STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOR OF A REINFORCED CONCRETE ARCH CULVERT. PHASE 3. CEDAR CREEK. SECTION I: INTRODUCTION AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION WITH CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION

A 22-ft (6.7 m) arch culvert, embedded in a highway embankment under 191 ft (58 m) of overfill, was heavily instrumental to evaluate relative behavior of standard and rigid structural sections subjected to two backfill parameters: (1) Method B backfill (baled straw surrounding barrel); and (2) Method A backfill (no soft inclusion). Section I traces the history of California's arch culvert research, describes the prototype and instrumentation thereof, and discusses third phase objectives, conclusions and recommendations for implementation, viz.: (1) Soil stress-overfill functions were approximately linear; (2) Soil stress profiles at the extrados differed greatly and unconservatively from assumed design distributions; (3) Soil stresses increased after attainment of maximum overfills over sideslope sections but not after embankment completion; (4) Foundation stresses verified vertical, static equilibrium; (5) Embankment soil stresses paralleled neighboring, interface, extrados stresses, but many were sub-hydrostatic; (6) Vertical footing settlements approached 3 ins. (7.5 cm), but differential settlements were small; (7) Characteristic footing rotations occurred, significantly influencing structural behavioral; (8) Expensive, timber cross-bracing proved to be of questionable value; (9) Neutral point analyses correctly assessed barrel moments, displacements and stresses, but axial thrusts appeared to be greatly influenced by thermal stresses; (10) Settlement ratio analyses indicated a 'ditch condition' for Method A backfill with bounds inside the arch barrel; (11) Finite element analyses produced encouraging results for the section with Method B backfill. Distress appeared earlier and was ultimately greater for arch sections under the straw; however, the construction method produces a very predictable soil stress distribution. Based on past experience, the report does not advocate it; however, precautions are offered for potential users.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also PB-180 263, and PB-285 101. Also available in set of 11 reports PC E99, PB-285 099-SET.
• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Motor Vehicles

  P.O. Box 11828, 2415 1st Avenue
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95813

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Davis, R E
  • Nix, H D
  • Bacher, A E
• Publication Date: 1977-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 94 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Backfilling; Culverts; Earth pressure; Embankments; Field tests; Finite element method; Footings; Highways; Reinforced concrete; Soil mechanics
• Geographic Terms: California
• Old TRIS Terms: Backfills
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00182040
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: 624120-SECT-1, FHWA/CA/ST-4120-77-01
• Files: NTIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 3 2002 12:00AM