Development of Comprehensive Tool for Structural Analysis and Design of Box Culvert

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 2
2.1 Background.......................................................................................................................2
2.2 Objective of the study.......................................................................................................2
2.3 Statement of the problem..................................................................................................2
2.4 Significance of the research..............................................................................................2
2.5 Application and limitations...............................................................................................2
2.5.1 Applications...............................................................................................................2
2.5.2 Limitations.................................................................................................................2
2.6 Structure of the research...................................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Literature Review...........................................................................................................3
3.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................3
3.2 Types of Culverts..............................................................................................................4
3.2.1 Classification by Type of Construction Material.......................................................4
3.2.2 Classification by Shape..............................................................................................5
3.2.3 Classification by Loading..........................................................................................5
3.3 Types of Box Culvert........................................................................................................5
3.3.1 Cast-In-Situ Box Culvert...........................................................................................5
3.3.2 Precast Box Culvert...................................................................................................5
3.4 Design Considerations of Box Culvert.............................................................................6
3.5 Existing Studies on Analysis and Design of Box Culvert................................................7
Reference.......................................................................................................................................10

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 Development of Comprehensive Tool for Structural Analysis and Design of Box Culvert

1 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background

1.2 Objective of the study

1.3 Statement of the problem

1.4 Significance of the research

1.5 Application and limitations

1.5.1 Applications
1.5.2 Limitations

1.6 Structure of the research

2 Chapter 2: Literature Review

2.1 Introduction

Buried structures serve a variety of purposes. They are typically used for conveying water. At
other times they are used to provide a grade separated crossing for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

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 Development of Comprehensive Tool for Structural Analysis and Design of Box Culvert

A variety of structure and material types are used. The most prevalent are pipes and box culverts.
[1]

Box Culverts are required to be provided under earth embankment for crossing of water course
like streams across the embankment as road embankment cannot be allowed to obstruct the
natural water way. The culverts are also serving as utility tunnels that carry electricity, water and
sewer lines, for passage of traffic including usage as road or as parking on top of
the box culverts. Sometimes, they also carry communication lines, such as telephone and cable
television.in addition to this railroad construction and maintenance relies on the use of box
culverts. They can replace small bridges or create crossings over creeks or other waterways.
Under track culverts are vital to the success of modern railroads. [1],[4],[5]

Where pipe solutions are inappropriate, box culverts are the default buried structure type which
are used in cases where bearing capacity of the foundation material is low. Their larger openings
are often required to provide adequate hydraulic capacity. Box culverts are also frequently used
for pedestrian or cattle underpasses. The reinforcement used in concrete box culverts can be
either conventional bar reinforcement or welded wire fabric. Welded wire fabric has yield
strength slightly larger than conventional bar reinforcement.[1],[2]

When compared to slab or arch culverts, box culvert has many benefits. The structure of the box
is strong, stable, safe, and simple to assemble. The key benefit is that, unlike other types of
culverts, it may be positioned at any elevation within the embankment with adjustable cushion. It
can be erected on soft soil without the need for a separate elaborate foundation by projecting an
appropriate base slab that will lower base pressure within the foundation soil's safe bearing
capacity. In the event that the roadway needs to be widened in the future, it is simple to extend
the current culvert without encountering any design or construction issues. [1]

The culvert can be either a box or slab and can span up to 6 meters of waterways. The box is one
which has its top and bottom slabs monolithically connected to the vertical walls.. Although the
top slab in a slab culvert is supported over the vertical walls (abutments or piers), there is no
monolithic link between them. It is possible for a box culvert to have more than one cell and to
be positioned so that the top slab is practically level with the road and that there is no cushion.
[1]

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2.2 Types of Culverts

Culverts can be classified in to the following categories based on type of construction material,
shape, and loading. [5]

2.2.1 Classification by Type of Construction Material

 Aluminum
 Timber
 Concrete
 High density Polyethylene
 Plastic
 Steel

2.2.2 Classification by Shape

 Box culvert
 Bridge culvert
 Pipe arch culvert
 Arch culvert
 Pipe culvert

2.2.3 Classification by Loading

 Type 2 –CLASS -20

 Type 3- CLASS 27
 Type (2-S1)-CLASS-33
 Type (2-2)_CLASS-46
 Type (3-S2)-CLASS-47

2.3 Types of Box Culvert

Box culverts can be classified it to cast-in-situ and precast box culvert based on their method of
installation.

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2.3.1 Cast-In-Situ Box Culvert

Box culverts that are made of reinforced and fabricated in the field are considered cast-in-place.
These structures are built with concrete and rebar at the project site. Forms are constructed to
outline and create the dimensions and shape the box culvert, and concrete is poured into them.
The performance of these structures over the years has been very good.

2.3.2 Precast Box Culvert

Precast concrete segmental box culverts are one of the most versatile and cost effective pre-cast
concrete products, meeting the needs of fast-paced construction projects Flexibility in design and
ease of placement at site leads to cost savings. They are most frequently manufactured and
delivered captive or commercially as a finished section of required shape. [4]

i. By using precast elements that are transported and placed, the time it takes to
complete the entire construction of a conventional culvert—which includes casting
the base slab, shuttering or de-shuttering the sidewalls, and concreting the slab before
finishing up is reduced from several weeks to a few days.
ii. Ease and rapidity of installation
iii. Eliminates need of transport and erection of shuttering and staging on.
iv. Being a product made in controlled environment, it exhibits high quality and
uniformity.
v. Reduced weather dependency leading to timely completion of the projects.

2.4 Design Considerations of Box Culvert

RCC box culverts comprising of top slab, base slab and stem are cast monolithically to carry live
load, embankment load, water pressure and lateral earth pressure in a better way. The top of the
box may be at road level or it may at a depth below the road level if the road is in embankment.
The required height and number of boxes depends on hydraulic and other requirements at the site
.The barrel of the box culvert should have sufficient length to accommodate the carriageway and
the curbs.[1]
i. The loads considered for the analysis of box culverts are Dead load, Live load, Soil
pressure on side walls, Surcharge due to live load, and Water pressure from inside.

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ii. The weight of embankment, deck slab and the track load are considered to be
uniformly distributed loads on the top slab with the uniform soil reaction on the
bottom slab. For live load distribution, the width of dispersion perpendicular to the
span is computed first. Width of dispersion parallel to the span is also calculated.
Then the maximum magnitude of load is divided by width of dispersion parallel to
span and width of dispersion perpendicular to the span to get the load intensity on the
top slab.
iii. The self-weight of two side walls acting as concentrated loads are assumed to
produce uniform soil reaction on the bottom slab.
iv. The pressure distribution on side walls is assumed to be triangular with maximum
pressure intensity. Designers need to consider two loading conditions:
 The culvert is full of water, and
 The culvert is empty.
v. The earth pressure on the vertical side walls of the box culvert is computed according
to the Coulomb’s theory.

The following loading cases considered for the design of box culverts are as given below: [1]
i. Live load, dead load and earth pressure acting, with no water pressure from inside.
ii. Live load, dead load and earth pressure acting from outside and water pressure acting
from inside.
iii. Dead load and earth pressure acting from outside and water pressure acting from
inside.

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3 Reference
[1]. Dr.K.Rajasekhar and P.Leela Krishna (April, 2018) “Analysis and Design of Box Culvert”
International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering, Volume 4, and Issue 10 ISSN
(online): 2349-784X.

[2]. OKPARA DANIEL IFEANYI(2021) “Structural Analysis and Design of Single ad Triple
Cell Box Culvert along Mgbakwu/Isuaniocha Road using Euro code 2 ”, NNAMDI AZIKIWE
UNIVERSITY AWKA,

[3]. Jing-xian Shi (2019),”Design and Analysis of Double –Hole Box Culvert Structure Based on
Element Modeling”, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Sci. 332 032057.

[4].INDIAN ROADS CONGRESS (2017),”GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION OF

PRECAST CONCRETE SEGMENTAL BOX CULVERTS”, Kama Koti Marg, Sector-6, R.K.
Puram, New Delhi-110 022.

[5]. Layth Abdul Rasool AlAsadi1,a*, Hussein Shakir AlBahrani2,b and Luay Kadhim AlWaeli3,c
(2020)” Parametric Study for Design and Analysis of Box Culvert by Using Newton's-Raphson
Method and MATLAB Software”, Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland ISSN:1662-
9795,Vol.870,pp11-19, doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.870.11

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[6]. Ayaanle Maxamed Ali (2020) “Manual RC Box Culvert Analysis and Designing”,
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology ISSN No:-2456-2165
Volume 5, Issue 8,

[7]. Abdul Kareem M. B. Al-Shammaa (2018) “SIMPLIFIED MODEL FOR DESIGN RCC
BOX CULVERTS BY STAAD.PRO” ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
VOL. 13, NO. 22, ISSN 1819-6608.

[8]. American Concrete Pipe Association, ”PRECAST Concrete BOX

SECTIONS”,Vienna,Virginia 22180.

[9]. Ali H. Abdel-Haq (1987), “ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF BOX CULVERTS” MSc.
Thesis, Ohio University Faculty of College of Engineering and Technology.

[10]. Minnesota Departement of Transportation “LRFD Bridge Design Manual”, 3485 Hadley
Avenue North • Mail Stop 610, Oakdale, MN 55128-3307

[11]. Dr-Ing. JK Makunza (2012) “LOADING TO BOX –CULVERTS”,SPIN PROJECT

TRAINING-UDSM July 2012,University of Dar es Salaam.

[12]. Kyungsik Kim and Chai H. Yoo, F.ASCE “Design Loading on Deeply Buried Box
Culverts” JOURNAL OF GEOTECHNICAL AND GEOENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
© ASCE / JANUARY 2005 / 27

[13]. Masoud Ghahremannejad, Ph.D., M.ASCE; and Ali Abolmaali, Ph.D., M.ASCE “Shear
Capacity of Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts Compared with AASHTO Shear Equation” J.
Bridge Eng., 2019, 24(5): 04019032

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