Gabion Retaining Walls
GABION RETAINING WALL SYSTEMS ARE MONOLITHIC GRAVITY MASS STRUCTURES THAT ARE IDEALLY SUITED FOR EROSION CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND FOLLOW STANDARD DESIGN METHODS FOR GRAVITY AND MSE RETAINING WALLS. THERE ARE MANY BENEFITS TO USING RETAINING WALL SYSTEMS.
NOTE: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS A GUIDE TO ASSIST CONTRACTORS AND DO-IT-YOUR-SELFERS IN THE PROPER CONSTRUCTION OF GABION RETAINING WALLS. THE PHOTOS AND ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWN ON THIS WEBSITE ARE EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL MULTI-COURSE GRAVITY RETAINING WALLS. THIS CONTENT IS PRESENTED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AS A SUGGESTED DESIGN OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FOR BUILDING YOUR WALL. WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT YOU CONTACT A LOCAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER TO EVALUATE SOIL FOR GABION WALL DESIGN AND BASED ON A CERTIFIED GEO-TECHNICAL SOIL REPORT OF THE SITE LOCATION.
EXAMPLE PHOTOS OF TYPICAL MULTI-COURSE RETAINING WALLS:
Gabion Retaining Wall Design
Gabion wall base width relative to wall height
The base width of a gabion gravity retaining wall is directly related to the height of the wall. As the wall height increases, the base of the wall must become wider to ensure structural stability. We have provided the diagrams below to illustrate a starting point for design analysis to determine the base width relative to the wall height.
A conservative rule-of thumb value of base width = 2/3 wall height.
Note: A professional stability analysis may determine that the gabion gravity retaining wall base width could be less or greater than the 2/3 wall height rule.
GABION GRAVITY WALL SIZES & DIMENSIONS
DURA-WELD and DURA-FLEX gravity retaining walls can be designed and constructed up to approximately 30’, however due to the configuration of gabion gravity retaining walls their best suited for wall heights of 18’ or less. For wall heights of 18’- 36’ see the Stable Slope Section of this web site.
Gabion wall base width relative to wall height base width of a gabion gravity retaining wall is related to the height of wall so as the wall height increases the base becomes wider to ensure structural stability. Below is a suggested diagram to illustrate a starting point for design. A typical conservative value of base width = 2/3 wall height.
*** A stability analysis may determine that the gabion gravity retaining wall base width be less than or greater than 1/2 - 2/3 wall height.
TYPICAL SIZES & DIMENSIONS - GABION ROCK FILLING
DURA-WELDTM Gabions: 3" x 3" square mesh openings - 4" - 8" angular shaped rocks
DURA-FLEXTM Gabions: 3-1/4" x 4-1/2" - 8x10cm hex shaped mesh openings. Fill with 4" - 8" angular shaped rocks
DURA-FLEXTM Gabions: 2-1/2" x 3-1/4" - 6x8cm hex shaped mesh openings. Fill with 3" - 6" angular shaped rocks
Specific gravity required for the rock fill shall be determined by the design and specified by the design engineer. Specific gravity for rock fill material shall be no less than 2.5
Unit weight of gabion rock fill
TYPE OF ROCK
BASALT
GRANITE
LIMESTONE
SANDSTONE
LBS/CUBIC FT
180
160
138
140
- Unit weight of gabion stone fill- based on a porosity of 0.30 or 30%
- SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF MATERIALS
- BASALT 3.0
- BRICK 2.0
- BROKEN CONCRETE 2.4
- GRANITIE 2.7
- LIMESTONE 2.5
- SANDSTONE 2.2
- TRAP ROCK 2.7
GENERAL DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Foundation Preparation
Gabion gravity retaining walls are typically placed directly on a graded soil foundation. To increase the bearing capacity, minimize differential settlement, and/or allow for additional drainage, a base layer of granular stone fill with consistent gradation ranging from ½” to1-1/2" may be placed and compacted to local standards 6” – 18” in depth.
Foundation Grade & Wall batter
It may be determined, through a stability analysis, that additional stability of the gabion gravity retaining wall may be required to achieve acceptable factors of safety from sliding. Options prior to enlarging the gabion wall cross section for additional stability is to excavate and bury half of the first course baskets and erect the gabion gravity retaining wall on a 5 - 6 degree batter towards the retained slope. This will require the foundation soils to be graded and compacted to accommodate for the specified wall batter.
EXAMPLES OF GABION RETAINING WALLS
GEO-TEX geo-textile filter fabric is a vital component of any gabion retaining wall project. Gabion walls are most commonly filled with rocks and the voids between them are filled in with backfill materials such as silts and clay or soft clay. The rock voids within the gabion baskets allows for free drainage of the retained soils and requires a filter fabric be placed between the gabion wall and the backfill soil interface. The geotextile filter fabric will minimize hydrostatic pressure and prevent loss of soil during drainage and drawdown. Gabion gravity retaining walls constructed without the placement of filter fabric will have a tendency to incur a loss of retained soils and grade elevation behind the gabion wall. The type of backfill soil specified will determine the type, and placement of the geotextile filter fabric.
To provide the maximum resistance to soil forces the gabion baskets should be placed with the length dimension of the gabion unit running from the back of the gabion wall to the front face of the gabion wall. This will result in the internal diaphragms being placed perpendicular to the wall face and parallel to soil thrust. When gabion units are placed with the length dimension of the gabion unit running parallel with the length dimension of the wall the vertical seams shall be offset.
There are many reasons you might need a retaining wall. For more assistance, reach out to our team of experts or learn more in our tips for building a retaining wall.
NOTE: All the above examples are for information only and not to be considered design recommendations. The information provided in the above examples including geo-technical data, dimensions and site conditions are assumptions made by manufacturer and should be reviewed and certified by a Professional Engineer. Please check Local, State and Federal requirements.
