Slope Protection Gabion Mesh

Slope protection net is a flexible or rigid protection system specifically designed to prevent geological hazards such as slope rock and soil collapse, falling rocks, and debris flows, while also protecting the slope's ecological environment. It is widely used in scenarios such as slopes along highways and railways, mining slopes, hydraulic engineering slopes, scenic mountain slopes, and building foundation pit slopes. It serves dual functions of safety protection and ecological restoration, making it one of the core facilities in modern slope management engineering.

I. Core Classification: By Protection Principle and Structure

Based on protection logic and structural characteristics, slope protection nets are mainly divided into two categories: active protection nets and passive protection nets. These two types differ significantly in applicable scenarios and working principles, and are often used in combination in actual engineering projects depending on the slope risk level.

II. Key Components and Material Selection

Different types of slope protection nets have varying components, but the material of the core components directly determines the protection performance and service life. Strict selection is required based on the slope environment (e.g., corrosion level, temperature differences, impact force of falling rocks).

1. Core Components of Active Protection Nets

·Net Body: The core protective layer, primarily made of high-strength galvanized steel wire rope (diameter 2-4mm, tensile strength ≥1770MPa), woven into a diamond-shaped mesh (mesh size 50×50mm~200×200mm), offering weather resistance and corrosion resistance. Some ecological projects may use polyester fiber nets (tensile strength ≥200kN/m), which can integrate with soil and vegetation, combining protection and greening.

·Anchor Rods/Anchor Cables: The "anchoring device" for fixing the net body, made of Q235 or Q355 hot-rolled threaded steel (anchor rod diameter 16-25mm), with hot-dip galvanizing (zinc layer thickness ≥85μm) or hot-dip plastic coating to ensure long-term pull-out stability in rock and soil (pull-out resistance ≥50kN).

·Support Ropes/Suturing Ropes: Auxiliary components for fixing the net body. Support ropes (diameter 8-12mm galvanized steel wire rope) are arranged along the slope direction, while suturing ropes (diameter 4-6mm steel wire rope) tightly connect the net body to the support ropes, forming an integrated force-bearing system.

2. Core Components of Passive Protection Nets

·Net Body: Divided into ring nets (single-ring tensile strength ≥50kN, good buffering performance, suitable for blocking large falling rocks) and diamond-shaped steel wire rope nets (mesh size 100×100mm~200×200mm, relatively rigid, suitable for medium-impact falling rocks). Both are made of hot-dip galvanized steel wire rope, with stainless steel wire rope used in some special environments (e.g., coastal areas).

·Columns and Beams: The "skeleton" supporting the net body. Columns are made of square steel tubes (80×80mm~150×150mm) or H-shaped steel, while beams are made of round steel tubes (diameter 60-100mm), with hot-dip galvanizing and plastic spraying (plastic layer thickness ≥100μm) for strong wind load and impact resistance.

·Buffers: The "core safety device" of passive protection nets, composed of steel wire rope sleeves, springs, etc. When falling rocks impact the net body, the buffer absorbs impact energy through tensile deformation (maximum absorption energy up to 500kJ), preventing sudden breakage of the net body or columns and significantly enhancing protection safety.

III. Core Performance Indicators: Key Parameters Determining Protection Effectiveness

The performance of slope protection nets must comply with industry standards such as "Flexible Protection Systems for Highway Slopes" (JT/T 1055-2022) and "Railway Slope Protection Nets" (TB/T 3524-2020). Core indicators include:

1.Tensile Strength: The tensile strength of a single steel wire rope in the net body must be ≥1770MPa, and the overall tensile resistance of the net must be ≥30kN/m (active nets) or ≥50kN/m (passive nets), ensuring resistance to rock and soil tension or falling rock impact.

2.Impact Resistance: Passive protection nets must pass "falling rock impact tests," capable of blocking single falling rocks weighing 1-10 tons with a drop height of 5-30 meters, without net body rupture or column collapse after impact.

3.Corrosion Resistance: Outdoor slope environments often face corrosive factors such as rainwater, moisture, and soil salinity. Core components (steel wire ropes, anchor rods, columns) must meet: hot-dip galvanizing layer thickness ≥85μm (no rust in neutral salt spray test for ≥500 hours) or hot-dip plastic coating thickness ≥100μm (no aging in weather resistance test for ≥1000 hours).

4.Flexibility and Adaptability: Active protection nets can conform to irregular slope surfaces (adapting to slope changes of ±15°), while passive protection nets, through buffer deformation, can adapt to changes in falling rock impact angles, avoiding rigid breakage.

5.Ecological Compatibility: The net body porosity must be ≥70% (active nets), not hindering rainwater penetration or plant growth. It can be combined with ecological restoration measures such as grass seeding and shrub planting to achieve integrated "protection + greening."

IV. Applicable Scenarios: Detailed by Engineering Type

The selection of slope protection nets must consider factors such as the slope's geological conditions, risk level, and downstream protected objects. Different scenarios correspond to different protection solutions:

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Highway/Railway Slopes:
Often use a combination of "active protection nets + localized passive protection nets." Slopes along highways and railways are mostly artificially excavated, with loose rock and soil. Active nets prevent small falling rocks to avoid affecting traffic safety; in steep slope sections with high falling rock risk (e.g., tunnel entrances and exits in mountainous areas), passive protection nets are installed below to block potential large falling rocks.

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Mining Slopes:
Post-mining slopes are often high and steep (slope >70°), with fragmented rock and soil and landslide risks. Passive protection nets are primarily used (to block large residual rocks from mining), combined with active protection nets to stabilize the slope surface. Materials resistant to wear and mining slag corrosion (e.g., thickened galvanized layers) are also required.

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Hydraulic Engineering Slopes:
Slopes of reservoirs and dams are long-term affected by water flow erosion and water level changes, requiring both protection and seepage prevention. Active protection nets (polyester fiber nets or galvanized steel wire rope nets) are often used, with geotextile laid beneath the net body to prevent soil erosion and avoid net destruction by water flow.

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Scenic/Residential Area Slopes:
Such slopes require a balance of safety and aesthetics, prioritizing "active protection nets + ecological greening" solutions. The net body uses light-colored or environmentally coordinated materials (e.g., green plastic-coated nets), combined with seeding native plants to achieve "invisible protection and landscaped slopes."

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Building Foundation Pit Slopes:
Foundation pit slopes are relatively shallow (usually <10 meters) with short construction periods. Lightweight active protection nets (e.g., polyester nets) are often used, combined with soil nail walls to constrain soil deformation on the pit sidewalls, prevent collapse, and facilitate later removal and recycling during pit backfilling.