Evaluation of dynamic behavior of embankment with precast arch culvertsconsidering connecting condition of culverts in culvert longitudinal direction

Abstract

The seismic performance of precast arch culverts in the culvert longitudinal direction has not been clarified even though the principal cause of embankment disasters is earthquakes in this direction. On the other hand, precast arch culverts are constructed by continuously arraying and connecting each segment. That is why the dynamic behavior of precast arch culverts in the culvert longitudinal direction is believed to depend heavily on the method with which the culverts are connected. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the connecting condition of precast arch culverts on the dynamic behavior in the culvert longitudinal direction by conducting dynamic centrifuge tests. It is found that connected culverts, compared with separated culverts, are relatively advantageous in decreasing the enlargement of the bending moment on the bottom slab of the arch culverts which leads to cracks in the culverts.

Elasto-Plastic 3D FE Analysis of the Seismic Behavior in Culvert Longitudinal Direction of Three-Hinge Type of Precast Arch Culverts

“…Therefore, our research group has respectively investigated the influence of the structural connectivity of and the embankment patterns of the culverts on the longitudinal seismic behavior. As the experimental results, the structural connectivity dominants the displacements of the culverts; separating the culverts allows the independent movement of each of the culverts, which causes the aperture of the culverts after the earthquake (Miyazaki et al, 2017). The embankment patterns strictly control the response acceleration of the culverts; less overburden of the culverts gives less integration of the seismic behavior between the culverts and the embankment (Miyazaki et al, 2018).…”