Experimental and Finite Element Analysis of Precast Reinforced Concrete U-Shaped Box Culvert

This paper presents the experimental and finite element analysis of parametric research of precast reinforced concrete U-shaped box culvert subject to loading conditions at the roof and both sidewalls of the culvert through beam support steel bar. This culvert was investigated based on two ways. Firstly, the experiment was tested with seventeen different trial load tests with four controlling load trials. The variables in the test including the deflection and crack width were presented and interpreted. The test specimen result showed similar crack patterns with respect to the initiation and propagation as well as the load–deflection plot. Generally, the initial superficial flexural cracks occurred on the roof, floor slab, and sidewalls directly. Flexural cracks continued to occur in these places throughout the testing. This paper proposes a series of crack sensors in contact with the culvert to completely meet the requirements of the culverts, and their carrying capacity due to sensing performance. Secondly, the finite element method was used to analyze the structural behaviors and crack strains of the standard three-dimensional U-shaped box culverts under different loading conditions using brick elements in ABAQUS-V6.14-4 software. The culvert was modeled using three-dimensional solid elements for concrete and wire elements for reinforcement being geometric and material linearity besides the reinforcement was modeled as rebar elements embedded in the surface elements. Finally, the typical load–deflection plots obtained from the experiments are compared with those obtained from finite element modeling analyses and the effects of with and without distribution reinforcement on the culvert are insignificant.