What Is Gabion?
Gabion is a kind of welded iron cage or box, which contains stone, concrete, sand or soil and other materials. Therefore, the gabion is a partially flexible block structure, used for slope stability and erosion protection in construction. Various types of gabions were built and used in different engineering structures.
Sometimes, rooting branches can be placed between baskets full of rocks to improve the durability and stability of gabion.

What is a stone cage?　　　　　

Stone cage is made of heavy galvanized steel wire hexagonal mesh made of rectangular basket. The basket is filled with stones that are stacked on top of each other to form a gravity wall. Stone cage nets mainly rely on the metal mesh internal each stone and rock interlocking to achieve internal stability, and their mass or weight to resist hydraulic and soil forces. Stone cage net is a porous type of structure, sometimes can be covered by vegetation. Stone cage nets are considered to be a "hard" structural solution with minimal habitat and aesthetic value.

The advantages of gabion

1.The durability
Gabion has very high atmospheric corrosion resistance, this is because the zinc coating on the metal wire combined well, and can support plant growth.
2. The flexibility
This function makes the gabion can be sedimentation and deformation, without causing failure and efficiency loss. Specifically, when it comes to unstable ground and moving water.
3. The permeability
It provides an automatic and convenient drainage system, which eliminates the need to install drains.
4. Power
Gabions have a satisfactory strength, because it can resist the flood, flood and ice soil pressure.
5. The economy
Compared with other gabion substitutes, it is more economical in terms of materials and labor.
6. The environmental protection
Recycled materials can be put into the gabion cage. Soil gaps between filling materials allow the plantation to grow over time. Gabion elements are not affected by natural phenomena.

Applicability

Gabions are used to slow down the rate of concentrated runoff or stabilize slopes with seepage problems and/or non-cohesive soils. Gabions can be used at the soil-water interface, in which case, soil conditions, water turbulence, water velocity and expected plant coverage make the soil likely to be eroded under design flow conditions. Stone cage nets can be used on slopes steeper than riprap and are sometimes the only viable option for solutions where stable space is insufficient to accommodate "softer" vegetation.

Maintenance

Gabions should be checked regularly after each major storm.
All temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control measures shall be maintained and repaired as needed to ensure the continued performance of their intended functions.
All maintenance and repairs shall be carried out in accordance with the approved manual.

The construction sequence

Because the gabion is used in the place of high corrosion potential, it is necessary to sort the construction in order to place it in the shortest possible delay. Only in the final preparation and placement can be carried out immediately after the initial interference, should be placed in the stone cage area interference.
If the gabion is used for export protection, they should be placed before the structure of the pipeline or channel or used in combination with it, so that they are in place when the pipeline or channel begins to work.