Testing the load capacity of a soil-steel box structure

Abstract

The deformation of the circumferential section of a box culvert shell made of corrugated steel plates is analysed. Deflections and unit strains in selected shell points were adopted as the measure of the deformation of the corrugated steel shell. The quantities were measured using inductive displacement gauges and electric resistance strain gauges. The investigations were carried out in laboratory conditions under specifically selected configurations of a distributed load. Loading intensity, surcharge thickness and the area of load action on the surcharge were adopted as variable test parameters. The effectiveness of the interaction between a geo-grid and the soil in the surcharge in reducing the deformation of the shell was analysed.