Requested research

Literature review: Collect and analyze research on gabion boxes in general, with a specific focus on seismic performance and past applications in regions such as Haiti and Nepal.

Structural analysis: Investigate the behavior of gabion box walls, structures, and buildings under seismic loading conditions.

Key parameters: Define all factors influencing the seismic performance of this technique, such as wall composition, overall dimensions, reinforcement detailing, material and mechanical properties, and so on.

Practical application: Design, model, and analyze a prototype gabion box model house suitable for seismic regions. Determine design limitations and structural safety margins, based on minimum needed material and mechanical strengths.

Background: gabion boxes

Gabion boxes — large steel mesh containers filled with stones — are a long-established technique, commonly used for retaining walls in mountainous areas such as Nepal. Typically, galvanized wire nets are woven on-site, assembled into box-shaped shells, stacked, and filled with boulders to stabilize slopes or riverbanks.

Applying this method to house construction is still highly experimental. While gabion boxes offer advantages such as rapid assembly and potential cost-effectiveness for post-disaster reconstruction, little is known about their seismic performance.

This assignment builds on the example of a gabion box house designed in Morocco by the French organization Architecture & Développement. Their prototype serves as a reference point for developing and testing earthquake-resistant gabion housing suitable for Himalayan conditions.

Further action

This project contributes to broader research on low-cost, sustainable, and earthquake-resistant construction techniques.

Interested? For more information or to set up a meeting, possibly as a final-year thesis opportunity, send us an email. We’d be happy to discuss how you can contribute to this important area of research.