culvert question

[rbtjr]

This reply may be too late to help. As noted by prior posters, the goal is to protect the pipe from taking the load by having the load borne by the material beside the pipe. The first way to do that is to make the trench for the pipe as narrow as possible and still accommodate the pipe. This is a key. That way, the dirt walls on both sides of the pipe carry much of the load, especially with large tires passing over. Next, be sure to fill the sides of the trench outside the pipe with gravel. Fill a little at a time, then compact it, then fill more, and compact that new fill, etc. Then cover the whole thing with as much gravel as you can get on top, up to say 4". The gravel on top also helps to spread the down force on the pipe over a wider area. I have buried pipe in this manner, using only dirt to fill in the trench beside the pipe instead of gravel, and with maybe 4" of dirt fill above the pipe, and have had no problem running a 5,000+ lb tractor over it.

 

[woody]

Not sure I understand the question??

Adding depth of fill won't compromise the pipe at all. I've buried some 30ft deep. More isn't a problem. Less is a problem.

Thanks, you answered the question, I have put several pipes in with only a few inches of dirt and gravel but never buried one that deep.

 

[ovrszd]

Thanks, you answered the question, I have put several pipes in with only a few inches of dirt and gravel but never buried one that deep.

You're welcome. The deeper it's buried, the more the load is spread. Just takes a lot longer with small equipment.

 

[Egon]

I'm looking at putting in about 60 feet of 24 inch pipe but it will be covered with possibly 8 feet of dirt and material to build up a low spot. what would the TBN pros think, will it hold that much weight?

The fill material bridges over the culvert and forms an arc to take the load. Many times a certain depth of material over the pipe is required to meet the bridging effect.