Gabions and gabion mattresses have long been used as a system for erosion control on inland water courses, providing economical and environmentally acceptable solutions. Water is a powerful force and unless protection schemes are correctly designed, potential failure can occur.
Erosion protection schemes generally require units that are flexible, hence it is recommended that the hexagonal woven wire mesh gabion mattresses are used.
For gabion mattresses used as either channel linings, sloping revetments, bed protection or scour protection, the design is empirically based on historical use.
The purpose of the mattress is to reduce the water velocity of the stream as the depth increases so that, at the interface with the bed, the velocity is such that it will not displace the soil particles. As a precautionary measure, a geotextile separator membrane with a pore size smaller than the soil particle size should always be placed below the mattress. It is normally recommended to use a non-woven grade of geotextile.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- Channel Linings
- Bank and bed protection
- Fish habitats
- Culvert headwall inlet/outlet structures
- Protection around bridge piers
- Outfall protection
- River training works
Gabions and gabion mattresses have been used on coastal protection schemes, for example:
- Top of beach protection
- Gabion walling
- Sloping revetments
- Beach replenishing
RELATED DESIGN GUIDE
Volume 3: River and Erosion Protection
This document returns to civil engineering applications. Typical uses of gabions and gabion mattresses for river and erosion protection are covered, including applications such as headwalls, cascades, weirs, revetments and scour protection.
PRODUCTS
Gabions and gabion mattresses have long been used as a system for erosion control on inland water courses, providing economical and environmentally acceptable solutions. Water is a powerful force and unless protection schemes are correctly designed, potential failure can occur.
Erosion protection schemes generally require units that are flexible, hence it is recommended that the hexagonal woven wire mesh gabion mattresses are used.
For gabion mattresses used as either channel linings, sloping revetments, bed protection or scour protection, the design is empirically based on historical use.
The purpose of the mattress is to reduce the water velocity of the stream as the depth increases so that, at the interface with the bed, the velocity is such that it will not displace the soil particles. As a precautionary measure, a geotextile separator membrane with a pore size smaller than the soil particle size should always be placed below the mattress. It is normally recommended to use a non-woven grade of geotextile.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
- Channel Linings
- Bank and bed protection
- Fish habitats
- Culvert headwall inlet/outlet structures
- Protection around bridge piers
- Outfall protection
- River training works
Gabions and gabion mattresses have been used on coastal protection schemes, for example:
- Top of beach protection
- Gabion walling
- Sloping revetments
- Beach replenishing
RELATED DESIGN GUIDE
Volume 3: River and Erosion Protection
This document returns to civil engineering applications. Typical uses of gabions and gabion mattresses for river and erosion protection are covered, including applications such as headwalls, cascades, weirs, revetments and scour protection.
