What You Should Know About A Gabion Wall
The term “gabion” refers to a wire-stone element used for retaining walls, sea walls, mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, hydraulic works, and channel lining or revetments. Gabion walls are wire-stone elements in the shape of hexagons or cuboids composed of wire mesh with double or triple twisting. The main function of a gabion wall is to allow lateral movement of rock or soil to manage active earth pressure and to resist a transverse load in the case of gravity slope protection that is supported and stabilized by their own weight. Gabion walls are made of GI wire mesh that has been tested in a lab to confirm their galvanized and gauge features. They may have a hexagonal or rectangular construction, and double or triple twisting should be added to increase their strength. Depending on the size and shape, local boulders or stones that have been certified from various quarry sources are used to adequately fill the wire mesh containers or beds. They are stacked on top of one another and tightly bound to create a massive structure for low gravity walls. Their own weight and the apron, which is dispersed widely in the shape of rectangular boxes with suggested dimensions, work together to create stability. The gabion mesh crates or boxes give the structure on the backfill support and rigidity. These kinds of structures are known as earth reinforcement retaining walls since the GI wire mesh also automatically creates reinforcement to the structure, increasing stability.
Advantages of Gabion Walls
A gabion wall is important to the building of roadways, flood control projects, canal linings, and hydraulic projects.The following are some advantages of gabion.
- They are affordable
Wire mesh and fill material, which can be rock, crumbled concrete, or discarded building supplies like brick and tile, make up most materials. You can utilize leftover building material in the middle of the wall and better quality material, like tumbling stones on the outside, to make a gabion wall look nicer while still saving money.
- They help with drainage
Gabion walls are excellent for retaining soil or terrain that needs drainage since they are permeable.A gabion wall is the best option to halt the erosion of frequently wet ground during the rainy season because water can flow right through the wall.
- They are unbreakable
Even the strongest retaining walls will eventually succumb to seismic activity, wind and water erosion, and the weight of the land behind it. Gabion walls won’t collapse unless their wire cage breaks since they lack a solid surface and are constructed of pliable yet strong wire mesh. A gabion wall can last upto 50 -60 years.
- They are eco-friendly
Gabion walls have a far lower carbon footprint than other retaining wall options because they don’t use cement or wood and frequently use materials that would otherwise be thrown.
How to build a gabion wall
In contrast to other retaining wall designs, gabion walls typically don’t require a footer of poured cement, therefore they can be built quickly.
You can omit a foundation if you’re building on flat ground that isn’t made of clay because clay will settle as a result of the weight of the wall. Dig down until you reach more compact soil if the ground is soft or mostly clay-based, and then add a layer of gravel to the area you just dug out. A straightforward gabion wall is constructed by clearing the ground and designating the location of the wall.The cage is made of galvanized wire that is connected together to form a rectangle with sheets of heavy-duty wire mesh or PVC-coated steel wire. (You may buy pre-made gabion cages for smaller jobs.) After the cage has been positioned, the fill material is added, and the top is connected into position.Stepped walls typically require extensive pre-construction excavation to determine the space they will occupy. The cages should be placed one on top of the other on tall walls. Long walls may also need to be supported by rebar rods put in a concrete foundation and wire cross-braces to keep the wall’s shape.
It is important that we keep looking for new ways to reduce the carbon footprint as we develop more and more constructions. Incorporating sustainable features like the gabion wall can ultimately save you money.
If you’re interested in making the next construction beneficial to your health, but also for the environment around you, then reach out to Wall Tag; the leading Singapore based Gabion Manufacturers & Supplier.