Reinforced Concrete Structural Design and Analysis of a Single Cell Box Culvert Using Manual Method

International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)
Volume 3, Issue 1 Jan-Feb 2021, pp: 807-825 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252
Reinforced Concrete Structural Design and Analysis of a

Single Cell Box Culvert Using Manual Method
Engr. Akwenke O. Moses FNSE, FNICE, Ph.D
P. O. Box 2139 Warri
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Submitted: 25-01-2021 Revised: 05-02-2021 Accepted: 08-02-2021
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4
ABSTRACT: Box culvert is a hydraulic Culverts are in many sizes and shapes
monolithic reinforced or non-reinforced concrete such as box –like elliptical and circular round.
structure. 1Culvert’s classification by material is Choice of shape and types is dependent on
not limited to concrete but includes steel, requirement such as limitations on upstream water,
alluminium, plastic, timber and high density surface elevation, road way embankment height
polyethylene. Culverts permits the flow of water and requirement for hydraulic performance
from through an inlet and an outlet under a normal amongst others.
5
roadway, railway. Because culverts main function In the structural design of culverts, load
is to accommodate and withstand various types of issues such as when the culvert is full of water and
loads generated by traffic through human activities, when the culvert is empty are considered.
3
soil fill, amongst others, this article is an exercise Considered also are surcharge loads, earth
that deals with 3holistic manual analysis and design pressures, hydrostatic and excess hydrostatic
of a single cell box culvert through the internal pressures. 9Most important to be
consideration of effects of earth pressures, considered is the live load that will be passing
surcharge pressures, hydrostatic and excess through the culverts top (roof) slab. Other factors to
hydrostatic internal pressure, uniformly distributed be considered will include but not limited to the
permanent and live loads (of self-weight of the sizing (especially effective depth), 5dispersal of
critical element/component and vehicular loads). load through earth fill, co-efficient of safety and
Abstractedly, the dept of fill is 1.6m, the thickness earth pressure factors.
10,7
of top, bottom, vertical side walls, the wing walls The structural elements of a culvert
and apron slab floor are all uniformly 0.25m. The such as top (roof) slab, bottom slab, the side
single cell culvert length is 6m and constructed vertical walls, wing walls, apron slab and head wall
across an asphalt surface finished roadway. must be designed to withstand maximum bending
BS5400 part 1, BS8110 part 1 (1985/1977), moments and shear forces with adherence to
3
Reynold and steelman’s reinforced concrete relevant codes.
1
designer’s hand book are some of the codes and The aim of this article or presentation is
manuals used in the design and analysis of all the to showcase the design of the structural elements of
critical components to withstand maximum a box culvert on the bases of structural
bending moment and shear force to specifications requirement. The design of this box culvert will not
and standards. Summary of result of the manual include hydraulic consideration and requirement.
design and analysis of the single cell culvert This presentation main objective is the
becomes main reinforcement bars: Y16mm@200 suitable structural design of a single cell box
c/c for all components except for apron slab and culvert across Obibi drive road project off Alaka
distribution bars of Y12mm @ 200 c/c. Avenue, Etevie community, Ozoro, Delta State
Keywords: HA, HB, Axle, top, slab, bottom, through the determination of the total permanent
walls, apron, hydrostatic, reinforcement. and live loads acting on the structural components
members of the box culvert to enable/facilitate the
I. INTRODUCTION design and subsequent determination of
6
A hydraulic structure that permits the reinforcement bars for the single cell box culvert.
4
flow of water from and through an inlet and an Culverts are in various geometric shapes
outlet which can be under a normal road, highway, and types classification that includes box culvert,
railway or any flow obstructing elements/facility pipe culvert, pipe arch culvert, bridge culvert and
defines a culvert. arch culvert.
Box culverts are preferred and more
widely used because of its outstanding merits over
DOI: 10.35629/5252-0301807825 Impact Factor value 7.429 | ISO 9001: 2008 Certified Journal Page 807
the other types of culverts. This is because amongst vehicle unit loading(according to Vincent T.
other of its merits, it can cope with budget flows, H. Chu’s “A self-learning manual mastering
situations and available headroom is limited. different fields of civil Engineering Works
1,5,7
Box culverts can also be designed to suit a (VC-Q-A-Method)”.
particular site situation by reducing or increasing iii. Horizontal live loads of surcharge, traction,
its size easily than will be done in the case of other temperature effects, parapet/head wall
types of culvert. collusion, accidental skidding and centrifugal
The culvert will be analyzed with respect load.
to critical loading conditions. The ultimate limit In general concerning culvert loading,
state will be with respect to the collapse of the B5400: part 2 1978 contains the requirement for
culvert’s structural elements while the culvert loading. The above are also contained in
3
serviceability limit state will be with or in respect Reinforced concrete design manual by Reynolds
to condition beyond which concern for loss of and Steelman’s 1994 edition.
7
utility or for public concern over cracks and other The concept of type HA loads first came into
serviceability concerns. awareness in the year 1945 while that of HB
Loads on culvert includes; (highway bridges) loading was introduced in BS53
i. Permanent loads of self-weight (dead loads), in the year 1954.
the superimposed dead loads, the horizontal Type HA loads (normal traffic loading) covers
earth pressure load, loads due to hydrostatic vehicles up to 44 ton and are represented by
pressure, the dead loads as a result of uniformly distributed load with a knife edge load
buoyancy and differential settlement effects. and:
ii. Vertical live loads of HA or HB which acts on a. Covers more than one vehicle occupying the
the carriageway/highway and includes cycle width of a lane.
track loading, footway loading, accidental b. Covers overloading in normal vehicles
wheel loading and as well as construction c. Covers impact load that are induced when car
traffic. 11A formula for loading that represent wheel bounce as at when travelling across
normal traffic is referred to as HA loading potholes.
while HB loading represent an abnormal
TABLE 1: DESIGN INFORMATION

1. Culvert sizing: 2000mm x 2150mm single cell in-to-in with 250mm uniform
thickness of top slab, invert slab and walls with a total span of
6000mm
2. Location: Km 0 + 0.00 at Obibi drive Off Alaka Avenue, Etevie
Community, Ozoro Delta State.
3. Relevant Design Code: i. BS5400: Part 2 1978 (load specification)
ii. BS8110: Part 1: 1997 (Code of practice for design and
construction)
iii. Reinforced concrete designer’s hand book (Reynold &
Steelman)
4. Soil Parametre: Allowable bearing capacity; 200kN/m2
5. Characteristic strength (i) Concrete fcu: 25N/mm2
material data: (ii) Main steel bars (fy): 460N/mm2
(iii) Distribution bars (fy): 460N/mm2
6. General Loading
Conditions
A. Dead load:
(i) Weight per m2 (i) Weight of concrete: 24kN/m2
(ii) Weight of soil: 18kN/m2
(iii) Weight of asphalt: 23kN/m2
(iv) Weight of water: 10kN/m2
(ii) Dead load (i) Self weight of culvert: 1.15

Values of partial factor (ii) Earth fill (earth pressure): 1.50
of safety BS5400-1 Asphalt: 1.00
B Imposed load
(i) Design HA (i) HA: single wheel load of 100kN of square contact area
loading combined with of 300mm by 300mm of 1.1kN/mm2 effective pressure.
design HB 45 units (ii) HB: a four axle vehicle of 10kN per axle, with four
loading wheels equal spacing on each axle of 2.5kN per wheel of four
wheel per axle of 45 units: HA (HB45)
(ii) Imposed load (i) HA vehicles (ULS) 1.50
values of partial factor (ii) HB vehicles (ULS) 1.30
of safety (SLS) 1.10
DESIGN OF BOX CULVERT
TABLE 2: BENDING SUPPORT MOMENTS PER UNIT LENGTH OF CULVERT SUMMARY

Ma=MB
S/N Loading Mc = MD Remarks
1. UDL on top -24KN-m -24KN-m MA= MB = MC = M8
slab:
118.18KN/m2
2. Weight of walls +1.71KN-m -8.1KN-m MA = M B
on culvert: MC = MD
71.2KN/m2
3. Earth pressure -7.1KN-m +8.7KN-m MA = M B
on walls MC = MD
33.4KN/m2
4. Earth surcharge -27KN-m -27KN-m MA = M B = MC = MD
pressure on
walls 109K/m2
Total if culvert -56.39KN-m -50.4KN-m Culver is without water
is empty
5. Hydrostatic +0.73KN-m +0.98KN-m MA = M B

internal MC = MD
pressure:
21.5KN/m 2
6. Excess +9.21KN-m +4.44KN-m MA = M B
hydrostatic MC = MD
internal
pressure
21.5KN/m2
Total if culvert -46.46KN-m -44.98KN-m Culvert is full with water
is full
MAXIMUM SPANS MOMENTS

Span moment will be computed for AB, CD, AC, and BD
Reff: i. Maximum span moments of AB
Mosely, wl 118.18x 2.25
Bungey and (a) RA =   132.96KN
hulse 7th 2 2
edition RB = 132.96kN
(b) Distance to zero shear  
RA 132.96
=   1.13m
w 118.18
(c) maximum span moment (M max) will occur at zero shear,
Thus at  = 1.13m,
R2 A
(i) Mmax(full) =  M A (culvert is full )
2w
132.962
=  (46.39)
2 x118.18
132.962
  (46.46)  28.33KN  m
2 x118.18
(ii)
132.962
Mmax(empty)   (56.36) 18.4KN culvertis empty
2 x118.18
- 50.09kNm
- 50.09kNm (culvert is empty)
- 41.8kNm
118.8kN/m2 - 41.8kNm (culvert is full)
A B
Figure 10: Span AB maximum moment
(ii) maximum movement on span CD

RA RB
wl 169.6 x 2.25
(a) RC =  2250  190.8kN  RD
2 2
(b) Distance to zero shear  x
RC 190.8
x  1.13m
w 169.6
(c) Maximum span moment (M max) will occur at zero shear
R 2c
(i) Mmax (full) =  M c (culvert is full )
2w
190.82
=  (46.46)  56.93kNm  60.9kN  m
2 x 169.6
190 .82
(ii) M m ax empty   (50 .4) ( culvert is empty )
2 x169 .6
 56 .93 kN  m
- 47 empty
- 47 empty
- 42.87 full
- 42.87 full with water
C 169.6
D
Figure 11: Span CD max. moment
(iii) maximum moment on span AC and BD
RC RD
142.4kN/m2
2250
123kN/m2
56.39kNm C A
Figure 12: Max.
CDmoment for span AC & BD 46.46kN/m2
(142.4  12.3) x 2.4 AB
(a) RA =  158.09kN
2
2.023
RC = 319.8 – 158.09 = 161.717kN
56.39kNm 2400
(b) distance to zero shear 46.46kN/m2
RA 158.09
= 
47kNm 0.494m 50kNm
w 319.807
(c) (i) M maxfull =
161 .717
 46 .46  5.57 kNm (culvert is full )
2 x 319 .807
(ii) M maxempty =
161 .717
56 .39  15 .5kNm (culvert is empty )
2 x 319 .807
Mosley DESIGN WING WALL
Bungey Wing walls prevent scour effects, soil erosion, retains the embarkment
Hulse and directs water flow. Earth pressures from the back fill material,
surcharge pressure from live load or compacting machine and
hydraulic loads from saturated seal conditions are all design
considerations. Also to be considered in the design of wing wall is the
lateral earth and surcharge pressure factors.
Lateral earth pressure factor = 1.35  
The horizontal force (F) due to earth pressure is given by:
F =  0.5Kaph2
= 1.35 x 0.5 x.33 x 18x 2.42 = 23.1kN
h
This force is acting approximately @ from the base apron of

wingwall.
h
Thus for F, acting at from base of wall;

h
 Moment, M = F

2 .4
= 23.1 x
3
= 20.53kNm
2150
2400
Figure 13: Section approach elevation of culvert Wing h
Wing 3
wall
500
wall
SCOUR APRON SLAB DESIGN 2000
The scour apron is usually at the base of the inlet and outlet of the
culvert and it is design to protect and prevent the culvert from scour,
storm damage and erosion damage of the base apron
There is an upward pressure (Q) at the base of the bottom slab (figure
13).
Q = self-weight of the apron slab itself = 0.25 x 24
= 6kN/m2 per linear metre
QL2 6 x 6
M=   27 kNm
8 8
TABLE 3: DESIGN RESULT SUMMARY
S/no Culvert Moment (kN-m) K Asreq = As
compone
=
M  Mk  provided
Z  d 0.5  0.25 
fyz
nt
bd 2 Fcu 0.87
 1.135 
Support Mids Supp Mids supp Midsp suppor Mids

pan ort pan ort an t pan
1. Top slab -46.46 28.3 0.05 181 641 Y16 mm
(a) 3 1 @ 200 c/c
culvert is 1010mm2
full
(b) -56.39 18.4
culvert is
empty
2. Bottom -44.98 60.9 0.07 177 850 Y16 mm
slab (i) @ 150 c/c
culvert is 1340mm2
full
(ii) -50.4 56.9 0.05
culvert is 3 6
empty
3. Side -46.46 -5.57

walls
weight
(i)
culvert is
full
(ii) -56.39 -15.6
culverts
is empty
4. Earth
pressure
on walls -46.46 -
(i) full
(ii)
culvert is -56.39 -
empty
5. Earth 44.48 -
surcharg
e 56.38
pressure
6. Hydrasti -44.98 - Y10 mm
c @ 200 c/c
pressure 393 mm2
internal
pressure
7. Excess -44.98 -
hydrastic
internal -50.4
pressure
8. Wing - 20.5 0.02 186 276
wall 3 2
Apron - 27 0.03 184 367 Y12 mm
slab @ 200 c/c
566 mm2
9. Distributi Area of steel = 0.13%bh = Y10 mm
on bars 0.13  190  1000 @ 200 c/c
 247mm2 393 mm2
100
Mosley CHECKING FOR SAFETY OF THE DESIGN
Bungey (a) Check span – effective dept ratio:
& hulse 100 Asreq
table 6.10 The steel ratio , is defined as; 
bd
When  1.5%: the level of concrete stress under serviceability
condition is highly stressed
When  = 0.5%: the level of concrete stress under serviceability
condition is lightly stressed
100 x850
Hence   0.447 ~ 0.5% (hence  is lightly
1000 x190
stressed and >0.13% minimum ok)
Basic span – effective dept, ratio = 24
For fy = 460 is  500
500
Thus basic span – effective dept ratio = 24 x  26
460
Span 2250
(i) actual =   11 .84
effective dept 190
Span Asprov
Limiting eff .dept
 basic ratio 
Asrq
1010
= 26 x  26 1.2  31.2  11.84, ok
850
Hence
Allowable span actual span
(ii)  31 .2 >  11 .84
effective dept effective
 effective dept = 190mm is adequate and acceptable
B58001 CHECK FOR DEFLECTION
Part 0.55  477  fs
1:3.4.4.4( For deflection check; modification factor (M f) =  2.0
M
b) 120 (0.9  2 )
bd
2 Asrq 1
But s = y ( )  1  1 (where redistribution is not
3 As prov 1
required
0.55  477  258 .1 219 .55
Mf =   0.7  2.0, ok
120 (0.9 1.7) 315
From MF = 0.7 and
Basic span – effective dept ratio = 26
 limiting MF value = 0.7 x 26 = 18.2
But:
span 2250
Actual Value  11.84  18.2
effective dept 190
Thus limiting value  actual value: 18.2  11.84, ok
And
span 2250
d required =   43.3mm  190mm ok
2x
span
ratio 2  26
eff . dept
deflection check is satisfied ok
Mosely (C) CHECK FOR SHEAR REQUIREMENT

Bungey For Vu = the ultimate shear force
Hulse Vs = the shear stress (shear reinforcement)
B58110 – Vs
1:1997 Vu =
bd
Clause Vc = ultimate concrete shear resistance

3:4:5.12 100 Asp
B58110- Vc =
1:1985 bd
Clause Vu  Vc, shear reinforcement not required
3.4.4.4 Vs 190 .8
Vu =   0.001
bd 1000 x190
100 x 1010
Vc =  0.53  VC  0.001
1000 x 190
shear reinforcement is not required (Vu – Vc , ok)
BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM
-46.46
-56.4
A B
28.33
9.2 4.4
60.9
-44.98
-50.4 C D
Figure 14: Bending moment diagram
CONSTRUCTION OF CULVERTS hydraulic function such as acting as a crossing

1
Service life of culverts should equal the structure for humans/animal traffic as in pedestrian
service life of the highway hence a culvert should crossing, vehicles and rails crossing and cow and
be designed and constructed to equal the service other animal’s crossing. 7, 1These functions of
life of the structure it is serving. culvert benefit human in decreasing traffic
There are reasons why culverts can interruption period as a result of road route
1,7,9
fail, reasons such as poor or no maintenance, flooding including the increasing confidence of
environmental conditions, improper and non- safe driving.
engineering compliance during construction and
structural failure leading to collapse or erosion. II. CONCLUSION AND
Therefore, to avoid and prevent failure, accurate RECOMMENDATION
engineering design and construction methods The dimension of the culvert were chosen
consideration should be a priority. to suit its location on site and is designed as a
1
Economic analysis and consideration in single cell with a total length of 6m and a total
the design and construction of culvert include an width of 2m in-to-in, 2.25m centre to centre span
economic analysis such as construction cost factors with its vertical side walls being 2.4m centre to
amongst others. centre but with in-to-in 2.15m height. The
Culvert location should be an economical and thickness of the culvert is 0.25m for all its
effective need for usage. Location must be where structural element members. The single cell box
construction is convenient for construction and in a culvert was analysed and designed for the
location where required gradient must be achieved. maximum bending moment and shear force in each
of the structural element members. The
BENEFIT TO HUMANITY reinforcement provided are: Y16mm @ 200
1,9,7
Culvert functions range from hydraulic centre-centre for top slab, bottom slab, wing walls
and structural safety performance such as provision and vertical side walls. Y12mm @ 200 c/c for
of cross drainage for stream channel, flood plain apron slab floor and distribution bars.
relief drainage during flood periods, and non- The results were checked for;
1. Span-effective depth ratio to ascertain moments, shear forces and reinforcement bars
adequacy of effective depth, model options for civil engineering works.
2. Modification factor to confirm deflections 5. There is a revelation of previously latent issues
check is satisfied and in an otherwise known and established
3. Shear force, to establish whether there is need problem as is clearly demonstrated in the use
for shear reinforcement. of tables to present results and in the method
This treatise also discussed requirements for the analysis of HA and HB loads.
for box culvert construction.
In using the manual computation method, the REFERENCES
various codes for reinforced concrete design were [1]. A. M. Mohammed (2018); Design of a Box
made use of (such as BS5400, BS8110) including Culvert: Re public of Iran, Al-mansor
other relevant design manuals such as Reynold and University College, Civil Engineering
Steelman. Department.
Based on the accurate/precise results using [2]. B. Mosley, J. Bungey, R. Hulse; Reinforced
manual calculation for maximum bending moment, Concrete Design (2014) Book Power
shear force and reinforcement bars, it is (formely ELST) with Palgrave Macmichorn
recommended that any engineer that will opt for Seventh Edition (2014).
software analysis must be experienced in manual [3]. C. E. Reynolds, J. C Steedman; Reinforced
computation of the analysis and design for Concrete Designer’s Handbook (Ninth
maximum bending moment and shear force edition, 1994); A view point publications.
because it is what you feed into the computer that [4]. https//civiltoday.com/construction/bridge/11
will bring expected result. 6-typesofculverthttp://structvile.com
[5]. P. A. Creamer (2007) “Culvert Hydraulics;
III. CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE Basic Principle”, Profromonal Development
1. The developed unique approach use to present Services (FDF), COWTECH Bridge
results of analysis and design for Bending Solutions Inc., Ohio
Moments, shear forces and reinforcements as [6]. P. L. Krishna, K. Rajasekhar; Analysis and
shown in table 2 and table 3 is a new concept design of Box Culvert (2018): International
researchers, practicing engineers and students Journal of Science Technology &
will find useful and thereby contributing to Engineering (IJSTE) Volume 4, Issue 10.
knowledge. [7]. Relevant Design Codes: BS5400 Part 2
2. The manual method of designing a culvert as it 1978, BS8119 Part 1.
is done in this article is new to many [8]. R. Patel, S. Jamle (2019); Analysis and
engineers. Therefore, this work will act as a Design of Box Culvert; A Manual
reference bench work for literature review, Approach. International Journla of
hence becoming a document that will Advanced Engineering Research and
continuously contribute to knowledge. Science (IJAERS) volume 6, Issue 3.
3. This work has contributed to knowledge by the [9]. Samaila Consultants, Consulting Engineers
awareness this work has created for the need of & Partners: https://www.scribd.com
manual approach method in the analysis and [10]. V. T. H. Chu; A self-learning manual
design of box culvert. mastering different fields of civil
4. This study for the first time ever has provided engineering works; VC-Q-A-Method.
manual method of analyzing, computing and
designing supports, maximum bending span

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International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM)

Volume 3, Issue 1 Jan-Feb 2021, pp: 807-825 www.ijaem.net ISSN: 2395-5252

Reinforced Concrete Structural Design and Analysis of a

TABLE 1: DESIGN INFORMATION

(ii) Dead load (i) Self weight of culvert: 1.15

DESIGN OF BOX CULVERT

TABLE 2: BENDING SUPPORT MOMENTS PER UNIT LENGTH OF CULVERT SUMMARY

5. Hydrostatic +0.73KN-m +0.98KN-m MA = M B

MAXIMUM SPANS MOMENTS

(ii) maximum movement on span CD

Support Mids Supp Mids supp Midsp suppor Mids

3. Side -46.46 -5.57

Mosely (C) CHECK FOR SHEAR REQUIREMENT

Clause Vc = ultimate concrete shear resistance

BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM

CONSTRUCTION OF CULVERTS hydraulic function such as acting as a crossing

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