Title:
The Influence of Soil Structure Interaction on The Design of a Buried Arch Culvert
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Publication:
CIA
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Date:
2/13/2011
Abstract:
The Barcoo Outlet project in Adelaide was won by Baulderstone-Hornibrook with an innovative alternative design, prepared by Connell-Wagner, requiring the construction of an arch culvert over 700 m long. Reinforced Earth successfully tendered for design and supply of the precast culvert with an alternative design based on their TechSpan system. The influence of soil-structure interaction was considered in the design of both the arch and the precast raft base to achieve economies in the section design, and to check the performance of the structure for varying foundation conditions and fluctuating hydraulic loads. This paper describes the arch design process, which included both two and three dimensional finite-element analysis for the culvert cross section design, and to check the effect of differential longitudinal loading and foundation conditions. Included in the data presented is a comparison of finite element analysis results with the classical “beam on elastic foundations” theory, and recommendations for procedures to be used in the analysis of deep raft foundations.