Calculation of soil pressure on culverts according to Russian and foreign standards

Abstract

This article discusses issues related to the calculation of soil pressure on buried structures. It is noted that the calculation of the pressure on culverts is associated with difficulties determined by the nature of culvert-soil interaction, as well as the variety and complexity of explicit accounting of soil conditions. Soil pressure is determined by a number of factors such as pipe stiffness, installation conditions, foundation type, etc. The main points in the formation of the most famous and relevant to this day foreign theories for calculating soil pressure, pressure distribution models, assumptions, restrictions, as well as the principles of foreign practice of direct and indirect design are considered. The analysis of the following standards is given: Russian standard SP 35.13330.2011 «Bridges and Culverts»;American standard AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications;New Zealand and Australia Standard AS/NZS 3725.As a result of the calculations, values convergence of the vertical and lateral soil pressure for rigid and flexible pipes, the factors taken into account and assumptions are analyzed, on the basis of which a conclusion is made about the advantages, disadvantages, as well as possible directions for the future development and improvement of the norms.