Full Scale Test Installation for Reinforced Concrete Pipe

摘要

An experimental reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) installation is designed by University of Nebraska - Lincoln researchers and installed at the landfill of Lincoln, NE. The pipe installation consists of eight pipe segments, 48 in. (1219.2 mm) in diameter, installed under fill heights ranging from 5 ft (152.4 cm) to 20ft (609.6 cm). Pipe was designed according to a proposed design methodology, where, mostly the direct design method is followed while the 0.01" (0.254 mm) crack control criteria is eliminated. Four of the eight segments were over designed and the other four were under designed in terms of the height of fill they carry. Pipe segments were instrumented by eighty vibrating wire strain gages, and sixteen earth pressure cells. Field readings were obtained and monitored. The study is currently undergoing and the paper presents up-to-date findings of the experimental observations as well as inferences made regarding the RCP design considerations. Projected conclusions are such that the current design methods and criteria used for designing RCP are overly conservative.