LIVE LOAD DISTRIBUTION ON CONCRETE BOX CULVERTS

The effects of wheel loading on concrete box culverts is discussed. Distributions of wheel loads through pavement, embankment soil, and culvert top slab are considered separately. Description of full-scale testing of a functional cast-in-place concrete box culvert is provided. Load dispersion through soil is also discussed, and the relevant AASHTO provisions are reviewed and compared with field measurements and with theoretically predicted values by using the Boussinesq elasticity solution. Similar load distribution characteristics were observed in the transverse and longitudinal directions. It was further observed that AASHTO's 1.75 distribution factor can be safely applied for fill heights below 2 ft and above 8 ft. Distributions through rigid pavements and culvert top slab are also discussed, and empirical procedures for incorporating their effect in the design are presented.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1288/1288-016.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=LIVE+LOAD+DISTRIBUTION+ON+CONCRETE+BOX+CULVERTS&author=A.+Abdel-Karim&author=M.+Tadros&author=J.+Benak&publication_year=1990
• Availability:
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1288, Geotechnical Engineering 1990. 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:
  • Abdel-Karim, A M
  • Tadros, M K
  • Benak, J V
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: p. 136-151
• Monograph Title: Geotechnical engineering 1990 - soils, geology and foundations
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1288
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Boussinesq equation; Box culverts; Concrete culverts; Design; Field tests; Live loads; Rigid pavements; Testing; Wheel loads
• Identifier Terms: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cover depth; Field measurements; Wheel load distribution
• Old TRIS Terms: Boussinesq formula
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00607759
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309050642
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 30 1991 12:00AM