Column Forces in a Buried Modular-Polymer Stormwater Collection Structure from Design-Truck Loading

Abstract

Results from full-scale physical experiments are reported to quantify the column forces that develop in a modular, polymer stormwater collection structure when buried at its minimum soil cover and subjected to design-truck loads. Columns located directly beneath the load pad experienced the largest increments in force from surface load. Load was also transferred through the soil and the structure to nearby columns. The four central columns carried on average 31% of the applied nominal design-truck load. Column forces from backfilling were found to be only 10% of the response from surface load. Factored column demand at the service design load (107 kN) was equal to 0.45 and 0.64 times the buckling resistance of the 0.6-m and 0.9-m-long columns tested. For the conditions tested, the columns satisfy AASHTO load and resistance factor design requirements against individual column buckling with a resistance factor of 0.7.