Muro de contenção em gabião para controle de erosão e assoreamento nas margens do rio Poti em Crateús - CE

Abstract

Retaining structures play a fundamental role in the stabilization of soil masses, contributing to slope equilibrium and ensuring the safety of embankments. Additionally, they are widely used in the protection of water bodies against erosion and sedimentation processes. Among the available alternatives, gabion walls stand out due to their ease of construction, high permeability, and remarkable structural flexibility. In this context, the present study aimed to define the ideal configuration of a gabion wall as a solution to the erosive processes identified along the urban bank of the Poti River, in the municipality of Crateús – CE. To support the project, an extensive literature review was conducted, covering the main types of retaining structures and the classical earth pressure theories applied to their design. The structural project was developed with the aid of the GAWAC software, taking into account the forces resulting from earth pressure in order to ensure slope stability. Safety verifications included analyses of failure modes such as overturning, sliding, and bearing capacity failure, with particular focus on the most critical section of the study area. The design was prepared to meet the safety factors required for Ultimate and Service Limit States, and two simulations were performed: one considering a vertical wall and another with a 6° inclination. Initially, the proposed configurations did not meet the minimum safety criteria, requiring the redesign of the structure. The wall geometry was then modified to ensure compliance with the normative parameters. After the necessary adjustments, both configurations – with and without inclination – showed satisfactory performance according to the adopted technical standards. It is therefore concluded that the proposed solution proved to be technically feasible, safe, and effective in controlling erosive processes, fully meeting the project’s objectives and contributing to the preservation of the banks of the Poti River in the urban area of Crateús – CE.