Gabion walls and their levels

A gabion wall is checked whole, like any other wall (earth pressure, stability and bearing capacity), and level by level.

Levels

The block from each level up must not overturn about its own toe or slide on the level below. Each block has its own virtual back and earth pressure; it slides on the gabions’ friction angle, without adhesion, and counts passive resistance only while still embedded. Inside the wall the water stands at one level, so a level’s uplift is uniform. Levels have no bearing or eccentricity check.

Weight under water

A gabion, whose voids fill with water, weighs $\gamma + n\gamma_w$ under water, with $n = 0.40$ and $\gamma$ the gabions’ unit weight, voids included.