The effects of wheel loading on concrete box culverts is discussed. Distributions of wheel loads through pavement, embankment soil, and culvert top slab are considered separately. Description of full-scale testing of a functional cast-in-place concrete box culvert is provided. Load dispersion through soil is also discussed, and the relevant aashto provisions are reviewed and compared with field measurements and with theoretically predicted values by using the boussinesq elasticity solution. Similar load distribution characteristics were observed in the transverse and longitudinal directions. It was further observed that aashto's 1.75 Distribution factor can be safely applied for fill heights below 2 ft and above 8 ft. Distributions through rigid pavements and culvert top slab are also discussed, and empirical procedures for incorporating their effect in the design arepresented. This paper appears in transportation research record no.1288, Geotechnical engineering 1990.
Abstract