Study on earth pressure on the top of trapezoid ditch-buried culverts

The vertical earth pressure on the top of ditch-buried culverts was analyzed theoretically under the condition of trapezoidal ditch and square culverts. A calculation model to evaluate the earth pressure on the top of the culverts based on Duncan earth model was established. The study results show that the height of plane of equal settlement decreases and turns to a constant gradually as the depth of soil overlying culverts increases. The primary influencing factors of earth pressure are the ditch width and the ratio of height to width of the culverts and the foundation. Each of them can make the coefficient of earth pressure increase or decrease more than 30%. When the width of the culverts become wider, ditch buried culverts turn to projecting buried culverts gradually, and the uniform calculation theory of earth pressure on the top of ditch-buried culverts and positive buried culverts is formed.