Research Report 209 Effect of pavement layers on the behaviour of corrugated steel culverts

Publication Year

1989

Document Status

Current

Abstract

Loading tests have been performed on two high profile pipe arch culverts with spans of 3.7m and 5.95m using single axle loads up to 455km. The smaller structure was tested at a cover depth of 0.86m including the road pavement and the larger one was tested with 0.7m and 1.2m cover unpaved and at 1.2m including the pavement. Measurements of culvert deflection, ring compression and bending strains showed that the pavement had little effect on ring compression but reduced deflection by about 28%. The largest effect was on bending strains which were reduced by 50% after the pavement was constructed. The results obtained from the loading tests are considered in the context of the design methods available for corrugated steel culverts. The extension of these methods to incorporate and allowance for the effects of the pavement is also discussed.

Publisher Information