Gabion Walls 16.1 Introduction Computations involved in gabion walls are no different from regular gravity earth retaining walls. The earth pressure forces are computed as usual, and the stability of the wall with respect to rotation and sliding is computed. Gabion baskets are manufactured in different sizes. The typical bas- ket is approximately 3 ft in size. Smaller baskets are easier to handle. At the same time, smaller baskets need more seams to be connected. Not all Gabion baskets are perfect cubes. Some baskets are made with elongated shapes. See Fig. 16.1. Figure 16.1 Gabion basket244 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb. Figure 16.2. Gabion wall under construction Gabion baskets can be connected to build a wall. See Fig. 16.2. Design Example 16.1 A115 ft high embankment has to be contained. Five foot Gabion baskets to be placed as shown in Fig. 16.3 have been proposed. Find the factor of safety of the gabion wall. The soil density, y, is 120 pcf, the soil friction angle, g, is 30°, the friction angle between the gabion baskets and the soil, 5, is 20°. Assume all groundwater is drained. See Fig. 16.3. Solution STEP 1: Find the lateral earth pressure coefficient. Ky = tan7(45 ~ /2) = tan?(45 — 30/2) = 0.333Chapter 16 Gabion Walls 245 B Figure 16.3 Gabion wall and forces STEP 2: Compute the horizontal force due to earth pressure. horizontal force (H) = pressure due to soil BC = Ka x y x h = 0.333 x 15 x (120) = 600 psf y = 120pef and h = 15 ft area ABC = 1/2 x 15 x BC = 1/2 x 15 x 600 = 4,500 Ib total horizontal force (H) = 4,500 Ib STEP 3: Compute the weight of the gabion wall. Assume the density of stones to be 160 pcf. There are six gabion baskets. W = weight of gabion baskets = 6 x (5 x 5) x 160 = 24,000 Ib There is soil sitting on the gabion baskets. weight of soil = 3 x (5 x 5) x 120 = 9,000Ib density of soil = 120 pcf total weight of the gabion wall = 24,000 + 9,000 = 33,0001Ib246 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb. STEP 4: Calculate the resistance against sliding. See Fig. 16.4. SS R= Wx tan (3) Figure 16.4 Forces acting on a gabion wall resistance against sliding = weight of the gabion wall x tan(s) R= 33,000 x tan(20°) = 12,011 lbs Tesistance against sliding horizontal force = 12,011/4,500 = 2.67 factor of safety against sliding = STEP S: Calculate the overturning moment. The resultant force acts 1/3 of the length of the triangle. Obtain moments around point D. See Fig. 16.3. overturning moment = H x 1/3 x 15 = 4,500 x 5 = 22,5001bft STEP 6: Calculate the resisting moment. There are six rock blocks and three soil blocks. There are three blocks (rock) in the far left and one block at the far right. There are two blocks in the middle. See Fig. 16.5.Chapter 16 Gabion Walls 247 Figure 16.5 Weight due to gabion baskets The resisting moment due to gabion baskets can be calculated as resisting moment due to three blocks in the left ABC =3- (Sx 5) x 160 x 2.5 = 30,000 lb ft resisting moment due to two blocks DE = 2 x (5 x 5) x 160 x 7.5 = 60,000 Ib ft resisting moment due to one block F = 1 x (5 x 5) x 160 x 12.5 = 50,000 Ib ft resisting moment due to soil sitting on top of gabion baskets =1x (Sx 5) x 120x 7.542 x (5S x 5) x 120 x 12.5 = 22,500 + 75,000 resisting moment = 97,500 Ib ft248 Geotechnical Engineering Calculations and Rules of Thumb STEP 7: Determine the factor of safety against overturning. resisting moment factor of safety against overturning = ————>—____ ty 385 8 = Sverturning moment = 97,500/22,500 = 4.33 16.2 Log Retaining Walls Timber logs are arranged to build log walls. These types of retaining walls are rare today, but can be used in wetland mitigation and for temporary structures. See Figs. 16.6 and 16.7. Compacted backfil Drain pipe Figure 16.6 Log retaining wall (side view) Timber logs _——> Compacted backtil —>—f \ = = TV = Figure 16.7 Log retaining wall (frontal view) Log walls can be constructed cheaply, and are still widely used in areas where timber is common.