2017 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 95-100
The seismic performance of precast arch culverts in the culvert longitudinal direction has not been clarified even though the principal cause of embankment disasters is earthquakes in this direction. On the other hand, precast arch culverts are constructed by continuously arraying and connecting each segment. That is why the dynamic behavior of precast arch culverts in the culvert longitudinal direction is believed to depend heavily on the method with which the culverts are connected. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the connecting condition of precast arch culverts on the dynamic behavior in the culvert longitudinal direction by conducting dynamic centrifuge tests. It is found that connected culverts, compared with separated culverts, are relatively advantageous in decreasing the enlargement of the bending moment on the bottom slab of the arch culverts which leads to cracks in the culverts.
