Dynamic Effect of a Moving Truck on a Culvert

Abstract

The dynamic interaction between a moving truck and a long span reinforced concrete culvert is studied for different truck velocities. The numerical simulation method presented in this paper is based on discretizing the culvert, surrounding soil, and roadway, using a plane strain finite element model (FEM) along with a seven-degrees-of-freedom FEM mass-spring-damper model for the truck. The time-variable coupled dynamic system is solved in a step-by-step manner using Newmark’s integration scheme. Results are presented for different parameters, including truck velocity, truck-culvert frequency ratio, damping ratio, road surface roughness, and roadway material. For the culvert under consideration, the results indicate that the road surface roughness has a significant influence on the dynamic impact factor relative to the displacement at the crown of the culvert. This influence is further magnified by variations in truck frequency, culvert damping coefficient, and truck velocity.