• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.625-638
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• 2016

This paper presents field study and numerical modeling results for a single-cell low-fill concrete box culvert under a flexible pavement subjected to traffic loading. The culvert in the field test was instrumented with displacement transducers to capture the deformations resulting from different combinations of static and traffic loads. A low-boy truck with a known axle configuration and loads was used to apply seven static load combinations and traffic loads at different speeds. Deflections under the culvert roof were measured during loading. Soil and pavement samples were obtained by drilling operation on the test site. The properties of the soil and pavement layers were determined in the laboratory. A 3-D numerical model of the culvert was developed using a finite difference program FLAC3D. Linear elastic models were used for the pavement layers and soil. The numerical results with the material properties determined in the laboratory were compared with the field test results. The observed deflections in the field test were generally smaller under moving loads than static loads. The maximum deflections measured during the static and traffic loads were 0.6 mm and 0.41 mm respectively. The deflections computed by the numerical method were in good agreement with those observed in the field test. The deflection profiles obtained from the field test and the numerical simulation suggest that the traffic load acted more like a concentrated load distributed over a limited area on the culvert. Elastic models for culverts, pavement layers, and surrounding soil are appropriate for numerical modeling of box culverts under loading for load rating purposes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2018

This paper utilizes 3D FEM to provide deeper insights about the structural behaviour of a 6.1 m span steel culvert, which was previously tested under extreme loading. The effect of different input parameters pertaining to the backfill soil has been investigated, where the structural response is compared to field measurements. The interface choice between the steel and soil materials was also studied. The results enabled to realize the major influence of the friction angle on the load effects. Moreover, the analyses showed some differences concerning the estimation of failure load, whereas reasons beyond this outcome were arguably presented and discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2000.03b
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• pp.373-378
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• 2000

Zinc galvanized steel plates(sections) of annular corrugations have been used in buried steel culverts. These structures are referred to by a variety of names such as flexible pipes, buried pipes, soil-steel bridges, corrugated steel culverts, and etc. Buried corrugated steel structures show flexible behaviour under the soil load. compared with concrete box structures. Finite element analysis was performed to suggest the reasonable connecting method between the flexible steel culverts and the rigid concrete box. It was predicted that perfectly constrained connections could induce the excessive stress in steel plates. Therefore elastic bearing connections that allow vertical displacement at the connecting point were applied.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.49-63
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• 2020

Studying the critical response characteristics of box culverts with diverse geometrical configurations under seismic excitations is a necessary step to develop a reasonable design method. In this work, a numerical parametric study is conducted on various soil-culvert systems, aiming to highlight the critical difference in the seismic performances between three- and four-sided culverts. Two-dimensional numerical models consider a variety of burial depths, flexibility ratios and foundation widths, assuming a visco-elastic soil condition, which permits to compare with the analytical solutions and previous studies. The results show that flexible three-sided culverts at a shallow depth considerably amplify the spectral acceleration and Arias intensity. Larger racking deformation and rocking rotation are also predicted for the three-sided culverts, but the bottom slab influence decreases with increasing burial depth and foundation width. The bottom slab combined with the burial depth and structural stiffness also significantly influences the magnitude and distribution of the dynamic earth pressure. The findings of this work shed light on the critical role of the bottom slab in the seismic responses of box culverts and may have a certain reference value for the preliminary seismic design using R-F relation.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.789-799
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• 2019

The settlement hardly occurs in structures supported by pile foundation such as abutment, culvert but a cavity is formed in the lower part of a structure. As a result, soil discharged from the lateral ground to the cavity accelerates the settlement of the lateral ground of the structure, resulting in a larger settlement. Therefore, in order to prevent problems caused by cavity under the structure supported by pile foundation, soil Flow Protector (briefly called 'FLP'), which can be easily installed on the side of structure, was developed. In this study, an laboratory model test was carried out to prove the reduction effect of settlement and to estimate the optimal installation length of the FLP. As a result, the installation of the FLP reduced the settlement of the lateral ground and prevented the leakage of lateral ground soil into the cavity. If the stiffness of the FLP is small, the state or active earth pressure is generated in the upper part, which is not favorable for stability. But if the stiffness of the FLP is high enough, the passive earth pressure area is generated in the upper part, which will be advantageous for the stability. Also, the increased installation length of FLP is effective to reduce the settlement. And the ratio of the optimal length of the FLP to the box structure height (H = 250 mm) are flexible FLP 1.38, stiff FLP 0.73.