Culverts Research Articles

Shear Capacity Prediction of Extremely-Loaded Box Culvert on Elastic Soil Using Artificial Neural Network

A box culvert, buried at shallow depths beneath roadways, may experience deflections caused by the dynamic impact of traffic loading and the vertical pressure exerted by the soil fill. A computational model commonly employed used to various engineering issues, including those in geotechnical applications, is the beam-on-elastic-foundation model. In this context, the Moment Distribution Method (MDM) must be applied to account for the elastic foundation. To achieve this, the internal forces acting on the ends of both exterior and interior walls are transferred to the beam-like bottom slab of the culvert, which rests on an elastic soil bed. Subsequently, the secondary internal forces are determined by refining the structural parameters, taking into account the characteristics of the elastic soil bed. This study presents the development and application of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to predict the shear capacity of box culverts on elastic soil under traffic loading conditions. The proposed model is trained and validated using a comprehensive database of beam on elastic foundation solutions. The input parameters include the geometrical and mechanical properties of the culvert and the soil, as well as the loading conditions. The results of the ANN model show R2 values of 0.9633 and 0.9581 for the training and testing sets, respectively, indicating the model's excellent accuracy. These findings suggest that the ANN model can reliably predict the shear capacity of culverts.

DRAINAGE SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION TOWARDS EFFECTIVE FLOOD CONTROL WITH EPA SWMM

The village of Kunjir often experiences floods caused by suboptimal drainage systems, land use changes, and revetment construction. The utilization of EPA SWMM proves to be an interesting solution to address flood issues. The research aims to analyze the drainage channel capacity using the EPA SWMM program, assess the tidal influence on the channels, and provide solutions to the existing problems. The method involves hydrological and hydraulic analysis using Microsoft Excel and the EPA SWMM program. Rainfall and topographic data are utilized to determine flood discharge, while existing channel data are used to calculate channel capacity. HWL values are used to analyze the tidal influence on the channels. The modeling process involves creating a network scheme and inputting data into the existing channels. The program is executed, and evaluations are conducted on problematic channels. Redesign planning is implemented by altering channel dimensions and re-running the simulations. The conclusion indicates that channels 2B, 2B1, 2B1 Left, 2C, and 2D cannot accommodate the flow discharge, tidal influence affects channel 1C, Box Culvert, and Downstream River, and solutions include enlarging channels, adding bottom slope to channels, regular maintenance, and installing floodgates to mitigate tidal effects.

Analysis and Design of Box Culvert for Durability against Varying Thickness of Cushion

Abstract: This study presents the structural analysis of a reinforced concrete (RCC) box culvert with dimensions 1m x 2m x 1.5m, subjected to varying cushion loadings of 0.770m, 1.010m, and 1.200m, using STAAD.Pro software. The analysis focuses on both Ultimate Limit State (ULS) and Serviceability Limit State (SLS) criteria to ensure the structural integrity and durability of the culvert. For ULS, load combinations include dead load, live load, earth pressure, and cushion load, assessing the culvert's capacity to withstand maximum expected loads without failure. The study evaluates bending moments, shear forces, and ensures that the flexural and shear strengths of the culvert are within permissible limits. Results indicate that even under the highest cushion loading, the culvert design remains robust with appropriate reinforcement. For SLS, the analysis incorporates quasipermanent load combinations to evaluate deflections and crack widths, ensuring the structure's functionality and aesthetic durability under normal service conditions. Deflections and crack widths for all cushion depths were found to be within acceptable limits, demonstrating the culvert's ability to maintain serviceability and resist long-term degradation. Overall, the analysis confirms that the RCC box culvert, when designed according to the principles of ULS and SLS, achieves a balance between safety, functionality, and durability, ensuring reliable performance over its service life.

Development of a theory-monitoring integrated structure joints assessment method of prefabricated underground stations

Prefabricated assembly structures have been extensively applied for the construction of low carbon and cost effective underground subway stations in China. Engineers faced significant challenges in dealing with the assessment of mechanical performance of structures joints within prefabricated underground station (PUS) structures during construction process. Manual assembly of large-scale prefabricated structures may lead to significant disturbance of structures joints, resulting in structures joints failure in construction process or even water leakage in maintenance of underground stations. To address these issues, this study proposed an integrated theory-monitoring method for joint performance assessment. The initial step involved the establishment of a fiber optical sensors (FOS) monitoring system for PUS joints. A joint performance assessment module was then developed utilizing the Joint Interfaces Contact Model (JICM) and was subsequently integrated into monitoring system, forming a joint performance assessment method, namely FOS-JICM (FOJI). A case study was finally conducted on a Shenzhen pipe jacking PUS to evaluate the effectiveness of FOJI. Main research findings of this study include (a) FOS monitoring system demonstrated excellent adaptability, accuracy, and real-time performance in practical applications; (b) FOS monitoring system effectively captured joint deformation and stress evolution throughout the entire construction process, providing insights into the impact of complex geological conditions and box culverts on joint behavior; (c) FOJI, with its integration of the JICM module, enabled safety assessment of joint performance during pipe jacking process; (d) FOJI successfully identified joint damage, offering valuable guidance for engineering restoration and protective measures. It facilitated prompt updates and adjustments based on the actual construction conditions, establishing a cycle mechanism for safety protection. These achievements not only establish a theoretical foundation for ensuring the construction safety of PUS joints but also present substantial practical application value.

Research on the method of identifying vertical earth pressure of hinged prefabricated culvert box culvert on the top slab

In China, several expressways have been designed as prefabricated box culverts with hinge connections, which have different structural features from the prefabricated culverts in other countries. The difference would contribute to the culvert–soil interaction of prefabricated box culverts, which could affect the earth pressure on the culvert. Based on the field test and numerical simulation method, a hinged prefabricated box culvert (HPBC) with a span of 4 m and a rise of 4 m was investigated, which was applied to the Xi-Yu expressway in China. The objective of this research was to investigate the vertical earth pressure on the top slab of the HPBC culvert at different backfill heights through the field tests. The FLAC3D software was employed to conduct further analysis of the effects of backfill height, backfill modulus, and foundation modulus on the vertical earth pressure on the top slab of HPBC. The differences between the HPBC and monolithic box culvert (MBC) were also examined. Furthermore, a revised method for calculating the vertical earth pressure on the top slab was put proposed and compared with the AASHTO method for calculating earth pressure on the top of culverts and the values taken from the Chinese culvert design code. The proposed method is capable of improving the accuracy of the earth pressure approach, making it more representative of actual conditions. Subsequently, the sensitivity analysis of backfill height, backfill modulus and foundation modulus to the vertical earth pressure concentration coefficient of the top slab was carried out by using the principle of orthogonal array analysis and the modified calculation method proposed in this paper. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the determination of culvert top earth pressure of HPBC.

Effect of live loads on top slab of cast-in-place reinforced concrete box culverts

Reinforced concrete box culverts (RCBCs) designed according to old codes, using lighter truck weights (e.g., H15), may require posting when rated for current design and permit vehicles. When load ratings are calculated based on current AASHTO Specifications, they can be negatively affected by the conservative live-load attenuation through soil fill. This study evaluates the positive bending strains induced by live-load distribution through soil fill when load rating cast-in-place (CIP) RCBCs. Eighteen (18) single and multicell RCBCs in Kentucky were load tested and the effects of truck live loads analyzed. Fill heights, HF, varied from 0 m (0 ft) to 3.57 m (11.7 ft), clear cell spans, S, from 3.05 m (10.0 ft) to 6.71 m (22.0 ft), and culvert spans from 6.71 m (22.0 ft) to 18.59 m (61.0 ft). Field data were collected using strain gauges attached to the interior surfaces of culverts. Irrespective of how many cells the RCBCs had, strain variations with fill height in the top slabs were similar. At fill heights greater than 3.05 m (10.0 ft), maximum strains in the top slabs measured less than 10 microstrain, a value at which live-load effects are considered negligible. Combining live-load strains measured on the Kentucky culverts with ones from field tests in Missouri and Louisiana, a live-load tensile strain envelope is proposed to load rate the top slabs of RCBCs for positive bending when cell spans are less than 4.6 m (15.0 ft).

Anchor chains—A simple low‐cost device to assist passage of small‐bodied mass fish

AbstractAttention has been placed on a variety of barriers that hinder fish passage in modern times. The most prevalent fish barriers were culverts which have negatively impacted waterway connectivity and fish habitats. For small‐bodied mass fish, high barrel velocities and turbulence have reduced fish swimming performance because of their weak swimming capabilities. In the present study, physical testing was conducted under controlled flow conditions to assess the extent and magnitude of turbulence characteristics, secondary flow and low‐velocity zones in a 0.5‐m‐wide box culvert barrel. Two cases were investigated; a reference case consisting of a smooth rectangular channel and a low‐cost design solution to improve upstream fish migration consisting of a single galvanized anchor chain fitted within a smooth rectangular channel. The single anchor chain was positioned towards one corner of the channel to induce asymmetric flow, reducing overall energy losses and enhancing the existing low‐velocity zone in the adjacent channel corner. The anchor chain induced a strong turbulent flow motion away from the anchor chain, characterized by higher Reynolds stress and turbulent kinetic energy, along with a distinct channel flow asymmetry. Conversely, the low‐velocity zone, between the anchor chain and the bottom channel corner, was significantly expanded with reduced longitudinal mean velocities and turbulent scales. Whilst the anchor chain link contributed to some complex localized wake flow, the anchor chain also influenced the distributions of normal turbulent stresses (v'z2 – v'y2), which in turn influenced the location of secondary flow cells. This secondary flow redirected low momentum fluid into the low‐velocity zones, setting the conditions for the favorable upstream passage of small‐bodied mass fish species.

Time Optimization Analysis Of Drainage Projects (Case Study: Surya Indah II Complex Drainage Construction)

The rapid development of the world of construction means that competition in the construction services business must be able to compete. Therefore, careful consideration is required to choose a method so that a construction project can run effectively and efficiently with results that meet the objectives, one of which is the Surya Indah II Complex Drainage Construction. In a development project, considerable processing is required, taking into account the increasing size of the project and the complexity of the dependencies between one part of the work and another in a project to achieve the desired results. Proper scheduling along with adequate resource allocation contributes to project success. This is comparable to the Surya Indah II Complex Drainage Development Project in Banjarbaru City, which has a contract value of 1,480,920,041 billion. This project was supposed to be completed in 180 calendar days; however, it was delayed due to a variety of issues, including bad weather, a shortage of labor, and tardy mobilization. According to the data analyzed in this study, the CPM (critical path method) approach has a critical route. The total project period using the CPM approach is 170 days, calculated based on the longest critical route. Work networks studied using the critical path include mobilization work, tree trunk cutting, concrete demolition, asphalt cutting, box culverts, and other tasks. Using the CPM approach, you can cut the job duration by 2.8% of the contract value. The solution to speed up the duration obtained using the CPM method is to add workers, add productivity tools, add working hours to activities that are on the critical path, and add the Earned Value method for optimal results.

Long-term stress characteristics of a box culvert with a load reduction system using geogrids and EPS under high fill

Laying geogrids and compressible materials, such as expandable polystyrene (EPS), on the tops of culverts under high fill can improve the stability of the fill and reduce the earth pressure on the tops of culverts. The creep of geogrids and compressible materials under high fill affects the stress state of culvert–soil systems. However, the long-term behaviour of culverts with geogrids and EPS is not clear. This paper investigates the long-term behaviour of culvert–soil interactions under high fill, specifically focusing on the creep effects of geogrids and EPS boards. A novel mechanical model for determining the long-term stress characteristics of culverts is proposed based on limit equilibrium theory. A comparison with finite difference simulation results was conducted to validate the proposed model. The findings reveal that the vertical earth pressure on the culvert top gradually transfers to the culvert side, exhibiting a nonlinear decrease over time. Moreover, the horizontal earth pressure on the culvert sidewall exhibits nonlinear growth with time, decreasing incrementally with depth. The maximum horizontal earth pressure on the culvert sidewall increases by 12.5% postconstruction, emphasizing the importance of accounting for the creep effects of geogrids and EPS boards in engineering design to prevent structural issues.

Analysis and Design of a Box Culvert Using Bentley Culvert Master Software

Box culverts are utilized in situations where natural stream flow intersects with roads and railway lines. This research utilizes a digital elevation model and the water Modeling System software to assess the catchment area of the primary valley and identify the factors contributing to flooding in Qoshtapa City. The study involves an analysis of the existing culvert and generated the necessary data for the design of a new culvert. Despite the presence of the existing culvert, floodwater levels rose to over 1 m above the roadway elevation of Erbil-Kirkuk during the last flood event in 2021–2022. The research collected hydrological and climatic data for the study area, conducted soil type analysis using the Harmonized World Soil Database software, and performed hydraulic calculations to estimate the maximum flood discharge of the valley using the Hydrological Engineering Center-Hydrological Modeling System software for flood return periods of 50, 100, and 200 years, for design, to select the best economic alternative. The new culvert design was executed using Bentley Culvert Master software to ensure that floodwaters can flow through the culvert without rising to street level. The results indicated that the new culvert design surpasses the capacity of the existing one. The results show that the best economic alternative hydraulic design is the first alternative capacity of 201 m3/s of a 100-year return period; the new design cross-section area of the culvert is 52.5 m2.

Numerical Modeling and Performance Evaluation of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer-Strengthened Concrete Culverts against Water-Induced Corrosion

Culverts fulfill the vital function of safely channeling water beneath railway tracks, highways, and overpasses. They serve various purposes, including facilitating drainage in areas such as watercourses, drainage zones, and regions with restricted ground-bearing capacity. Precast reinforced concrete (RC) box culverts are a popular choice because they are strong, durable, rigid, and economical. However, culverts are prone to corrosion due to exposure to a range of environmental factors and aggressive chemicals. Therefore, enhancing the design and construction of this crucial infrastructure is imperative to effectively combat corrosion and to adhere to modern standards of reliability and affordability. In this study, carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) was used to strengthen corroded culverts, with promising potential to improve safety and longevity in these structures. This study compared the behavior of corroded RC box culverts to CFRP-strengthened ones using the finite element method (FEM). It explored the impact of varying the damage thicknesses owing to corrosion, ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm, on the structural performance of the box culverts. The results showed that the CFRP model exhibited a substantial 25% increase in the capacity and reduced the damage compared to the reference model. Moreover, a parametric study was conducted for establishing a cost-effective design, in which numerous CFRP strip configurations were examined for a damaged-culvert model. The results indicated that a complete CFRP sheet was most effective for the maximum design capacity and repair effectiveness. The study’s outcomes provide valuable insights for professionals engaged in enhancing the strength of box culverts, aiming to increase the capacity, enhance the stability, and strengthen corroded culverts.

Shear Behavior of Precast Concrete Box Culverts Reinforced with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars under Concentrated Load

Shear Behavior of Precast Concrete Box Culverts Reinforced with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars under Concentrated Load

Automated Generation and Internal Force Visualization for Box Culvert Based on Building Information Modeling

Box culverts, as a commonly employed structural form for culverts, play a critical role in traversing topographic barriers, ensuring the safety and smooth operation of transportation means such as roads and railways. However, traditional design methodologies are often time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies, failing to achieve the efficiency and precision required by modern engineering construction. To address these challenges, using the Revit 2021 and Midas Civil 2021 software platforms, we developed a Building Information Modeling (BIM) parametric modeling method for box culverts using Dynamo’s visual programming capabilities. This method enables the rapid and accurate automated generation of box culvert BIM models. Furthermore, this study proposes an effective strategy for conversion between box culvert BIM models and Midas Civil finite element models, as well as internal force visualization within a BIM project. A case study involving a box culvert underpass beneath an expressway in an urban setting was modeled parametrically and structurally validated, demonstrating that the approach not only significantly enhances modeling efficiency but also strengthens computational capabilities through bidirectional data exchange between BIM and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software. This research has effectively advanced the application and practical implementation of BIM technology in box culvert engineering.

Analisis Penyelidikan Tanah Box Culvert STA. 4+550 dan STA. 8+575 dengan Sondir Manual Paket I.4 – Pembangunan Jalan Kawasan Industri Terpadu (KIT) Batang

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia is developing the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KIT), a national strategic project in the shape of an industrial park. A particularly vital industrial region, the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KIT) is situated in the northern economic corridor of Java and has access to the Trans Java Toll Road, the rail network, as well as nearby dry ports and port facilities. In order to connect the roads in the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate (KIT) with district roads and national roads or North Coast roads (Pantura), Package I.4-Road Construction of the Batang Integrated Industrial Estate was constructed. In order to ascertain the pertinent stratigraphic and physical characteristics of the soil on which the construction site was built, a soil investigation was conducted during construction. This process is used to assess whether the soil is stable enough to support the construction of a building. Data will be gathered in the form of soil resistance forces against the sondir or cone layers following an investigation or soil study. The sondir test can also be used to determine the required foundation depth, to precisely determine the original soil's bearing capacity, and to choose the appropriate type foundation to use. Location of Sta. 4+550 has a Box Culvert with sufficient embankment height so that it needs to be replaced as deep as -2.00 meters, while the location of the Box Culvert is at Sta. 8+575 embankment height is higher, it requires analysis of soil bearing capacity and settlement so that the replacement depth and use of mini pile foundation can be determined.

Mechanical response and numerical simulation of liquid soil abutment backfill

The application of a new liquid soil material and the treatment effect of backfilling an underpass tunnel in an airport are studied. The deformation and mechanical properties of liquid soil and conventional soil under load are comprehensively compared and analyzed via a numerical simulation with finite element software. The effects of the buried depth of overlying fill, tunnel height, and traffic load on the backfilling of liquid soil abutment are analyzed. The research results show that under the action of load, the overall deformation and stress distribution of the liquid soil and conventional soil show similar laws. However, liquid soil backfilling has great advantages over conventional soil backfilling in all aspects. Liquid soil backfilling can reduce the deformation and the compressive stress at the corner of the backfilling area by approximately 13% and 15%, respectively. The overburden buried depth has a great impact on the subgrade deformation. In the actual construction, the overburden buried depth should be 1.5 m. Overburden depth has a greater impact on the vertical deformation of the road, the self-weight of the overburden will act as an additional load on the overall roadbed, compared to conventional soil backfill, the overburden depth of 2.0 m conventional soil backfill overall deformation of the overburden depth is about equal to the overburden depth of 1.5 m liquid soil backfill, the use of liquid soil backfill is equivalent to the overburden fill to reduce the additional load of 0.5 m. The height of the box culvert has a greater impact on the stress, but this change is not linear, the actual construction in the case of meeting the specific requirements of use, should try to control in the vicinity of 8.4 m, and at the same time the use of liquid soil backfill can reduce the compressive stress of about 14%. The compressive stress increases first and then decreases with the increase in liquid soil modulus. The liquid soil modulus should be controlled to 180 MPa. Moreover, liquid soil backfilling can reduce the compressive stress in the backfilling area by approximately 25%. The trapezoidal slope of the backfill area is proportional to the deformation amount. Although an obvious correlation with compressive stress exists, the regularity is not strong. Thus, the trapezoidal slope should be set to 1:1 during construction. Traffic load slightly affects the overall deformation and compressive stress of the road. However, the distribution trend of deformation and stress changes obviously under the action of aircraft load. In the actual design, only one load form of aircraft load should be considered.

Study on seismic response of a novel prefabricated box culvert with split components based on shaking table test

The prefabricated structure of municipal engineering may face the challenges of shared load-bearing and coordinated deformation under complex geological conditions, earth pressure and groundwater under earthquake action. This study investigated the seismic performance of a novel prefabricated box culvert with split components (PBC-SC) to be constructed in the class Ⅱ site. A 1:10 test model fully considering all connection details was prepared, and shaking table tests were conducted using El Centro seismic waves with peak accelerations ranging from 0.1 g to 0.3 g. The full-scale numerical simulation of the soil-structure model of PBC-SC was prefabricated with ABAQUS to truly account for soil-structure interaction effect. The results of shaking table tests and numerical simulations on PBC-SC were analyzed and compared according to the similarity ratio. Even under the excitation peak acceleration of 0.3 g El Centro seismic wave, the measured acceleration and Fourier spectrum of each segment had only a small difference, thus usage of PBC-SC as a global structure could offer relatively continuous deformability and good seismic performance. To decompose the box culvert into simple assembled components, the connection techniques such as cylindrical pin connection, tongue-and-groove connection and mortise-tenon connection were adopted to ensure the seismic performance of PBC-SC. The research results provided a new idea for the design of PBC-SC and assembly connections for prefabricated structure, as well as further techniques and referable data for seismic response analysis.

Experimental Investigation about the Effects of Blockage on Upstream Box Culverts

This experimental study focuses on scouring in box culvert inlets under steady-state conditions and at different percentages of blockage ranging from 0% to 65%, and also looks at the hydraulics of water in the culvert. The investigation shows that the blockage of the culverts has influenced the scouring pattern at the blocked culverts' entrances. Ten experiments were carried out at the laboratory to see how blockage impacts the scouring pattern upstream of a box culvert during steady flow. Both partially blocked and unblocked cases were implemented in this study. The experimental tests were done until the equilibrium scour occurred, which took about 3.5 hours of water flow to reach equilibrium conditions. The results revealed that the blockage will increase the water depth at the inlet by about 30%–50%, which may affect the safety of structures or cause culvert failure. In addition, the results discovered that the maximum scour depth, which inversely correlated with the obstruction upstream of the box culvert, increased with increasing discharge.

Village road restoration in electrical steam power plant area in Banten, Indonesia through embankment reinforcement using geoframe technology

This paper presents a case study of the restoration of village road located between Zone 2A and Zone 2B after the excavation for box culvert underneath it. Geotechnical investigations showed that the area will be constructed upon volcanic rock material. The height of the Geoframe is approximately 19.7 meters. This system is a combination of polyester strip for reinforcing element and connected with clamp to the facing made of galvanized steel as a permanent formwork and non-woven geotextile material for filter element. The inclination of Geoframe structure can reach almost vertical with over 85⁰ inclined facing. The result of this work, Geoframe’s facing can be grown with vegetation (grass) to accentuate a natural and green structure. From design perspective, the embankment safety factor was above the criteria stated in Indonesian National Standard for Geotechnical Design Requirements which is above 1.50 and design with pseudo-static earthquake load which is above 1.10. The system has proven to be easy to implement in the field, fast and can be carried out with good quality control.

Viscoelastic–plastic stability analysis of large-section quasi-rectangular pipe-jacking tunnel under-passing box culvert

Viscoelastic–plastic stability analysis of large-section quasi-rectangular pipe-jacking tunnel under-passing box culvert

Research on the impact of underground box culvert underpass construction on the pier of intercity railroad bridge

Research on the impact of underground box culvert underpass construction on the pier of intercity railroad bridge