Live Load: AASHTO H20 Load on Buried PE Pipe – 12′ Thick Pavement

This calculation determines the rating that can support vehicle loading up to AASHTO H-20 of 32,000 lbs per axle or 16,000 per wheel. This calculation may be limited for loaded vehicles that exceed the ratings such as Fire Trucks.
Dead/Earth Load
A. Prism Load

𝑃𝑝 = 𝑀𝐻

𝑃𝑝 = Vertical Soil Pressure,[lb/ft2]
𝑀 = Unit Weight of Soil,[lb/ft2]
𝐻 = Height of Soil Above Pipe Crown,[ft]

B. Marston Load (ASCE Manual No.60)
π‘ƒπ‘šΒ = 𝐢𝑑𝑀𝐡𝑑
π‘ƒπ‘šΒ = Vertical Soil Pressure,[lb/ft2]
𝑀 = Unit Weight of Soil,[lb/ft2]

𝐡𝑑 = Trench Width at Pipe Crown,[ft]
𝐢𝑑 = Load/Trench Coefficient
PTLB Polyethylene 2.4 Marston Load.png

𝑒 = Base of Natural Logarithm,[2.71828]
𝐾 = Rankine Earth Pressure Coefficient
𝐾 =Β π‘‘π‘Žπ‘›2Β PTLB Polyethylene 2.4 Marston Load 2.pngΒ 
πœƒΒ = Angle of Internal Soil Friction, [Β°]
𝑒 = Coefficient of Friction between Backfill and Trench Sides

PTLB Polyethylene 2.4 Marston Load 3.png

C.Β Combined Prism and Marston Load
For flexible pipe, a more conservative method is to use a soil pressure load in between prism and Marston load:
𝑃𝑐 = 0.6π‘ƒπ‘šΒ + 0.4𝑃𝑝
𝑃𝑐 = Combined Load or Modified Arching Soil Pressure, [lb/ft2]

Live Load: AASHTO H20 on Buried PE Pipe – 12” Pavement
𝑃𝐿 = 𝐹𝐻20(𝐻)

𝑃𝐿 = Vertical Soil Pressure due to Surcharge Load [lb/ft2]
𝐹𝐻20 = Live Load Transfer to Pipe [lb/ft2] (see table)
𝐻 = Soil Height above Pipe Crown [ft]

PTLB Polyethylene 2.5 Live Load.png
* Simulates a 20-ton truck traffic load, with impact factor
† Simulates an 80,000 lb./ft railway load, with impact factor
‑ Applies to 180,000 lb. dual-tandem gear assembly, with 26 in. spacing between tires and 66 in. center to center spacing between fore and aft tire under a rigid 12 in. pavement, with impact factor
Β§ Negligible influence of live load on buried pipe

Pipe Deflection is calculated using Spangler’s Modified Iowa Formula:
PTLB Polyethylene 2.4 Spangler Formula.png

βˆ†π‘‹ = Horizontal Deflection[in]
𝐷𝑀 = Mean Diameter[in]
𝐾𝑏 = Bedding Factor
𝐿𝐷𝐿 = Deflection Lag Factor
𝑃𝐸 = Vertical Soil Pressure due to Earth Load[lb/ft2]
𝑃𝐿 = Vertical Soil Pressure due to Live Load]lb/ft2]
𝐸 = Apparent Modulus of Elasticity of Pipe Material[psi]
𝐸′= Modulus of Soil Reaction[psi]
𝐹𝑆 = Soil Support Factor
𝐷𝑅 = Standard Dimension Ratio DRΒ PTLB Polyethylene 2.3 DR Formula.png
π·π‘œΒ = Pipe Outside Diameter [in]
𝑑 = Minimum Pipe Wall Thickness [in]

 

  • Modulus of Soil Reaction (E’) – Average Values for Iowa Formula (see table in section 2.0)
  • Modulus of Soil Reaction (E’) – Values of E’ for Pipe Embedment (see table in section 2.0)
  • Values of E’n Native Soil Modules of Soil Reaction (see table in section 2.0)
  • Soil Support Factor (see table in section 2.0)

 
Pipe Wall Compressive Stress
PTLB Polyethylene 2.4 Pipe Wall.png

𝑆 = Pipe Wall Compressive Strength [psi]
𝑃𝐸 = Vertical Soil Pressure due to Earth Load[lb/ft2]
𝑃𝑆 = Vertical Soil Pressure due to Surcharge Load[lb/ft2]
𝐷𝑅 = Standard Dimension Ratio DRΒ PTLB Polyethylene 2.3 DR Formula.png
π·π‘œΒ = Pipe Outside Diameter [in]
𝑑 = Minimum Pipe Wall Thickness [in]

Input Parameters

  1. To create a new case, click the β€œAdd Case” button
  2. Select the Live Load: AASHTO H20 Load on Buried PE Pipe – 12” Thick Pavement application from the Polyethylene Pipe – Design & Stress Analysis module list.
  3. Enter Case Name, Location, Date and any necessary notes.
  4. Fill out all required fields.
  5. Make sure the values you are inputting are in the correct units.
  6. Click the CALCULATE button.

  • Reference: ASTM F 1962
    • HDPE Typical Apparent Modulus of Elasticity
    • Duration Time
  • Reference: Allowable Compressive Strength
    • For PE Pipe Material Designation Code:
  • Reference: Safe Deflection Limits for Pressurized Pipe
    • Pipe DR/SDR
    • Select Earth/Dead Load Calculation Method
  • Pipe Soil Envelope Data
    • Unit Weight of Soil
    • Soil Height above Pipe Crown
    • Bd – Trench Width at Pipe Crown
    • For Soil:
      • Friction Force Coefficient Ku
      • E’ – Modulus of Soil Reaction
      • E’n- Native Soil Modulus of Soil Reaction
      • Deflection Lag Factor (Typically 1.0 – 1.5)
      • Bedding Factor (Typically 0.1)
  • Pipe Data
    • Do – PE Pipe Outside Diameter
    • PE Pipe DR or SDR
    • PE Pipe Apparent Modulus of Elasticity
    • Safe Deflection as % of Diameter
    • Allowable Compressive Stress

PLTB Poly 2.6 Input Rev_090920.png
PLTB Poly 2.6 Input 2 Rev_090920.png

Outputs/Reports

  1. View the results.
  2. If an input parameter needs to be edited be sure to hit the CALCULATE button after the change.
  3. To SAVE, fill out all required case details then click the SAVE button.
  4. To rename an existing file, click the SAVE As button. Provide all case info then click SAVE.
  5. To generate a REPORT, click the REPORT button.
  6. The user may export the Case/Report by clicking the Export to Excel/PowerPoint icon.
  7. To delete a case, click the DELETE icon near the top of the widget.

  • Vertical Pressure due to Earth Load
  • Vertical Pressure due to H-20 Live Load
  • Bd/Do
  • E’n/E
  • Fs – Soil Support Factor
  • Deflection as % of Pipe Diameter
  • Compressive Stress

PLTB Poly 2.6 Output Rev_090920.png
 

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