Gabion baskets are wire mesh containers filled with rocks. While they look like simple cages, in civil engineering, they are sophisticated structures used for erosion control, retaining walls, and bridge protection.

　　Material Specifications

　　Standard gabions use galvanized steel wire, but for "heavy-duty" applications (like riverbanks or highway sound barriers), PVC-coated galvanized wire is required. The PVC coating prevents the wire from rusting in acidic water or soil, extending the lifespan to 50-100 years.

　　Wire Gauge and Mesh

　　Gauge: Heavier gauges (8 or 10 gauge) are used for structural integrity. Thinner wires (12 gauge) are only for small garden walls.

　　Mesh Size: A 2x2 inch or 3x3 inch hexagonal mesh is standard. If the mesh is too big, small stones fall out; too small, and the basket becomes too rigid and brittle.

　　Diaphragms

　　In large baskets (over 1 meter wide), internal diaphragms (dividers) are welded to the wire mesh. This prevents the basket from bulging out when filled with heavy rocks, maintaining a rectangular shape for stacking.

　　Applications

　　Retaining Walls: They are permeable, meaning water drains through them, reducing hydrostatic pressure behind the wall (a common cause of concrete wall failure).

　　River Training: Used to line riverbeds to prevent scouring (erosion of the river bottom) during floods.