Abstract
Deformation behavior of drainage pipes under high fills was investigated through centrifuge model tests. In the tests, a dry sand was trapezoidally backfilled around small model pipes with different flexibilities; fills were constructed around the backfilled areas with different soils; lead shot was placed on the model ground to create overburden pressures equivalent to those due to prototype fills with heights up to 100m. Measured deflections and bending strains of the pipes fully quantified effects, on the deformation of drainage pipes, of pipe flexibility, installation method, cover height, fill material, and thickness of fill under the pipe, and they did not conform to those calculated in accordance with a current design standard, indicating the necessity of a new rational design method.
