Research Methods and Findings

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 72 views

Analysis of Pre-Culvert Box Structure for the Highway: Explore the Strength and Risk of Collapse

Introduction

The precast concrete box culvert is a crucial component of highway infrastructure, widely used for underground waterways. In Indonesia, the adoption of box culverts has gained momentum due to their time and energy efficiency in the construction process. However, the increasing number of collapse cases in box culverts has raised serious concerns. This study aims to analyze the strength of precast box culverts by comparing the results of simple calculations and field testing, with the ultimate goal of understanding the factors influencing the structure's strength and identifying potential collapse risks.

Background

Box culverts are a type of precast concrete structure designed to facilitate the passage of water under highways. Their widespread use is attributed to their efficiency in construction, which reduces the time and labor required for building underground waterways. However, the recent surge in collapse cases has highlighted the need for a thorough analysis of the structure's strength and potential risks.

Research Methods and Findings

This study employed a comprehensive research approach, involving the testing of eight culvert box objects with two sizes (1000 mm x 1000 mm x 160 mm and 1000 mm x 1500 mm x 170 mm) and three placement models (pinch, pinch portals, and joint portals). Each model was tested using a scale of 1:2 and with variations in concrete quality. The results of the field testing were compared to the simple calculations to determine the bending moments that occur in the structure.

The findings of this study are crucial in understanding the strength of precast box culverts.

In the size of 50 cm x 50 cm x 80 cm, the field of field bending is 1.19 times larger (quality 7.37 MPa), 1.36 times (11 MPa quality), 2.67 times (quality 12.56 MPa), and 5.23 times (quality 13.33 MPa) compared to simple calculations.
In the size of 50 cm x 75 cm x 85 cm, the flexural moment of the field is greater 0.69 times (quality 7.37 MPa), 1.44 times (quality 11 MPa), 3.20 times (quality 12.4 MPa), and 4.95 times (quality 13.33 MPa) compared to simple calculations.

The quality of concrete has a significant influence on the strength of the box culvert. The higher the quality of concrete, the greater the burden that can be borne by the structure.

Implications and Recommendations

The results of this study have significant implications for the design and construction of box culverts, particularly in relation to:

*** Load Planning: ** The burden received by the Culvert Box in the field can be far greater than the simple calculation. This needs to be considered in design, especially given the heavy vehicle loads such as the HL-93 truck which often exceeds the permitted capacity. *** Concrete Quality: ** Concrete quality determination in accordance with the burden and field conditions is very important. The use of low concrete quality can increase the risk of collapse, especially in areas with heavy loads and soft soil conditions. *** Implementation Quality: ** Concrete Conformity Conformity with the specifications and implementation of correct reinforcement is an important factor in determining the strength of the box culvert. Errors in the implementation of construction can cause a decrease in structural strength and increase the risk of collapse.

Conclusion

This study provides strong evidence of the importance of comprehensive trials and analysis in the design and construction of box culverts. The results of this study can be used as a basis for the development of construction standards that are tighter and effective, so as to minimize the risk of collapse and increase the security of highway infrastructure.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on:

Conducting more comprehensive field testing to validate the findings of this study.
Developing more accurate models for predicting the bending moments that occur in box culverts.
Investigating the impact of different soil conditions on the strength of box culverts.
Developing more effective construction standards and guidelines for the design and construction of box culverts.

References

[1] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (2017). AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications.
[2] American Concrete Institute (ACI). (2019). ACI 318-19: Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete.
[3] Indonesia Ministry of Public Works and Housing. (2020). Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Box Culverts.

Appendices

Appendix A: Research Methodology
Appendix B: Data Collection and Analysis
Appendix C: Results of Field Testing
Appendix D: Comparison of Simple Calculations and Field Testing Results
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Pre-Culvert Box Structure for the Highway

Q: What is a precast concrete box culvert?

A: A precast concrete box culvert is a type of precast concrete structure designed to facilitate the passage of water under highways. It is a crucial component of highway infrastructure, widely used for underground waterways.

Q: Why is the quality of concrete important in box culverts?

A: The quality of concrete has a significant influence on the strength of the box culvert. The higher the quality of concrete, the greater the burden that can be borne by the structure. Using low concrete quality can increase the risk of collapse, especially in areas with heavy loads and soft soil conditions.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings for load planning?

A: The burden received by the Culvert Box in the field can be far greater than the simple calculation. This needs to be considered in design, especially given the heavy vehicle loads such as the HL-93 truck which often exceeds the permitted capacity.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings for concrete quality?

A: Concrete quality determination in accordance with the burden and field conditions is very important. The use of low concrete quality can increase the risk of collapse, especially in areas with heavy loads and soft soil conditions.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings for implementation quality?

A: Concrete Conformity Conformity with the specifications and implementation of correct reinforcement is an important factor in determining the strength of the box culvert. Errors in the implementation of construction can cause a decrease in structural strength and increase the risk of collapse.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: Future research should focus on:

Conducting more comprehensive field testing to validate the findings of this study.
Developing more accurate models for predicting the bending moments that occur in box culverts.
Investigating the impact of different soil conditions on the strength of box culverts.
Developing more effective construction standards and guidelines for the design and construction of box culverts.

Q: What are the practical applications of this study?

A: The results of this study can be used as a basis for the development of construction standards that are tighter and effective, so as to minimize the risk of collapse and increase the security of highway infrastructure.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted on a limited number of samples.
The study only considered two sizes of box culverts.
The study did not consider the impact of different soil conditions on the strength of box culverts.

Q: What are the recommendations for future research?

A: Future research should focus on addressing the limitations of this study, including:

Conducting more comprehensive field testing to validate the findings of this study.
Developing more accurate models for predicting the bending moments that occur in box culverts.
Investigating the impact of different soil conditions on the strength of box culverts.
Developing more effective construction standards and guidelines for the design and construction of box culverts.

Q: What are the implications of this study for highway infrastructure?

A: The results of this study have significant implications for the design and construction of box culverts, particularly in relation to load planning, concrete quality, and implementation quality. The study highlights the importance of comprehensive trials and analysis in the design and construction of box culverts to minimize the risk of collapse and increase the security of highway infrastructure.