Field Monitoring and Numerical Analysis of Large-Span Three-Sided Reinforced Concrete Culvert
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper investigates the structural behavior and soil–structure interaction mechanism of a three-sided culvert (TSC) at service and ultimate load levels. Field measurements were used to verify a two-dimensional (2D) finite-element model (FEM) and evaluate the backfill height at which the TSC would fail. In addition, experimental data available in the literature of an arched TSC segment loaded to failure was adopted to verify a three-dimensional (3D) FEM for the analysis at the ultimate limit state (ULS). The results demonstrated that the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code overestimates the earth pressures on the top slab. It was also found that the connection at the sidewall base does not behave as a perfect hinge. Finally, the nonlinearity of the reinforced concrete (RC) was evaluated throughout the loading spectrum and it was concluded that simplifying the behavior of RC using a linear-elastic model is only adequate at the service load levels.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Canadian Concrete Precast and Pipe Association (CCPPA), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO). This support is gratefully acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Enrico Stradiotto of CCPPA, Mr. Sammy Wong and Mr. James Malpass of Con Cast Pipe, Mr. George Poulias and Mr. Vince Ricciuti of ConDrain Company Ltd, and Mr. Paul Medeiros and Mr. Joe Medeiros of Performcrete Inc. for their contributions in facilitating the fieldwork and instruments installation.
References
ACI (American Concrete Institute). 2014. Building code requirements for structural concrete (ACI 318-14) and commentary (ACI 318R-14). ACI Committee 318. Farmington Hills, MI: ACI.
Balachandran, K., J. Liu, L. Cao, and S. Peaker. 2015. “Statistical correlations between pressuremeter modulus and SPT N-value for glacial tills.” In Proc., 68th Canadian Geotechnical Conf. and 7th Canadian Permafrost Conf. Richmond, BC, Canada: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
Beach, T. J. 1988. Load test report and evaluation of a precast concrete arch culvert. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Boscardin, M. D., E. T. Selig, R. S. Lin, and G. R. Yang. 1990. “Hyperbolic parameters for compacted soils.” J. Geotech. Eng. 116 (1): 88–104. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1990)116:1(88).
Carder, D. R., R. G. Pocock, and R. T. Murray. 1977. Experimental retaining wall facility-lateral stress measurements with sand backfill. Berkshire, UK: Crowthorne.
Chen, B., D. Song, X. Mao, E. J. Chen, and J. Zhang. 2016. “Model test and numerical simulation on rigid load shedding culvert backfilled with sand.” Comput. Geotech. 79 (Oct): 31–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2016.05.026.
Chen, B., and L. Sun. 2014. “Performance of a reinforced concrete box culvert installed in trapezoidal trenches.” J. Bridge Eng. 19 (1): 120–130. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000494.
Chen, T.-J., and Y.-S. Fang. 2008. “Earth pressure due to vibratory compaction.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 134 (4): 437–444. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2008)134:4(437).
Cristelo, N., C. Félix, and J. Figueiras. 2019. “Experimental behaviour of concrete box culverts: Comparison with current codes of practice.” Can. Geotech. J. 56 (7): 970–982. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0506.
CSA (Canadian Standards Association). 2014. Canadian highway bridge design code. CAN/CSA-S6-14. Mississauga, ON, Canada: CSA.
Dasgupta, A., and B. Sengupta. 1991. “Large scale model test on square box culvert backfilled with sand.” J. Geotech. Eng. 117 (1): 156–161. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1991)117:1(156).
Duncan, J. M., and C. Y. Chang. 1970. “Nonlinear analysis of stress and strain in soils.” J. Soil Mech. Found. 96 (5): 1629–1653.
Elshimi, T. M., and I. D. Moore. 2013. “Modeling the effects of backfilling and soil compaction beside shallow buried pipes.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 4 (4): 04013004. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000136.
fib (International Federation for Structural Concrete). 2013. Fib model code for concrete structures 2010. Berlin: fib.
Frederick, G. R., and K. M. Tarhini. 2000. Structural evaluation of three-sided concrete culverts. Concrete piper for the new millennium. ASTM STP 1368. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Hordijk, D. A. 1991. “Local approach to fatigue of concrete.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft Univ. of Technology.
James, R. W., D. E. Brown, R. E. Bartoskewitz, and H. M. Cole. 1986. Earth pressures on reinforced concrete box culvert. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Univ. System.
Manzari, M., A. Drevininkas, D. Olshansky, and A. Galaa. 2014. “Behavioral modeling of Toronto glacial soils and implementation in numerical modeling.” In Proc., 67th Canadian Geotechnical Conf. Richmond, BC, Canada: Canadian Geotechnical Society.
Marshall, J. D., J. B. Anderson, R. L. Meadows, and T. J. Jensen. 2014. “Full-Scale testing of three-sided precast concrete arch sections.” J. Bridge Eng. 19 (12): 04014051. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000630.
McGrath, T. J., I. D. Moore, E. T. Selig, M. C. Webb, and B. Taleb. 2002. Recommended specifications for large-span culverts. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
McGrath, T. J., E. T. Selig, M. C. Webb, and G. V. Zoladz. 1999. Pipe interaction with the backfill envelope. FHWA-RD-98-191. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.
Moradi, M., H. Valipour, and S. Foster. 2016. “Reserve of strength in inverted u-shaped RC culverts: Effect of backfill on ultimate load capacity and fatigue life.” J. Bridge Eng. 21 (2): 04015051. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000800.
Muskhelishvili, N. I. 1963. Some basic problems of the mathematical theory of elasticity. Groningen, Netherlands: P. Noordhoff.
Oshati, O. S., A. J. Valsangkar, and A. B. Schriver. 2012. “Performance of two cast-in-place box culverts under high embankments.” Can. Geotech. J. 49 (12): 1331–1346. https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-094.
Oswald, C. J. 1996. “Analysis of reinforced concrete culvert considering concrete creep and shrinkage.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1541 (1): 120–126. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198196154100115.
Pimentel, M., P. Costa, C. Félix, and J. Figueiras. 2009. “Behavior of reinforced concrete box culverts under high embankments.” J. Struct. Eng. 135 (4): 366–375. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(2009)135:4(366).
Rots, J. G., and J. Blaauwendraad. 1989. “Crack models for concrete: Discrete or smeared? Fixed, multi-directional or rotating?” Heron 34 (1): 5–55.
Samaiklang, W., and K. Fuenkajorn. 2013. “Mechanical and hydraulic performance of cement grouts from 5 suppliers in Thailand.” In Proc., 2nd Thailand Symp. on Rock Mechanics (ThaiRock 2013), 333–342. Nakhonratchasima, Thailand: Im Poo Hill Resort.
Thorenfeldt, E., A. Thomaszewic, and J. J. Jensen. 1987. “Mechanical properties of high-strength concrete and applications in design.” In Proc., Symp. on Utilization of High-Strength Concrete, 149–159. Stavanger, Norway: Tapir Publishers.
TNO Diana BV. 2016. DIANA—User’s manual: Material library. Delft, Netherlands: TNO Diana BV.
Vecchio, F. J., and M. P. Collins. 1986. “The modified compression-field theory for reinforced concrete elements subjected to shear.” ACI J. 83 (2): 219–231.
Von Handorf, J. J. 2004. “Clear-span culverts: Economical designs.” Better Roads 74 (2): 88–93.
Yang, G. W. 1987. Hyperbolic young’s modulus parameters for compacted soils. Amherst, MA: Univ. of Massachusetts.
Yang, M. Z. 2000. “Evaluation of factors affecting earth pressures on buried box culverts.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Tennessee.
Zoghi, M., and D. N. Farhey. 2006. “Performance assessment of a precast concrete, buried, small arch bridge.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil. 20 (3): 244–252. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0887-3828(2006)20:3(244).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 147 • Issue 4 • April 2021
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 18, 2020
Accepted: Nov 24, 2020
Published online: Jan 23, 2021
Published in print: Apr 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jun 23, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.