T09-Conveyance structures (Box Culverts)
Basic Equations:
Hydraulic Design
Case-1: Submerged inlet and culvert is flowing full.
2
2gn2 L Q
H = [K1 +K2 + ]
R4/3 A2 *2g
H = Total head losses (m)
K1 = Coefficient of inlet losses
K2 = Coefficient of exit (outlet) losses
2gn2 L
Kf = = Coefficient of friction losses
R4/3
R = Hydraulic radius (m)
Q = Design Discharge (m3/s)
A = Cross sectional Area of culvert (m2)
Case-2: Submerged inlet and the culvert is flowing partially full.
Culvert inlet acts like a sluice gate
1/2
Q=Cd *B*D*(2gH)
B = Width of Culvert inlet (m)
D = Depth of culvert inlet (m)
1 of 7
Structural Design
i) Loading Calculation
1) Vertical Loads On Top
1.a) Dead Loads
Assume thickness of culvert slab = S/12 (where S = Culvert span)
DL(Top) = Wt.(Road) + Wt(Fill) + Wt(Slab)
Wt(Road) = Road depth * Asphalt density, (Asphalt density = 2.3 T/m3)
Wt(Fill) = Fill depth * Soil density, (Soil density = 1.6 – 2.0 T/m3)
Wt(Slab) = Slab thick. * Concrete density, (Concrete density = 2.4 T/m3)
1.b) Live Loads
LL(Top) = Truck live loading/Area
Truck live loading = 0.8*W*(1+IM)
W = Truck concentrated load
IM = Impact factor = 16/(40+S)
2 of 7
S = Culvert span
Area = 1.4N*(1.4N+2)
N = Depth from pavement to the top of the culvert
Vertical Loads On Top = DL (Top) + LL (Top)
1 Pound = 0.0005 US ton
3 of 7
2) Vertical Loads On Bottom
Vertical Loads On Bottom = Vertical Loads On Top + DL(Walls)
3) Horizontal loads (Lateral earth pressures)
P1 = Ka * [LL + Wt(Road) + Wt(Fill)]
P2 = Ka * [LL + Wt(Road) + Wt(Fill) + Wt(Soil from top to invert level)]
Ka = Active earth pressure coefficient (usually = 1/3)
ii) Bending Moment Calculation
Design bending moments can be calculated by distribution moment
method.
iii) Reinforcement calculation
M
As =
Fs *d*a
M = Design bending moment
Fs = permissible tensile stress of reinforcing steel
d = effective depth (= h – cover)
a = lever arm factor
4 of 7
Examples:
Example-1:
Calculate the anticipated loads applied on a R.C. square culvert of 3.5 m
span. The following data are given:
Depth of asphalt = 0.1 m
Depth of earth filling = 1.0 m
Road level = 10 m
Unit weight of soil (γs) = 1.6 T/m3
Unit weight of concrete (γc) = 2.4 T/m3
Unit weight of asphalt (γasph) = 2.3 T/m3
Truck concentrated load = H_20
Active earth pressure coefficient (Ka) = 1/3
The culvert was founded at a location with no groundwater problem.
Solution:
1) Vertical Loads On Top
1.a) Dead Loads
Assume thickness of culvert slab = S/12 = 3.5/12 ≈ 0.3 m
DL(Top) = Wt(Road) + Wt(Fill) + Wt(Slab)
Wt(Road) = 0.1 * 2.3 = 0.23 T/m2
Wt(Fill) = 1.0 * 1.6 = 1.6 T/m2
Wt(Slab) = 0.3 * 2.4 = 0.72 T/m2
DL(Top) = 0.23 + 1.6 + 0.72 = 2.55 T/m2
1.b) Live Loads
LL(Top) = Truck live loadings/Area
5 of 7
Truck live loadings = 0.8*W*(1+IM)
W = 20 Tons
IM = 16/(40+S) = 16/(40+3.5) = 0.37
Truck live loadings = 0.8*20*(1+0.37) = 21.92 Tons
Area = 1.4N*(1.4N+2) = 1.4*1.1(1.4*1.1+2) = 5.452 m2
LL(Top) = 21.92/5.452 = 4.02 T/m2
Vertical Loads On Top = DL (Top) + LL (Top) = 2.55 + 4.02
= 6.57 T/m2
2) Vertical Loads On Bottom
Vertical Loads On Bottom = Vertical Loads On Top + Wt(Walls)
Wt(Walls) = (2*0.3*3.8*2.4)/3.8 = 1.44 T/m2
Vertical Loads On Bottom = 6.57 + 1.44 = 8.01 T/m2
3) Horizontal loads (Lateral earth pressures)
P1 = Ka * [LL + Wt(Road) + Wt(Fill)]
P1 = 1/3 * [4.02 + 0.23 + 1.6] = 1/3 * 5.85 = 1.95 T/m2
P2 = Ka * [LL + Wt(Road) + Wt(Fill) + Wt(Soil from top to invert level)]
P2 = 1/3 * [4.02 + 0.23 + 1.6 + (3.8*1.6)] = 3.97 T/m2
6 of 7
*************************************************************************
Example-2:
A box culvert of inside dimension (3m*3m) has to carry D.L of 10 kN/m2.
The density of the earth used for filling is 16 kNlm2 and coefficient of earth
pressure ka = 1/3. Estimate the vertical and horizontal loads acted on the
culvert and draw the loads diagram for the following cases: (Use t = 30cm
and H_20 Truck concentered load)
1- L.L & D.L acting on the top & no water pressure from inside.
2- L.L & D.L acting on the top & water pressure acting inside.
3- L.L not acting on the sides of the culvert & water acting inside.
4-L.L & D.L acting on the top and half of water inside the culvert.
*************************************************************************
7 of 7