Distribution of Soil Pressures On Concrete Pipe

Abstract

The soil pressures on a 24-in. OD concrete pipe buried in a 6-ft-wide by 7-ft-long by 7-ft-deep steel soil container were measured with 16 pressure cells mounted in the pipe. Loads were applied to the soil surface with a large Universal testing machine. Graphical representations of the soil pressure distributions are given for six different support conditions and several conclusions are drawn regarding the support conditions that produce the most desirable pressure distributions. The pressure distributions for the six specific bedding conditions represent a range of conditions that will be useful to develop analytical pressure distributions for field bedding conditions if the soil types and relative compressibilities of the bedding and foundation materials are considered.