Engineering Commons^™

Camber Design Study For Concrete Pipe Culvert, Robert C. Deen

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

When a pipe culvert is constructed on or near the natural ground surface and covered by a highway fill or embankment, the weight of the embankment compresses and consolidates the foundation soil, settlement occurs, and the culvert subsides and sags below the original grade line. Experience has shown that culverts which become clogged with silt and debris, become disjointed and faulted, leak, become undermined, and endanger the stability of the embankment. These and other damages attendant to settlement restrict the flow of water, prevent adequate inspection of the structure, and may eventually require extensive maintenance or complete replacement of the …