AIR FORMED ARCH CULVERT CONSTRUCTION - CRAWFORD COUNTY. FINAL REPORT

Iowa's secondary road network contains nearly 15,000 bridges which are less than 12 m (40 ft) long. Many of these bridges were built several decades ago and need to be replaced. Box culvert construction has proven to be an adequate bridge replacement technique. An alternative to box culverts is the Air-O-Form method of arch culvert construction. The Air-O-Form method has several potential advantages over box culvert construction. The new technique uses inflated balloons as the interior form in the construction of an arch culvert. Concrete is then shotcreted onto the balloon form to complete the arch culvert. The objective of the research project was to construct an air formed arch culvert to determine its applicability as an alternative county bridge replacement technique. The project had the following results: (1) The Air-O-Form method can be used to construct a structurally sound arch culvert; and (2) The method must become more economical if it is to compete with box culverts.

• Record URL:
  • http://publications.iowa.gov/id/eprint/16280
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  Project Development Division
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Wight, H D
  • Tymkowicz, S
  • Leonard, C
• Publication Date: 1995-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Box culverts; Bridges; Concrete arch culverts; Construction management; Culverts; Economics; Equipment replacement; Secondary roads
• Old TRIS Terms: Air formed arch culverts; Replacements
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Economics; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; I53: Construction of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00720179
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Project HR-314
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Apr 16 1996 12:00AM