CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In this research Gabion Walls are generally analyzed as gravity retaining walls that are

designed to use their own weight to resist the lateral earth pressures, and very flexible structures,

able to withstand significant movements from undercutting or landslippage.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research aims to design gabion walls for slope protection, specifically to answer the

ff. questions

1. What will be the dimension of gabion walls?

2. Does the design of gabion courses should fully bear down on the unit below and not

overhang at the rear?

3. Are gabion walls load bearing?

1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

1.3.1 SCOPE

This study on the design of gabion walls consist of the following scope:

a. Gabion walls may be stepped on either the front or the back (soil side) face. The

design of gabion walls is based on the same principles.

 Design begins with the selection of trail dimensions for a typical vertical cross section

through the wall. Four main steps must then be followed:

1. Determine the forces acting on the wall.

2. Check that resisting moment exceeds the overturning moment by a suitable safety

factor.

3. Check that sliding resistance exceeds the active horizontal force falls within the

middle third of the wall’s base, and that the maximum bearing pressure is within

the allowable limit.

b. Design methods of analysis for determining the stability of gabion walls are based on

The Code of Practice BS 8002 which superseded CP2. The two methods considered

are:

- Serviceability Limit State Design

- Ultimate Limit State Design

c. The different software that will be used in this study are the following:

 Microsoft Word 2010

 Microsoft Excel 2010

 AutoCad 2015

 Sketch up 2008

1.3.2 LIMITATIONS

This study is limited to the following considerations:

a. The conventional design method is basically a limit equilibrium analysis. The

conventional method cannot show or analyze the soil-structure interaction between the
 gabion retaining wall and backfill nor can it analyze the soil-structure interaction within

the gabion box unit itself, that is between the wire mesh and filler material (cobbles).

Because of these limitations it is not possible to determine stress levels and stress

distributions throughout the retaining wall. Therefore it is also impossible to determine

the stresses in the components of the gabion box unit such as the wire mesh, connecting

wire and filler material.

b. Another limitation of the conventional method is that wall deflections cannot be

determined. Due to the flexible nature of gabion retaining wall, wall deflections can be of

importance in determining the final location or orientation of the wall.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is important to the following:

 Civil Engineers: This study provides information in constructing gabion walls.

 Civil Engineering Students: This study serves as a reference and guide to those who

intend similar or related research

 Design of gabion walls

Presented to:

The faculty of the College of Engineering and Technology

Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University

Zamboanga City

In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Tan, Patrick Ray M.

Tolo, Marc Earlson