Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

A three-dimensional elastic procedure was used to examine the response of a 9.5-m span low-profile metal arch culvert to surface live load. Field tests featured a heavily loaded truck producing axle forces at conventional design limits. Culvert response was measured and analyzed at very low cover. The three-dimensional finite-element analysis for vehicle load provided good predictions of the magnitude and distribution of culvert deformations. Predictions of moment and thrust were reasonable, but the analysis neglects shear failure in the soil and this likely produced moments and thrusts directly under the wheel loads that were less than the field measurements. Three-dimensional analysis with backfill modulus reduced to compensate for the effect of shear failure in the soil below the vehicle produced thrust and moment values close to those measured in the field. A comparison with two-dimensional predictions of culvert response to live load revealed the importance of explicitly modeling the three-dimensional geometry of the vehicle. Plane-strain analysis with line-load equivalents, which give close to the correct crown deflection, produced thrust and moment estimates that were in error by factors of 9 and 3, respectively.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Katona

M. G.

Analysis of Long-Span Culverts by the Finite Element Method. In Transportation Research Record 678, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1978, pp. 59–66.

Duncan

J. M.

Behaviour and Design of Long-Span Metal Culverts. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 105, No. GT3, 1979, pp. 399–418.

Webb

M. C.

, Sussmann

, and Selig

E. T.

. Large Span Culvert Field Test Results. NCHRP Project 12-45. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1998.

Moore

I. D.

, and Brachman

R. W. I.

. Three Dimensional Analysis of Flexible Circular Culverts. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 120, No. GT10, 1994, pp. 1829–1844.

Taleb

, and Moore

I. D.

. Metal Culvert Response to Earth Loading. Performance of Two-Dimensional Analysis. Presented at 78th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1999.

Rotter

J. M.

, and Jumikis

P. T.

. Non-linear Strain Displacement Relations for Axi-symmetric Thin Shells. Research Report R563. School of Civil and Mining Engineering, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988.

Ansourian

Structural Aspects of Steel Silos and Tanks. Lecture 5— Non Axi-symmetric Behaviour, Unbalanced Loading. School of Civil and Mining Engineering, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1981.

Moore

I. D.

, Taleb

, and El Sawy

. Class A Predictions for Long Span Test Culverts. Interim Report for NCHRP Project 12-45. Geotechnical Research Center, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada, 1997.

El Sawy

, Moore

I. D.

, and Taleb

. Analysis of Stability Limit States for Long Span Culverts. Presented at 50th Canadian Geotechnical Conference, Canadian Geotechnical Society, Ottawa, 1997, pp. 178–184.

Metal Culvert Response to Live Loading: Performance of Three-Dimensional Analysis

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References