Recommended Design Specifications for Live Load Distribution to Buried Structures
The design and evaluation of buried structures requires an understanding of how vertical earth loads and vehicular live loads are transmitted through earth fills. Force effects due to vehicular live loads are determined by approximate methods. The approximate method for estimating the distribution of vehicular live loads through earth fill in the AASHTO Standard Specifications has, over many years, produced designs that have performed acceptably. The AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications use a different approximate method that significantly increases live load pressures on buried structures compared with the Standard Specifications. When combined with the increased dynamic load allowance prescribed in the LRFD Specifications, this increase is even greater. In addition, the basis of the approximate methods in both codes is not well documented or understood. Therefore, a more rational approach that takes into account the numerous factors that affect the actual live load distribution on these structures is needed. The approach should be validated by comparison with buried structure performance. The objective of this project is to develop recommended revisions to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications relating to the distribution of live load to buried structures. In addition, refined methods of analysis for the distribution of live load to buried structures shall be developed.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Completed
- Funding: $350000.00
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Contract Numbers:
Project 15-29
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Sponsor Organizations:
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20001 -
Project Managers:
Dekelbab, Waseem
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Performing Organizations:
CNA Consulting Engineers
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Principal Investigators:
Nelson, Charles
- Start Date: 20050421
- Expected Completion Date: 0
- Actual Completion Date: 20090427
- Source Data: RiP Project 10641
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bridge design; Design; Evaluation and assessment; Fills; Force; Live loads; Structures
- Identifier Terms: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I30: Materials;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01463069
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
- Contract Numbers: Project 15-29
- Files: RiP, USDOT
- Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:16PM