Installing gabions & mattresses in winter

[peterb1441]

Does anyone have any experience of installing gabions and renomattresses in winter, in frozen ground, for riverbank erosion protection? I know the US Army COE does not permit this. In my opinion, preparation of the banks would be difficult, and maybe there would be uneven settlement in the spring thaw. I'm in a part of Russia where the winter is 7 months long, and where there are restrictions on working in or near rivers in the thaw period. I also have an inept contractor, whose previous mattress installations have been rejected my myself. Any responses would be appreciated

 

[Prepakt1]

You could try another type of mattress like a flexable fabriform concrete mat for erosion control. This will adjust to soil movement.Even then I would specify grout tubes going through the mat so that you can lift the mat by pressure grouting where any undue settlement occurs.

Intrusion Prepakt

http://www.marineconcrete.com

 

[blueoak]

Could you up the rock size and skip the wire? Poorly installed gabions tend to rip and spill all the rock making them pretty short lived. I might also suggest concrete jacks sometimes used for shore protection if you can get them.

 

[cvg]

you could fabricate and fill the mattresses while ground is frozen. when it thaws, prep the subgrade and lift into place. Haven't seen this done, but it is shown in the Macafferri brochures

Also recommend using granular filter instead of geotextile if placing on ground which may settle

 

[GabionGuy]

Gabions installations can be in done in extremely cold temperatures. I have been involved in projects as extreme as -36C. It can be done. It is not pretty, comfortable or recommended, but it can be done.

The installation of PVC coated wire mesh gabion structures is very difficult.

As the double twist wire gabions are flexible, post installation ground movements will be accommodated by the structure.

Your best course of action is to replace the Contractor as unqualified. Almost anything is possible with a competent Contractor. Most Contractors (and Engineers) fail to understand that while gabions are fairly simple structures, they are at all times engineered structures.

If you are working with Maccaferri Russia, have them consult with Maccaferri Canada for winter installation suggestions.