Seismic Design of Woven Gabion Baskets Structures for Earthquake-Prone Areas

Woven gabion baskets structures have been widely used in various engineering fields due to their excellent performance in retaining soil and resisting loads. However, seismic performance of these structures has not been fully understood and has received little attention. In this article, we explore the seismic behavior of woven gabion baskets and develop appropriate seismic design criteria to ensure their satisfactory performance in earthquake-prone areas.

Firstly, the gabion baskets seismic behavior is studied through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. The results show that the seismic performance of gabion baskets is mainly affected by their geometry, material properties, and connection between the baskets and the soil. The basket geometry plays a crucial role in determining the deformation capacity and load-bearing capacity of the structure, while the connection between the baskets and the soil determines the transmission of earthquake forces to the baskets.

Secondly，the seismic design criteria for woven gabion baskets structures are proposed based on the results of numerical simulations and past earthquakes’ experience. The design criteria include: 

(1) the gabion baskets geometry should be designed to achieve an appropriate deformation capacity and load-bearing capacity; 

(2) the connection between the baskets and the soil should be able to transmit earthquake forces effectively; 

(3) gabion baskets should be reinforced to avoid failure due to large deformations or shear forces during earthquakes.

Thirdly，the seismic design criteria are applied to a gabion basket bridge project located in an earthquake-prone area of Taiwan. The bridge project is designed based on the proposed seismic design criteria, including basket geometry design, connection design between the baskets and soil, and reinforcement measures. The bridge’s seismic performance is then evaluated through numerical simulations using shaking table tests and full-scale bridge models. The results show that the bridge’s seismic performance meets the specified design requirements.

Finally，although the proposed seismic design criteria for Woven gabion baskets structures show promise for earthquake-prone areas, they need to be further validated through practical applications and shaking table tests on larger scale models. Additional research efforts should also be directed towards understanding other important factors that may affect the seismic performance of these structures, such as soil-structure interaction and fatigue behavior under cyclic loading conditions.