Structural Performance of Deteriorated Metal Culverts Rehabilitated Through Invert Concrete Paving

Abstract

Corrugated metal culverts have been used to convey surface drainage under local streets and major highways all over North America. Inverts of these culverts often deteriorate over time as they are constantly exposed to potentially harsh flow conditions. Invert concrete paving has been a traditional treatment used by roadway departments to rehabilitate metal culverts of which the bottoms are heavily rusted and beginning to perforate. The benefit of this rehabilitation method is clear from the hydraulic aspect but not from the structural aspect. A study was carried out recently for the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) by the authors to examine how much the invert paving helps the deteriorated metal culverts structurally. To make the study comprehensive, the authors conducted a literature review, gathered the state-of-the-practice information from many state departments of transport (DOTs), performed computer simulations, and carried out full-scale field load tests. The data gathered in the study repeatedly demonstrated that invert paving can restore the deteriorated metal culverts structurally, especially if the amount of metal lost through deteriorations is regained by welding reinforcement bars to the invert plates before concrete paving. Armed with this positive outcome, an engineering procedure was proposed.