Model Studies of Distortion Condition Resistance Wall from Gabionic Elements

Retaining walls have been classified and characterized as structures protecting road or railway embankments against landslides. Particular attention was focused on retaining structures classified as light [1-3, 5-12, 14-24], which include, among others, walls made of gabions. Physical models of the gabion retaining wall, prepared on a laboratory scale, test stand and how to perform spatial deformation tests are presented. The models differed in the number and dimensions of gabions. On the basis of measured horizontal deformations of embankment models with a gabion wall, which were subjected to vertical static pressure at the level of the embankment ceiling, the values of basic strength parameters were determined. In particular, the value calculated: horizontal pressure coefficient, shear strength and modulus of deformation. The variability of the values of these parameters was estimated as a function of variable factors related to the gabion wall configuration (determined by the number and dimensions of gabions) and the value of the external load test.