Service Life Assessment of Concrete Pipe Culverts

Abstract

The durability and service life of concrete pipe culverts are discussed. The study reported includes the analysis of important enabling and triggering events that have caused or have the potential to cause the deterioration of concrete pipes. Regression analyses were used to produce prediction equations for the expected service life of culverts. The findings reveal an expected service life of 86 years. The service life reported herein may be of value to cost engineers performing life‐cycle cost studies of these types of culverts. However, the prediction equations given should not be used to predict the service life of a particular culvert.