Whether you are looking for an erosion control solution in your project or want to use them as an architectural element inside or outside of a building, gabions have a lot to offer. Not only do they prevent erosion along the shoreline, but they are also great for preventing landslides and scouring. You can use different types of gabion baskets to stabilize river banks or to enhance roadside slope erosion problems. You can also use them to build decorative and acoustic fences for residential and commercial applications, as well as larger baskets for security and fire protection in a variety of applications, including government and military.
With the ability to use locally sourced infill materials, gabions are easy to integrate into the local environment. Because they can be easily drained, they are very stable as retaining structures. Because a variety of aggregates are readily available as infill, designers rely on them for high-quality urban and landscape architectural elements. By properly designing and constructing gabion baskets, they can meet the structural and architectural design standards associated with retaining walls.
However, in order to use gabions most effectively, you must select the correct type of material to construct your gabions based on the application area and project-specific requirements. The most common materials include galvanized steel, stainless steel, raw steel, PVC-coated steel and copolymer plastic.
The following are the different types of gabions and their specific applications in different environments.
PVC coated gabions can be either welded wire mesh or double twisted woven wire mesh gabions. In both cases, the steel core wires are fused to the PVC coating after hot-dipped galvanizing and priming. They create a strong and robust structure by providing excellent protection in extreme environments. the PVC coating provides additional protection for use in environments where the soil or water is acidic or contaminated. The protective coating protects against the risk of corrosion and is ideal for retention and erosion applications in fresh water.
These gabions consist of welded wire mesh or hot-dipped galvanized twisted wire mesh. Galvanized gabions have shown excellent results in preventing general exposure and are the most common type. Galvanizing gabions with zinc for protection has proven to be an excellent general purpose option with inherent corrosion resistance. They tend to have an average service life of about 25 years. However, the actual design life depends on many factors, including water exposure, soil salinity and acidity, and runoff, as well as environmental contamination.
If you are looking for a raw, rustic look for your project, raw steel gabions are both inexpensive and readily available. While the patina they develop is very attractive due to the lack of coating on the steel, the service life can be significantly reduced depending on the severity of the environmental conditions. This is why these gabions are often used in applications where drought conditions or exposure to large amounts of water are not present. You can use powder coating or clear coating to extend the service life, but this requires additional on-site maintenance.
Welded Gabion Net
Requiring no additional processes, stainless steel gabions offer excellent natural properties and are available in both 304 and 316L stainless steel. Aesthetically, stainless steel gabions are easily integrated into architectural designs and are available in a variety of wire diameters and mesh sizes depending on aesthetic preferences and the material that will be used as fill. They are fire resistant and do not require special care. They are resistant to corrosion or rusting throughout the wire, not just on the outside of the wire with a coating. For marine or highly corrosive soil applications, marine grade stainless steel gabion materials can greatly increase project life, but it should be mentioned that all steel will eventually rust when exposed to salt water for extended periods of time.
These UV-stabilized polypropylene gabions are a more affordable option than traditional steel wire gabions, providing you with long-term durability while allowing flexibility in rough or uneven areas. PP marine gabions are non-reactive to the marine environment and are treated to maintain UV resistance. PP marine gabions are ideal for bodies of water where wave energy needs to be dissipated to reinforce shorelines. They also help with scour protection and maintain the integrity of structures close to the shoreline.
Whether you require gabions for erosion control or a retaining wall or you are looking to undertake a new landscaping project, we have you covered. Call us now at +86 137 8588 5555 or email us at sales@china-mesh-wire.com. We can show you the best possible solution.
