Abstract
Series of centrifugal model tests for rigid box culverts were carried out to investigate the effect of laying flexible materials for reducing the vertical earth pressures acting on the culvert.
The optimum position of installed flexible material to reduce the vertical earth pressure were studied comparing the experimental results with the values of design criteria, Marston-Spangler theory and FEM analysis.
After selecting the best position of installed flexible material, the influence of the other factors such as differential settlements, water content, fill material, for the reduction of the earth pressure, was examined by the another series of centrifugal model tests for a rigid culvert.
