Gabion: what is it, features, application

Gabion from the Italian «gabbione» and French «gabion» translates as «large cage». Originally, these constructions in the form of boxes filled with sand or soil were used in military science to create protection against bullets. In modern times gabions represent a steel cage filled with large stones, which are widely used in the arrangement of territories of different types.

Gabion's basic types

A gabion is a three-dimensional steel frame, consisting of many cells, and filled with large fractions of hard rocks. There are three main kinds of gabion constructions, and each one has its own design features and scope of application.

Cylindrical gabions

Cylindrical gabion is a very strong (in some cases welded) construction. It is notable for its high degree of flexibility due to the lack of stiffening ribs. Cylindrical gabions are successfully used for urgent stabilization of the coastline in order to prevent its scouring or to liquidate the failures on the dikes. Also these constructions together with box-shaped models are used as foundations when erecting walls in different water reservoirs.

Box gabions

Such gabions are made of double-torsion wire and have a parallelepiped or cube shape. This kind of construction is widely used in different spheres. It fulfills a function of walls, fences and furniture and provides a reliable protection of slopes from landslides. Box gabions often become the basis for a stone oven.

Flat gabions

The length of these structures is 5-6 m, width - 20-30 cm. The main advantage of flat gabions is the ability to reproduce the outlines of the landscape with maximum precision. They are used for the erection of steps, terraces, foundations for light constructions and strengthening of slopes.

Besides the above-mentioned variants, gabion constructions can have a shape of a sphere, a vase, an animal, a plant, etc. To get an interesting effect, variants with different configurations are often combined with each other.

Peculiarities of the gabion's mesh and filler

The mesh for the gabion is made of steel wire, distinguished by its particular strength. When performing the weaving, double-twisting technology is used. For private use, the frame can be created from lattice mesh, reinforcing bars. Gabion wires used for hydrotechnical constructions are coated with a polymer layer.

The filler is usually crushed stone, broken bricks, quarry or rubble stone. To create decorative compositions, gabions are filled with such materials:

• stones with a rounded shape or chopped edges;
• large pebbles: river or sea;
• Crushed stone of large caliber.

In addition to rocks, other original fillers are used to fill cellular frameworks, such as:

• colorful fragments of glass;
• sliced circles of wood;
• glass balls;
• slate;
• scraps of metal pipes;
• broken tiles;
• stones of artificial origin.

The scope of gabion application

In order to protect the soil from collapse gabions are used as follows:

• Strengthening the load-bearing supports of bridges;
• The device of hydraulic structures;
• Construction of roads and railroads, as well as their protection from landslides and rockfall;
• prevention of landslides and destruction of the top layer of soil.

When creating landscape design gabions are used for the following purposes:

• arrangement of flowerbeds, lawns and paths on garden plots;
• decorative adornment;
• dividing a large space into several functional zones;
• fence creation;
• construction of original architectural structures.

The material of gabions perfectly harmonizes with natural landscape. It allows you to create attractive structures at any time of the year.