EVALUATION OF PRECAST BOX CULTERT SYSTEMS: DESIGN LIVE LOADS ON BOX CULVERTS

This report discusses the development of equations to calculate live loads for the design of precast concrete box culverts. The equations generate a uniformly distributed live load based on the depth of fill above the culvert. The method of superposition was used to calculate stresses on the box culvert's top slab. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) design tandem and design truck loads were used in the generation of the expected live loads. These loads were then used to calculate shears and moments in the culvert's slab. An equivalent uniform load that produced the same maximum shear or moment as did the AASHTO trucks was then computed. These equivalent loads were then plotted versus soil depth to develop design equations. Based on the results, the final design equation may eventually be used in lieu of the AASHTO method currently used to generate design live loads. The calculated stresses, as well as the shears and moments, match closely to those generated by the AASHTO method. The final equation should offer the design engineer a significant saving of both time and energy, without sacrificing accuracy or effectiveness. This final design equation could possibly be verified and refined by field testing; namely, a field loading of a culvert. Recommendations for further study are included.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Florida, Gainesville

  Department of Civil Engineering, P.O. Box 116580
  Gainesville, FL  United States  32611-6580

  Florida Department of Transportation

  Haydon Burns Building, 605 Suwanee Street
  Tallahassee, FL  United States  32301

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Bloomquist, D G
  • Gutz, A J
• Publication Date: 2002-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 88 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Box culverts; Design; Engineering moments; Equations; Live loads; Precast concrete; Shear stress; Stresses
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00942458
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: BC354 RPWO #47 - Part 2,, Final Report,, UF PN 4910 4504 857 12
• Contract Numbers: BC354 RPWO #47 - Part 2
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: May 6 2003 12:00AM