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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

Development of Validated Methods for Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis of Buried Structures

Buried structures such as culverts and other undercrossing structures are used in highway systems to convey water, utilities and traffic across highways and carry trucks above them in the way similar to bridges. They are buried under ground in most cases at different depths. The buried structures can possess span lengths less than 20 feet (culvert) or over 20 feet (undercrossing bridge) to distinguish them from bridges above surface, or called as surface structure. Buried structures are classified as either flexible structures or rigid structures, depending on the rigidity of the structure materials and cross-section. Corrugated metal pipe or arch and thermoplastic pipe are common examples of flexible structures and reinforced concrete buried structures such as concrete boxes and arches are typical rigid structures. It is important to know the principle of soil-structure interaction under seismic loading in order to develop seismic design criteria. Also, Buried structures are classified as either flexible structures or rigid structures, depending on the rigidity of the structure materials and cross-section. Corrugated metal pipe or arch and thermoplastic pipe are common examples of flexible structures and reinforced concrete buried structures such as concrete boxes and arches are typical rigid structures. It is found from past research that the performances of the flexible and rigid buried structures are quite different under earth load. It is important to know the soil pressure distribution envelope and to calibrate the soil-structure interaction factors (SSIF) under earth loading for buried structures with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Standard Installations.