Seismic Analysis and Design of Buried Structures

NHCRP Report 611 has been followed in the calculations below.

γmax = τmax / Gm … when the burial depth is shallow (9‐2)

τmax = (PGA/g)σvRd

σv = total vertical overburden pressure at the bottom of structure

σv = γt (Hc+H)
Hc = soil cover thickness
Hs = height of the structure

Rd = depth‐dependent stress reduction factor = 1.0 ‐ 0.00233z ; z < 30 feet

= 1.174 ‐ 0.00814z ; 30 feet < z < 75 feet
z = the depth to the midpoint of the culvert

Gm = effective, strain‐compatible shear modulus of the ground surrounding the culvert

Δ = H γmax (9‐13)
H = height of the structure
Ks = racking stiffness of the structure (from a simple structural frame analysis)
Frec = flexibility ratio
Frec = (Gm / Ks ) x (L / H) (9‐14)
L = width of the structure
Rrec = racking ratio
Rrec = 2Frec / ( 1 + Frec ) (9‐15)

Δs = Rrec x Δfree‐field (9‐16)

The seismic demand in terms of internal forces (M, T, and V) as well as material strains can be
calculated by imposing Δs upon the structure in a frame analysis as depicted in figure above.
Generel properties of the system is given below.

Hc Hs L H z Tt Tw Lp Hcp
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m)
4.20 10.50 15.60 9.70 9.45 1.60 1.40 15.00 2.00

Fill

Hc
Z

Tt

Tw
Hs
H

L
Hcb

Soil
Lp

Ø
Generel properties of the fill is given below.

γf νf Ef Gf
3
(kN/m ) ‐ (kPa) (kPa)
19.00 0.25 80000 32000

Calculation of the equivalent cantilever length of the pile is given below.

(See the article: Rational Design Approach for Integral Abutment Bridge Piles / R. E. ABENDROTH)

E = modulus of elasticity for the pile

Ipile = moment of inertia of the pile
kh = horizontal stiffness of the soil
0.25
lc = 4(EI/kh)

Soil Type: Medium

 E Φ Ipile Icracked x kh kh lc le
4 4
(MPa) (m) (m ) (m ) (ft.) (ksf) (kPa) (m) (m)
31419 1.20 0.1018 0.0509 31 841 40267 10.00 5.00

le
Calculations for maximum free‐field shearing strain is given below.

le z' Rd σv PGA/g τmax Gm γmax Δfree‐field

(m) (feet) ‐ (kPa) ‐ (kPa) (kPa) (rad) (mm)
5.0 27 0.94 412 0.25 97 32000 0.00303 51

Calculations for structural stiffness is given below.

Pfictive U1 Ks
(kN) (m) (kN/m)
100 0.0122 8197
Calculations for flexibility ratio is given below.

Gm Ks L H Frec Rrec Δ
(kPa) (kN/m) (m) (m) ‐ ‐ (mm)
32000 8197 15.60 16.70 3.6 1.57 79

Please see the SAP2000 results for a unit width frame under the displacement load given above.
Cracked properties with a factor of 0.5 are used for RC sections.

2d Frame and Sections

Equivelent
Displacement (m)

Bending Moment (kNm/m)

Shear Forces (kN/m)