Contributions to the design of precast concrete culverts with unusual cross sections

Abstract Culverts are structures used in road and railway infrastructure works such as underpasses. Among the several forms of cross-sections, rectangular one (box culvert) has been mostly employed. However, when installed at high embankments, this structure shows values bending moment shear force, which tend to be amplified by soil arching. This paper addresses a study section culvert with an arc cover, called modified, defined three arches, flat base. Such cross-section reduce due their geometry, efforts can decreased use reduced thicknesses mechanisms soil-structure interaction. Analyses were performed plane-strain deformation finite elements towards considering interaction, results proved influence geometry shape on soil-culvert interaction behavior. A comparative analysis material cost index (ICM) for 25 geometries (12 modified culverts, 12 culverts arcs 1 box was estimating economic viability each unusual culvert. The showed 27 54% economy materials arcs, respectively, comparison section.