The imperfect trench installation method is used to reduce earth pressure on buried concrete pipes. Few quantitative refinements to the imperfect trench installation method, however, have been added since the fundamental mechanics of the reverse arching action were proposed by Marston and Spangler. There have been limited research results published regarding, primarily, qualitative aspects of earth load reduction for imperfect trench conditions. This paper identifies variables that significantly affect earth loads, as well as the effects of bedding and sidefill treatments. An optimum geometry for imperfect trench installations with regard to a soft material zone is presented to maximize the earth load reduction effects. The optimization process was based on parametric studies of the geometry and location of the soft zone, bedding, and sidefill treatments to reduce earth pressures. Predictor equations for earth load reduction rates were formulated incorporating the optimum geometry for the soft zone and bedding and sidefill treatments.
Soil-Structure Interaction and Imperfect Trench Installations for Deeply Buried Concrete Pipes
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TECHNICAL PAPERS
Soil-Structure Interaction and Imperfect Trench Installations for Deeply Buried Concrete Pipes
Abstract
International Journal of GeomechanicsAugust 2014
Journal of Transportation EngineeringNovember 1987
Journal of Performance of Constructed FacilitiesSeptember 2014
Journal of Transportation EngineeringDecember 2009
Authors
Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849-5337.
Professor and Director, Highway Research Center, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849-5337.
Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Auburn Univ., Auburn, AL 36849-5337 (corresponding author). E-mail: chyoo@eng.auburn.edu
Received: October 03, 2005
Accepted: September 28, 2006
Published online: March 01, 2007
© 2007 ASCE