International Journal for Research in Engineering Application & Management (IJREAM)

ISSN : 2454-9150 Vol-05, Issue-01, April 2019

Analysis and Design of Box Culvert: A Review

*
Roshan Patel, #Sagar Jamle
*
M. Tech. Scholar, #Assistant Professor, 1,2Department of Civil Engineering, Oriental University,
Indore, India, *roshance048@gmail.com, #sj.sagarjamle@gmail.com

Abstract: Box culverts are the structures which are used when the path of water in the natural stream crosses roads,
railway lines, flyovers etc. They are normally cheaper than bridges, which make them the natural stream passes
through channels. In this work, the review of various authors and their views in the design and analysis of box culvert
with software approach and comparison between software and manual approach has shown. The IS standard
requirements in the design manual for roads and bridges (IRC-6-2000, IS 21-2000) is used in the structural designing of
concrete box culverts. In this paper study about the different classes of IRC loadings and their effect on without and
with cushioning conditions imposed on box culvert. The pressure cases are then checked for both with cushioning and
without cushioning loading cases. The structure designing includes the considerations of pressure cases (Box empty,
Full, surcharge load) and factors such as Impact load, Braking force, Dispersal of load through fill, Effective width,
Coefficients of earth pressure, Live load etc. The structural elements are designed to withstand the maximum bending
moments and shear forces respectively. In the present study, this paper provides full discussion on the provisions in the
codes, considerations and justifications of all the above aspects of design.

Keywords —Box Culvert, Design Coefficients, Loadings Types, Moment, Shear, Pressure Cases.

I. INTRODUCTION There are two types of culverts which are rigid culvert for
example concrete and flexible culvert for example steel.
Box Culvert is the arrangement made to cross an obstacle in Rigid culverts are made to bear the bending moments where
the form of a stream, a river or a road to pass without the flexible culverts are not.
closing the way beneath. A Culvert is defined as standard
specifications as any structure whether made up of single The structural and hydraulic design of box culvert is
and multiple cell construction with a clear span of 6m. Box different from the bridge design for construction,
Culvert which has got its name due to its shape & maintenance, replacement and repair procedure. The basic
orientation and looks like a hollow rectangular box with two characteristics of box culverts the first on is hydraulic in
slab & two vertical walls which connects monolithically. which the culvert are design for highest flood level or peak
Box culverts are easy to design and easy to construct value with a submerged inlet to improve hydraulic
economically. It is designed to carry all the loads comes efficiency. Second is structural culverts are used take all the
from top slab and transferred with help of vertical walls to Dead load, live load, load due to pressure, Impact load and
bottom slab which rest generally where the bearing capacity braking forces that are safely to be resist by structure and
of soil is low. Box Culverts are economical due to their soil. The third one is maintenance there is a problem with
rigidity and monolithic action no separate foundation is the blockage by debris and sediment, especially when the
required when bottom slab is rest on hard soil. The structure culvert are subjected to seasonal flow. The fourth one is the
is designed such as rigid frame adopting moment construction in which culvert are made to take the vehicle
distribution method for obtaining final distributed moments load by combined strength of box and surrounding
on the basis of the vertical walls and slabs. Box Culverts are embankment. The last fifth one is Durability of materials
generally found in three locations, the first is at the bottom are major problem in box culverts and other drainage
of depressions where no natural water course exist, second structure. In counteractive environment can cause corrosion
is where natural stream intersect the roadway and third is at and abrasion of the available materials.
locations required for passing surface water carried in the The culvert are divided into categories first is according to
ditches beneath roadways and driveways to adjacent type of materials used in which first is concrete materials
property. There are many general problem occur with box which the culvert are made either precast or cast in situ. The
culvert such as serviceability and strength, abrasion and selection is depending on the size, type, flexibility etc.
deterioration of concrete. For masonry culverts there will be Precast concrete are easy to handle and installed. Cast in
major cause due to sedimentation and blockage by debris.

266 | IJREAMV05I0149079 DOI : 10.18231/2454-9150.2019.0309 © 2019, IJREAM All Rights Reserved.

 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application & Management (IJREAM)
ISSN : 2454-9150 Vol-05, Issue-01, April 2019

situ culverts are made on site requires more days for cushion and angle of dispersion is zero there will be
construction. Second is corrugated steel in which made by maximum live load greater stresses are created without
factory named as corrugated steel sheet this pipe culverts cushion.
are made by steel pipe sections. This is used in steel pipe
Ayush Tiwari, Dr. Sudhir S. Bhadouria (2017), had done
culverts with steel sheet for greater span. Third is
study of solid slab and R.C.C Box which is evaluated by
corrugated aluminum corrugated aluminum culverts are
estimation of quantities and specifications and SOR
constructed by factory made corrugated aluminum pipe this
detailing of each work. The result is for span up to 9m RCC
are available as the conventional structure plate for box
Box type bridges should be implemented after which the
culvert and long span structure. Fourth one is plastic pipe
solid slab should be preference for the span range up to
are made from various materials and have a good strength
15m.
and properties which depend on the base resin made by
formulation of chemicals and final resin is used to produce B. Sravanthi, G. Ramakrishna Rao, Dr. M.
the pipe. According to the shapes of box the first one is Kameshwara Rao (2015), had done manually design and
circular pipes is the most common shape for pipe culverts. It check all the design factor and coefficients by using codes
is structurally and hydraulically efficient under many IRC& IS Codes somewhat using Staad pro software also. A
conditions for smaller opening the pipe is generally Result is the advantages of box culvert either it is single or
preferred. Second one is pipe arch or elliptical shape is double depends on the span length and some other factors.
generally used when distance from channel invert to Ketan Kishor Sahu, Shraddha Sharma (2015), had study
pavement surface is limited pipe arch and elliptical shape by using software hydraulic parameters, graphs, charts,
are not structurally efficient as compared to as a circular tables are showing variations in test result for different ratio
shape it is used in the areas with the limited vertical which are aspect bending moment, shear force, discharge
clearance. Third one is arch culvert offer less obstruction to capacity, loads etc are find out. Result is declared on the
the waterway than pipe arches the structure is also safe for basis of the software analysis tables for hydraulic parameter,
scour design requirements. Fourth one is box section or the bending moment for bottom slab, side walls and top slab are
square and rectangular section used generally nowadays due shown in tables for different aspect ratio of cell.
angular corner of the structure it is not hydraulically and
structurally are not safe to solve this haunch is prefer at the Mahesh D. Kakade, Rajkumar A. Dubai (2017), had
corners. Fifth one is the multiple cells is used where channel study by using FEM (ANSYS) Software and IRC
is to wide and uses where span having more length by guidelines. The problem taken of 3m×3m box culvert the
height used to give proper channel to waterways there is no braking force, design moments, total loads all calculated
problem of clogging when the discharge is more. and check for deformation normal stress, principle stress,
Von miss stress for without and with cushion conditions.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW The result is the deformation without cushion is more,
A. D Patil, A. A Galatage (2016), had done analysis by maximum principle stress without cushion is more, also
using manually work the design and analysis factors of box normal stress, shear stress, and equivalent stress are more
can be done with cushioning and without cushioning the without cushioning.
maximum bending moment in each and every loading can M. Bilal Khan, M. Parvez Alam (2015), This paper
be determined. The result is the load combination to be includes the hydraulic design which the catchment area,
found very critical for all aspect ratio bending moments for maximum HFL, longitudinal area, cross section, velocity
different ratio or aspect is varying or constant for with and observation and estimation of discharge by rational method
without cushion. The effect of water ratio 1:1.5 is negligible empirical formula (dickens formula), critical depth and
and for 2:3 is empty. height of jump also decides the area and length of apron.
Afzal Hamif Sharif (2016), had done study by using The culvert are designed by manual calculations which
moment distribution method and Staad pro software. gives size and shape of box according to discharge and
Compared them and check out all the structural elements for depth of scour deciding the jump is undular jump and
safety of bridge. The results are the advantage of box required to be made of 2m×2m box culvert.
culvert and their design critical and span length according Neha Kolate, Molly Mathew, Snehal Mali (2014), had
by ratio of cell and number of cell. study by using manually calculation and IRC code for
Ajay R. Polra, Pro. P. Chandresha, Dr. K.B Parikh bridges and roads taken all the design considerations factors
(2017), had done the analysis and comparison by using and also design of typical box done manually. The result is
design consideration in mind of box coefficient of earth the box culvert are economical than the pipe drain and also
pressure, cushion, width or angle of dispersion and load it have various advantage and design factor may be affected
case for design. The result is without cushion or with if it is done properly.

267 | IJREAMV05I0149079 DOI : 10.18231/2454-9150.2019.0309 © 2019, IJREAM All Rights Reserved.

 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application & Management (IJREAM)
ISSN : 2454-9150 Vol-05, Issue-01, April 2019

Saurav, Ishaan Pandey (2017), had done comparative requirements and main things is load and deflection curve
analysis study of analysis of conventional method using and load stress curve are showing using the F.E.M analysis
Staad pro software and FEM using ANSYS Software. The there is warning of structure before failure of structure is
result are by using both analysis they conclude that 16.8% getting.
FEM through ANSYS Software saves large amount of
money and gives the more economical design.
III. METHODOLOGY
The complete work will be done manually without any use
Sujata Shreedhar, R. Shreedhar (2013), had find out the
of software, then the cases taken with respect to different
coefficients for moment, shear and thrust of single and two
loading types are then solved and the final result will guide
cell box culvert by using Staad Pro software. The result is
the whole work to the result and conclusion section.
The design of box culvert includes the information
Following are the methodology approach in which cases are
regarding the effect different ratio L/H=1.0, L/H=1.25 etc.
taken into account for with cushion and without cushion
Also moments and loads are found out.
cases for loading Class 70 (R), Class A along with Class B.
Vaishali Turai, Ashish Waghmare (2016), had study the
Berackeven Method / Pay Back period cost, time, labor and Cases Taken Into Account:-
material by analytic method. The result is by using both For Without Cushion:- 350 kN of Tracked vehicle using
method they conclude cost and time of precast structure is Class 70(R) will be Case A, 114 kN of Wheeled vehicle of
less than the cost in situ structure. Class A will be Case B, 68 kN of Wheeled vehicle of Class
Vasu Shekhar Tanwar, M. P Verma, Sagar Jamle B will be Case C.
(2018), had study by using Staad Pro software the culvert
are subjected to certain cases and providing the values in
the form of graph and tables in which reduction in
displacement and reduction in bending moment are shown.
The result is by using software result came to know about
bending moment and displacements are declined to
minimum value taken in percentage. For flared portion
structure change gets a positive response.
Vasu Shekhar Tanwar, Dr. M. P Verma, Sagar Jamle
(2018), This paper analysis the stress value increases in the
flared portion and shear values decreased on increment of
flared portion. Principle stresses declined and give a
positive response for structural change. The result is the
paper gives the graph and their variations in values with
respect to stress by using the flared portion the stress value Fig 1: Graphical Representation of Case A
are dropped for different cases.
Virendra Singh D. Chauhan, Gunvant Solanki, Minu
Tressa (2017), This paper gives the information regarding
the skew box culvert of any angle in which how
reinforcement changes analytical and experimental study of
skew bridge model, seismic response, dynamic response etc.
and different aspect inspections. The result is longitudinal
moment decrease in skew approach as compared to straight
approach deflection deck slab decrease with increase skew
angle, abutment stiffness also increases with increase in
skew angle which significantly contribute to stiffness of the
bridge.
Zengabriel Gebremedhn, Guofu Qiao, Jilong Li (2018),
This paper includes the modeling and analysis of precast Fig 2: Graphical Representation of Case B
reinforcement box culvert with FEM and using ABAQUS
and tested the box the stress and deflections and check the
box how its behave by plotting the load deflection graph
and loads stress graph. The result shows the Modeling and
analysis of prefabricated box and knowing the steel

268 | IJREAMV05I0149079 DOI : 10.18231/2454-9150.2019.0309 © 2019, IJREAM All Rights Reserved.

 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application & Management (IJREAM)
ISSN : 2454-9150 Vol-05, Issue-01, April 2019

Fig 6: Graphical Representation of Case F

Fig 3: Graphical Representation of Case C

For With Cushion:- 350 kN of Tracked vehicle using Steps to solve Without Cushion Cases:-
Class 70(R) will be Case D, 114 kN of Wheeled vehicle of First to have silent features of data then the next is
Class A will be Case E, 68 kN of Wheeled vehicle of Class calculation of loadings on top slab, bottom slab, side walls
B will be Case F. and base pressure then the moment is calculated then
distribution factors are carried out then by moment
distribution method after finding out the fixed end moment
due to dead, live and total load. Then braking force is
calculated as load due to braking with different class and
moment due to braking is calculated. In last design for top
slab, bottom slab, side wall is done.

Steps to solve With Cushion Cases:-

First to have silent features of data then the next is
calculation of loadings on top slab, bottom slab, side walls
and base pressure then the moment is calculated. Then
distribution factor are carried out then by moment
distribution method finding the fixed end moment due to
dead, live and total load. In last design for top slab, bottom
Fig 4: Graphical Representation of Case D slab, side wall is done.

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The above literature analysis and design of box culvert is
under the influence of different kinds of loading conditions.
It can be noted that effect of depth of cushion, impact load,
braking forces, coefficient of earth pressure and the angle of
load dispersion due live load are important factors. Box
culverts are analyzed for different cases of pressure and
their variations. It is seen that maximum bending moment
occur for dynamic load case. The analysis and design of box
can be done by using the Indian Standard Codes IS456-
2000, Indian Road Congress, IRC 6-2000 & IRC 21-2000.
The result will be analyzed by variations in shear force,
bending moment, impact load, braking force etc.
Fig 5: Graphical Representation of Case E
V. CONCLUSIONS
There are many varieties of materials, Size and Shapes.
Concrete hollow box culverts are the best for the durability

269 | IJREAMV05I0149079 DOI : 10.18231/2454-9150.2019.0309 © 2019, IJREAM All Rights Reserved.

 International Journal for Research in Engineering Application & Management (IJREAM)
ISSN : 2454-9150 Vol-05, Issue-01, April 2019

and economical satisfaction. To design and analysis of box IRC " International research journal of engineering and
saves time and money improving planning of road and technology , ISSN no.(o) 2395-0056, ISSN no.(p)
management also reduces the risks when selection is based 2395-0072, Vol.04, Issue-10, p.p. 30-35.
on whether condition. It is easy to construct the box with [8] M. Bilal khan, M. Parvez alam (2015)," Hydraulic
fast workmanship and cost effectiveness can be achieved. design of box culvert for highway at coastal region"
The result of analysis for given parameters can be solved by International journal of advanced in engineering
using moment distribution method. There is more stresses research, ISSN no.2231-5152, Vol.09, Issue-02, p. p
produces in without case with compare to cushion case. The 31-40.
box culvert includes three pressure cases for designing. The
[9] Neha Kolate, Molly Mathew, Snehal Mali (2014),
Class-70(R) Loading is also been used as calculation of
"Analysis and design of R.C.C. box culverts"
Class A Loading.
International journal of scientific & engineering
ACKNOWLEDGMENT research, ISSN no.2229-5518, Vol.05, Issue-12, p.p.
36-41.
I expressed deep gratitude for enthusiasm and valuable
[10] Saurav, Ishaan pandey (2017), "Economic design of
suggestion that I got from my project guide Mr. Sagar Jamle
box culvert through comparative study of conventional
(Assistant Professor), Civil Engineering Department for
and FEM " International journal of engineering &
successful completion of the research paper. This was not
technology, ISSN no.(o) 0975-4024, ISSN no.(p) 2319-
possible without his valuable guidance.
8613, Vol.09, Issue-03, p.p.-1707-1703.
REFERENCES [11] Sujata Shreedhar, R. Shreedhar (2013)," Design
coefficients for single and two cell box culvert"
[1] A. D. Patil, A.A. Galatage (2016), " Analysis of box
International journal of civil & structural engineering,
culvert under cushion loading ", International advanced
ISSN no.0976-4399, Vol.03, Issue-03 , p.p. 475-494.
research journal in science, engineering &technology,
ISSN no.(o)2393-8021, ISSN no.(p) 2394-1588, [12] Vaishali Turai, Ashish Waghmare (2016)," A study of
Vol.03, Issue-03, p.p. 163-166. cost comparison of precast concrete v/s cast in place
concrete" International journal of advanced engineering
[2] Afzal Hamif Sharif (2016), "Review paper on analysis
research & application, ISSN no.2454-2377, Vol.02,
and design of railway box bridge" International journal
Issue-02,p.p. 112-122.
of scientific development & research, ISSN no.2455-
2631, Vol.01, Issue-07, p.p. 204-207. [13] Vasu Shekhar Tanwar, M.P Verma, Sagar Jamle
(2018)," Analytic study of box culvert to reduce
[3] Ajay R. Polra, Pro. J.P Chandresha, Dr. K.B Parikh
bending moments and displacements values"
(2017), " A review paper on analysis and cost
International journal of current engineering technology,
comparison of box culvert for different aspect of cell "
ISSN no.(o) 2277-4106, ISSN no.(p) 2347-5161,
International journal of engineering trends &
Vol.08, Issue-03, p.p. 762-764.
technology, ISSN no.2231-5381, Vol.44, Issue-03, p. p
112-115. [14] Vasu Shekhar Tanwar, M.P Verma, Sagar Jamle
(2018),"Analysis of box culvert to reduce stress value"
[4] Ayush Tiwari, Dr. Sudhir S. Bhadouria (2017),"
International journal of advanced engineering &
Comparative cost evaluation of R.C.C box and solid
science, ISSN no.(o) 2456-1908, ISSN no.(p) 2349-
slab " International journal for scientific research&
6495, Vol.05, Issue-05, p. p 01-04.
development, ISSN no. 2321-0613, Vol.05, Issue-08,
p.p. 365-367. [15] Virendra Singh, D. Chauhan, Gunvant Solanki, Minu
Tressa (2017), " Analysis & design of box type
[5] B. Sravanthi, G. Ramakrishnadr, M. kameshwara
multibareel skew culvert " International journal of
Rao(2015), "A comparative design of one cell and twin
advance engineering & research, ISSN no.(o) 2348-
cell R.C.C. box type minor bridge " International
4470, ISSN no.(p) 2348-6406, Vol.04, Issue-11, p.p.
journal for scientific research & development, ISSN
396-398.
no.2321-0613, vol.03,Issue-06, p.p. 504-506.
[16] Zengabriel Gebremedhn, Guofu Qiao ( 2018)," Finite
[6] Ketan Kishor Sahu, Shraddha Sharma (2015),
element modeling & analysis of precast reinforcement
"Comparison & study of different aspect of box
concrete U shaped box culvert using abaqus" American
culvert" International journal of scientific research &
journal of civil engineering, Vol.06, Issue-05, p.p. 162-
development, ISSN no.2321-0613, Vol.03, Issue-07,
166.
p.p. 167-175.
[7] Mahesh D. Kakade, Rajkuwar A. Dubai (2017), " A
study of behavior of R.C.C. box culvert under the
influence of static & dynamic loads in accordance with

270 | IJREAMV05I0149079 DOI : 10.18231/2454-9150.2019.0309 © 2019, IJREAM All Rights Reserved.