Performance of Corrugated Metal Pipe (CMP) Culverts during Past Earthquakes

Abstract

To evaluate culvert performance during earthquakes, we reviewed reconnaissance reports from six earthquakes and conducted field investigations in areas shaken by three of those earthquakes. Hundreds of corrugated metal pipe (CMP) culverts were in place in areas strongly shaken by these earthquakes. Lack of reported or observed damage to all but ten of these structures indicate that CMP culverts generally performed very well during the earthquake shaking. Of the ten damaged culverts, all but one were in areas of ground failure caused by liquefaction or slope instability. The one culvert not in an area of ground failure suffered minor damage due to increased lateral pressures cracking a head wall and slightly deforming the pipe inlet. Damaging ground failures included embankment penetration into liquefied foundation soils, lateral spread, ground oscillation and slope instability. Diameters of culverts ranged from 0.45 m to 3.6 m.