Tutorial #2: Three-Sided Precast Box Culvert

Problem Overview

This Tutorial problem will provide an overview of entering and designing a three-sided single cell precast box culvert. In Tutorial 1, we addressed every dialog box that required input for the job. In this problem, however, we will only discuss the differences between four-sided and three-sided culverts.

Start Eriksson Culvert as before and begin a new three-sided job by double clicking on the “Three-Sided” default file.

Once the job has been loaded, a design is performed based on the the current job data, and the main view of Eriksson Culvert is displayed. The screen above should appear. Note the plan view and typical section. This is a three-sided culvert. Scroll through these three pages of information and review the job parameters before proceeding.

Open the Culvert Properties dialog box, as shown below.

[Note: From this point on, if it is not explicitly stated, open and close the required dialog boxes as necessary to match the screens shown.]

Note that the ‘design type’ has been set to three-sided; this disables several input boxes on this DB that relate to input for the bottom slab. Also notice that the ‘support type’ option is enabled.

Click the “Text Report” tab to view the detailed text report as shown below.

Scroll down to the section entitled “Design Results”. In this section will be a warning:

Note that for a three-sided culvert, the program calculates and prints the pinned reactions applied to the structure, along with a warning about the foundation and a reminder to check the shipping and handling.

For three-sided structures, a new section is added to the text report to display the unfactored reaction forces, see below.

Before closing this tutorial, open the ‘help’ menu at the top of the screen. From here you are able to contact technical support, check for updates, view change logs, and access the QC document.