Patent ID: 6595722
Filing Date: 2003-07-22
Classification: E01F,E02D

Abstract:
A composite reinforced corrugaged metal arch structure with minimal overburden coverage without a need for a stress relieving slab comprising:i) a set of shaped corrugated metal plates interconnected in a manner to define a base arch structure of a defined span cross-section, height and longitudinal length, said span cross-section exceeds 15 m, said base arch having a crown section and adjoining hip sections for said span cross-section and corrugated metal plates of defined thickness having corrugations extending transversely of the longitudinal length of said arch to provide a plurality of curved beam columns in said base arch; ii) a second series of shaped metal plates interconnected in a manner to overlay and contact the first set of interconnected plates of said base arch, said second series of interconnected plates extending continuously in the transverse direction to include at least said arch crown and being secured directly to said first set of interconnected plates; iii) said interconnected series of second plates and said first set of plates defining plurality of individual, transversely extending, enclosed continuous cavities, each said cavity being defined by an interior surface of said first set of plates and an opposing interior surface of said second series of plates; iv) concrete filling each said continuous cavity from cavity end to end as defined by the transverse extent of said series of plates, said concrete filled cavity defining an interface of said concrete encased by said metal interior surfaces of said interconnectred second series of plates and first set of plates; v) said interior surfaces of said cavity for each of said first and second plates having a plurality of shear bond connectors at said encased concrete-metal composite interface, said composite shear bond connectors being a rigid part of said first and second plates to ensure that the concrete and metal act in unison when a load is applied to said arch structure, said shear bond connectors providing a plurality of curved beam column stiffeners to enhance combined positive and negative bending resistance and axial load resistance of said base arch structure, there being a sufficient number of said second series of plates to provide a sufficient number of said curved beam column stiffeners to support anticipated loads imposed on said structure; sand vi) said base arch structure having a span in excess of 15 m and having said curved beam column stiffeners supporting anticipated loads imposed on said structures with said minimal overburden, said minimal overburden having a depth of overburden for a reinforced base arch structure without said curved beam column stiffeners, vii) wherein said second series of plates are corrugaged metal plates with at least one corrugation, said corrugation of said second series of plates extending transversely of the longitudinal length of said arch with trough portions of the second corrugated plate secured to crest portions of the first set of plates, viii) wherein said second series of plates extends a major portion of the span of said structure from a mid-region of one of said hip sections over said crown section to a mid-region of the other of said hip sections, and ix) wherein said structure is an ovoid culvert, a re-entrant arch, a box culvert, round culvert or elliptical culvert.