Structural Response of Full‐Scale Concrete Box Culvert

Abstract

This paper is based on the results of a comprehensive field investigation of the behavior of a double‐cell cast‐in‐place box culvert. The investigation was conducted by the University of Nebraska and was completed in November of 1990. The culvert was instrumented for soil pressure, moment, and deflection measurements. Moment measurements were accomplished indirectly by measuring strains in outer and inner steel rebars embedded in the concrete walls. Vibrating‐wire strain gages were mounted on the rebars in the laboratory prior to placement in the forms. All of the instruments were read periodically during the construction and backfilling processes. Live‐load measurements were taken at 2 ft fill increments over the top slab, starting with the exposed top slab. This paper describes the full‐scale testing of the functional box culvert and provides a detailed discussion of its measured structural response to soil and truck loading.