Evaluation of Load-Rating Procedure for Metal Culverts under Shallow Soil Covers

Abstract

A research study was carried out recently in Ohio to evaluate the current method employed by Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for load rating corrugated metal culverts installed under extremely shallow soil covers. In the study, six metal culvert structures were carefully selected, instrumented with sensors, and subjected to a series of static and dynamic live load tests. The field test data were analyzed to gain insight into how shallow-installation metal structures respond to live loading. The sensor readings were also used to compute thrust responses in the culverts. Then, the current ODOT load-rating procedure was applied to convert the live load to wall thrust. The thrust forces from the field tests and the calculations were compared. It was observed that the current ODOT procedure is very conservative, as the calculated thrust values were much higher than the field values for five of the six test structures.