Finite Element Analysis of Box Culvert

Culverts are required to be provided under earth embankment for crossing of water course like streams, Nallas across the embankment as road embankment cannot be allowed to obstruct the natural water way. The culverts are also required to balance the flood water on both sides of earth embankment to reduce flood level on one side of road thereby decreasing the water head consequently reducing the flood menace. Culverts can be of different shapes such as arch, slab and box. These can be constructed with different material such as masonry (brick, stone etc) or reinforced cement concrete.Since culvert passes through the earthen embankment, these are subjected to same traffic loads as the road carries and therefore, required to be designed for such loads. The scope of this has been further restricted to the structural design of box. The structural design involves consideration of load cases (box empty, full, surcharge loads etc.) and factors like live load, effective width, braking force, dispersal of load through fill, impact factor, co-efficient of earth pressure etc. The structural elements are required to be designed to withstand maximum bending moment and shear force.