Dura-Flex Double Twisted Wire Mesh Gabions

Twisted Wire Gabions are defined as double twisted woven wire mesh box shaped baskets of various sizes and dimensions.

The selvedges of the gabion baskets are the thicker perimeter and edge wires to which the wire mesh is secured. Reinforcing wires are the thicker wires incorporated into the netting during fabrication.

Diaphragms are internal wire mesh panels that divide the gabions into cells.

Lacing or tie wire is used to assemble and join the gabion units together.

Connecting wires are the internal wires used to prevent the gabion walls from bulging Hi-tensile steel Hog ring "C" fasteners are ASTM approved wire fasteners that may be used in lieu of lacing wire.

DURA-FLEX Double Twisted Hexagonal Steel Wire Mesh Gabions are fabricated in such a manner that the sides, ends, lid and diaphragms can be assembled at the construction site into rectangular baskets of the sizes as required. Gabions shall be of single unit construction: the base, lid, ends and sides shall be either woven into a single unit or edge of these members connected to the base section of the gabion in such a manner that strength and flexibility at the connecting point does not compromise the engineered structural design of the gabion. Where the length of the gabion exceeds one and one half its horizontal width, the gabion shall be divided by diaphragms of the same mesh and gauge as the body of the gabion, into cells whose length does not exceed the horizontal width. Each gabion comes furnished with all the necessary diaphragms secured in proper position on the base with no additional tying required at this juncture.

The double twisted hexagonal wire mesh shall have de-formability sufficient to permit minimum of mesh elongation equivalent to 10% of the un-stretched length of the mesh test section without reducing the gauge or the tensile strength of the individual wire strands to values less than those for similar wire, one gauge smaller in diameter.

The wire mesh is fabricated to be non-raveling. This is defined as the ability to resist pulling apart at any of the twists or connections forming the mesh when a single wire strand in a section of mesh is cut.

The rock fill material used for filling the gabion baskets shall be clean, non-degradable hard quarried rock with pieces ranging from 4-8 inches. Gabion Mattresses have smaller mesh openings and should be filled with 3-6 inch rocks.

Retaining Walls: Gabions  used as earth retaining structures provides a low cost alternative to concrete or masonry retaining walls.

The permeability of gabion structures has the benefit of reducing water pressures behind the structure and allows free drainage.

Gabions can also provide a cost effective, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly alternative to concrete systems.

Flexible gabion structures used in the construction of retaining walls are a simple, functional solution. These structures can withstand harsh environmental and climatic conditions.

Highways are infrastructures representing heavy investment. It is therefore vital to protect them from environmental disasters. Gabion mattresses are used to stabilize the slopes protecting the shoulders of highways that are prone to erosion. Highway protection work also includes rockfall protection, retaining structures, culvert and bridge protection, where mesh fabric, gabion boxes or mattresses are used depending on the situation.

Protection against rockfall from slopes can be guaranteed by using various structural solutions or by merely using gabion mesh fabric as a passive measure. The gabion mesh obstructs rockfall and protects infrastructures. This is achieved by joining together rolls of mesh fabric with lacing wire and using it as a blanket to cover slopes. Alternatively, gabion retaining walls are built which stop falling rocks.

Gabion baskets and mattresses are used extensively in the construction of culverts and bridge supports as a guide and protector of unconfined water flow.

The main function of the gabion structures is to control and guide the course of water through channels and prevent the erosion of banks. Flexibility and permeability of these structures, permit the natural movement of ground water.

Special Stainless Steel or PVC coated steel wires offer highest resistant to corrosion and other environmental effects. Beach protection, marinas, retaining walls, ramps, piers and small jetties can be built at great speed and minimum cost. Gabions also dissipate wave energy thus conserving beaches and preventing erosion.