Failure Mode for Precast Concrete Box Culverts Subjected to Wheel Live Load

This study presents the behavior of precast box culverts designed as per ASTM C 1433 for depth of the cover less than 0.61 m (2 ft) subjected to HS 20 truck live load at the location where the maximum shear is expected in the top slab. Several full-scale experimental tests are conducted on box culverts and by placing the wheel load (load plate) of a HS 20 truck on the spigot or bell-ends of each culvert tested. The edge of the load plate was placed at ‘d’ distance from the tip of the haunch in order to have most critical shear behavior. The test results indicate that the flexural cracks controlled the box behavior and stiffness degradation up to and beyond the factored load live load defined in the Interim AASHTO (2005), and shear cracks were not pronounced until just before the final failure at about approximately twice the factored live load for all the test specimens. This study concludes that the live load distribution width equations reported in the Interim AASHTO (2005) along with the provisions for shear transfer devices for box culverts are not justified.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Abolmaali, Ali
  • Garg, Anil Kumar
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Box culverts; Bridge design; Bridge engineering; Bridges; Failure; Flexural strength; Heavy duty trucks; Live loads; Load factor; Load transfer; Loads; Precast concrete; Shear strength; Wheel loads
• Uncontrolled Terms: Shear transfer
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01045912
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-3379
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 6 2007 8:15AM