This contribution concerns the use of wire mesh for rockfall netting, catch fences and gabions as touched on in the Paper. Maccaferri has carried out considerable research on various meshes, which has confirmed our opinion based on approximately 100 years of experience world-wide that a woven hexagonal double twist mesh is the most suitable for these applications.64. Bursting tests on panels of different meshes of similar opening sizes and wire diameters in the more commonly used meshes (i.e. chain link (ST), welded (WD) and double twist (DT)) have been made simulating stone fragments projected or forced against the mesh panels. Tests on undamaged meshes indicate that the DT mesh is able to sustain forces at least 50% greater than WD mesh and 3 of the ST type. However, with one wire cut the ST mesh has virtually no resistance, since it freely unravels with obvious and dangerous consequences, whereas even with two wires cut adjacent to a twisted joint, the DT mesh loses only a little strength while still maintaining its integrity.65. DT mesh in the form of panels has been used in a variety of ways in the stabilization of rock slopes, in addition to simple rockfall netting and catch fences.It has been used to anchor and reinforce geotextile coverings as mentioned in 8 20 and as reinforcement for sprayed concrete treatments. In this latter use double twist mesh has been found to be sufficiently rigid to maintain its location close to the rock face during concreting, yet flexible enough to follow closely the contours of the face. To achieve a more natural distribution of vegetation across a rock face, a system of ' hanging baskets' has been used on a number of sites in Europe. These baskets are pockets of DT mesh, lined with geotextile and filled with soil, attached at intervals to the inside or outside of the mesh being used to cover the whole face. Planted with suitable indigenous species the end result may be planned to match and blend in with the natural distribution of vegetation in the locality.66. Turning to the use of mesh for simple rockfall netting: the Authors suggest, in 8 40, that intermediate anchorages should be provided on the face. It has been suggested to me that there could be situations where rock fragments could accumulate above the individual anchorages, causing overloading problems to the top anchors and the mesh. Is it not better to allow the rocks to fall freely to the toe, from where they can be periodically removed? Some designers also include the preliminary securing of individual unsafe rocks to be fixed with localized areas of mesh, before proceeding to mesh the whole face. 67. In their comments on gabions, the Authors have not differentiated between
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