MEASUREMENTS AND ANALYSES OF COMPACTION EFFECTS ON A LONG-SPAN CULVERT

Earth pressures that result from compaction of backfill can induce stresses and deformations, which are not amenable to analysis by conventional analytical methods, in flexible metal culverts. In this paper are presented the results of a study in which deformations of a 39-ft-span flexible metal culvert were measured at various stages of backfill placement and compaction. These field measurements were then compared with the results of finite element analyses in order to investigate the influence of compaction effects on culvert stresses and deformations. Two types of finite element analyses were performed: (a) conventional analyses that make no provision for modeling compaction effects and (b) analyses that incorporate recently developed models and analytical procedures that permit modeling of compaction-induced stresses and deformations. The results of these finite element analyses indicate that compaction effects significantly increased structural deformations during backfilling and also significantly affected bending moments within the culvert. Axial thrust around the culvert perimeter was also affected by compaction-induced earth pressures, but to a lesser degree. The results of this study provide a basis for assessing the potential importance of considering compaction effects in evaluating culvert stresses and deformations during and after backfill placement and compaction.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1986/1087/1087-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=MEASUREMENTS+AND+ANALYSES+OF+COMPACTION+EFFECTS+ON+A+LONG-SPAN+CULVERT&author=R.+Seed&author=C.+OU&publication_year=1986
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Subsurface Soil-Structure Interaction and on Culverts and Hydraulic Structures. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Seed, Raymond B
  • Ou, Chang-Yu
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 37-45
• Monograph Title: Durability, strength, and analysis of culverts and tunneling machines
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1087
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Backfilling; Bending moments; Compaction; Culverts; Deformation; Earth pressure; Finite element method; Long span; Stresses
• Old TRIS Terms: Backfills
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00471771
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309041074
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 31 1988 12:00AM