Linktm Gabions and Mattresses Design Booklet
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LinkTM Gabions and Mattresses Design Booklet www.globalsynthetics.com.au Australian Company - Global Expertise Contents 1. Introduction to Link Gabions and Mattresses ................................................... 1 1.1 Brief history ...............................................................................................................................1 1.2 Applications ..............................................................................................................................1 1.3 Features of woven mesh Link Gabion and Mattress structures ...............................................2 1.4 Product characteristics of Link Gabions and Mattresses .........................................................2 2. Link Gabions and Mattresses .............................................................................. 4 2.1 Types of Link Gabions and Mattresses .....................................................................................4 2.2 General specification for Link Gabions, Link Mattresses and Link netting...............................4 2.3 Standard sizes of Link Gabions, Mattresses and Netting ........................................................6 2.4 Durability of Link Gabions, Link Mattresses and Link Netting ..................................................7 2.5 Geotextile filter specification ....................................................................................................7 2.6 Rock infill specification .............................................................................................................8 2.7 Geogrid reinforcement ..............................................................................................................8 3. Link Gabions for Civil Works ............................................................................. 10 3.1 Gravity retaining walls .............................................................................................................10 3.2 Reinforced soil retaining walls ................................................................................................13 3.3 Landscaping walls ..................................................................................................................18 4. Link Gabions and Mattresses for Channel, River and Stream Works ........... 19 4.1 Bank and bed protection ........................................................................................................19 4.2 Bridge abutment and pier protection ......................................................................................23 4.3 Culvert protection ...................................................................................................................25 4.4 Weir structure protection ........................................................................................................27 4.5 Low-level crossings and embankment protection on flood plains .........................................28 5. Link Gabions and Mattresses for Coastal and Foreshore Protection Works 30 5.1 Coastal revetments .................................................................................................................30 5.2 Beach protection seawalls ......................................................................................................31 6. Link Gabion and Mattress Construction Guidelines ....................................... 32 6.1 Delivery and storage ...............................................................................................................32 6.2 Labour and plant requirements .............................................................................................. 32 6.3 Assembly ................................................................................................................................32 7. Bibliography ........................................................................................................ 36 1. Introduction to Link Gabions and Mattresses 1.1 Brief history forces are generated by the mass of rock infill within the Gabion product, which are laced The word Gabion is a French word derived together to form a monolithic structure. Link from the Italian word “gabbia” meaning cage. Gabion structures, when designed in such The very early use of these products was by a manner, are most commonly used in cut the Chinese who made wicker baskets that situations. were rock-filled for protection of structures against river scour. In the latter part of the Soil reinforcement techniques may be used with 16th Century the French and British developed Link Gabions providing the front face retention similar structures that were soil-filled for system in combination with mesh panels or personal protection emplacements in military geogrid reinforcement, laid into compacted installations. The word Gabion was adopted by reinforced fill material behind the gabion facing. the French to mean “a fortified position”. These reinforcements enhance the shear resistance of the structure and increase stability. In the late 19th Century simple wire mesh Such walls are best used in fill situations and it baskets were being made that could be rock- is common for an engineering structure to be filled and that could provide more permanent constructed above or below the constructed solutions to problems of erosion protection wall. Such techniques allow the efficient use of in river works and simple earth retaining the Link Gabion facing with the ability to often structures. use “on-site soils” in the reinforced fill zone of the structure. Greater levels of sophistication in steel wire coating and manufacturing techniques were Link Mattresses are much thinner than the employed during the latter part of the 20th Link Gabion product and are generally used in Century. This was combined with significant applications of channel linings and spillways research being undertaken to understand the where area coverage is important. The steel performance characteristics of the modern day wire mesh of the Link Mattresses effectively Gabion products. Today, the use of rock-filled restrains the movement of the rockfill placed Gabion (and the rock Mattress) products are within the mattresses, thereby increasing its well accepted techniques in earth protection shear resistance against hydraulic load. The use and earth retaining structures around the world. of a Link Mattress allows the use of more readily available smaller rock sizes for a given hydraulic Link Gabion and Mattress products utilise the situation. When stone is effectively contained latest manufacturing and coating technologies within the steel mesh of the Link Mattress the available to produce a highly functional and protection and resistance against scour and durable product that Engineers can incorporate rock movement is equivalent to rock sizes some into their designs with confidence. 3-4 times the thickness of the Link Mattress being used. 1.2 Applications Link Gabions and Mattresses provide a highly Link Gabions and Mattresses may be used versatile solution of earth retention and erosion either singly or in combination with each other in protection for designers and contractors in a the following typical applications. wide variety of applications. • Gravity retaining walls, • Reinforced soil retaining walls, Link gabions are typically used for earth retention structures although the use of such • River bank and riverbed, stream and channel products is also commonly used in a wide protection, variety of hydraulic structures in conjunction • Bridge abutment and pier protection, with the Link Mattresses. • Hydraulic drop structures for abrupt changes in hydraulic grade, When used in a traditional manner, such as earth retention structures, Link Gabions may be • Culvert structures, designed as gravity structures where resisting • Weirs and low level creek and river crossings, 1 • Dam spillways, 1.4 Product characteristics of Link • Foreshore protection. Gabions and Mattresses 1.4.1 Durability Link Gabions and Mattresses are very flexible, requiring minimal foundation treatment prior to Link Gabions and Mattresses are made from ® use. The product is extremely simple to erect either heavily coated zinc or Galfan steel wire. requiring generally unskilled labour. The product The Link manufacturing process allows great is folded flat for ease of transportation to site. control over wire quality with the ability to draw the wire “in-house” from selected steel rod and then apply the zinc or Galfan coating. Many 1.3 Features of woven mesh Link of Link’s competitors purchase wire from third Gabion and Mattress structures parties without having complete control of the The unique weave construction of Link Gabions wire manufacturing process. The use of polymer and Mattresses results in a flexible structure coatings is used to additionally coat the zinc or that enables good load distribution of imposed Galfan wire for Gabion and Mattress product stresses. The weave is such that isolated that is to be used in aggressive environments. breaks in the wire, that may occur from time to time, will not allow unravelling of the mesh. Link Gabions and Mattresses have British Board Wire diameters have been selected to provide of Agrément Certification (e.g. BBA, 2000) that optimal strength with the mesh openings, demonstrates a design life of up to 120 years. allowing a wide range of rock sizes to be Further information may be sought from Global retained within the formed mesh product. Synthetics Pty Ltd. The