An Experimental Study on a Culvert Buried in Granular Soil Subjected to Vehicle Loads

Abstract

To understand the performance of culverts buried in the granular soil under heavy vehicle loads, both experimental and numerical studies are conducted. Full-scale model tests with tire loads applied at different locations are carried out to obtain experimental data, and numerical simulation using 3D finite element method is performed to predict the culvert responses and soil distribution due to the same load distribution. Comparisons of the model test results with the computed responses are made in terms of soil pressure above the culvert crown, culvert structure's strain, and culvert deflection. The model test results indicate that the buried concrete culverts embedded with compacted aggregate perform good behavior without structural distress. Both numerical analyses and model tests show that the vehicle loads transferred to culvert crown decrease rapidly with the thickness of fill over the culvert. Based on the model tests and numerical analyses, the cover depth of 1.0 m at least is suggested for prefabricated concrete culverts.