan is difficult to predict.
D . If caustic chemicals are present in the area, chemical reactions
i n v o l v i n g the wire are possible.
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