This paper presents the results of laboratory testing and Finite Element Method (FEM) modelling of high-strength double-twisted steel hexagonal wire mesh used for constructing gabion cages, slope protection systems, rockfall protection barriers. Gabion cages, filled with soil (usually rock particles) are commonly used in civil engineering (for example, in order to form a retaining wall). Static tensile tests of single wire and double-twisted wire were performed. The stiffness and ultimate tensile strength were examined. Special attention was paid to the double-twist behaviour. The unloading tests were also performed and the range of elastic deformation of both single wire and double-twisted wire were determined. The obtained laboratory results (stress–strain relationships for single wire and double-twisted wire) were included in a numerical model of the repeatable cell of mesh (truss model). The simulation in both directions, parallel and perpendicular to the double twist, was performed. On the basis of the obtained load-strain relationship, an anisotropic membrane model for mesh was proposed and calibrated. The obtained value of tensile strength of the mesh (266 kN/m) is much higher than for other meshes known form literature (30–60 kN/m).

Static analyses of bridge structures are currently performed using the finite element method (FEM). Depending on the geometry of the structure and the technically required accuracy of calculations, different levels of discretization of these structures are used in their design. In the design process, beam grillage models (denoted e1, p2), shell models (denoted e2, p2) or shell-beam models (denoted e1+ e2, p3) are often used. Solid models (denoted e3+ p3) are mostly used in advanced analyses, having frequently a scientific character. It is shown that there is an impact of the applied types of the numerical model (i.e., degree of complexity, degree of discretization, accuracy of the model) of the road bridge on the calculated values of bending moments and displacements, which indirectly affects the global safety coefficient of the designed bridge structure. The main purpose of the calculations is to examine the discrepancies of analyzed internal forces and displacements depending of the type of numerical model used. The calculated values are referred to the results taken from the field tests of the existing bridge denoted MS 03, which is a continuous beam structure with the three spans 37:50 + 46:75 + 37:50 m made of prestressed concrete and with variable beam depth. On the basis of numerical simulations, the paper provides author’s recommendations for computer modeling of similar bridges.