Title: Collapse of corrugated metal culvert in Northern Sardinia: analysis and numerical simulations

Authors: Linda Giresini; Mario L. Puppio; Mauro Sassu

Addresses: DESTEC - Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo L. Lazzarino 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy ' DESTEC - Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo L. Lazzarino 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy ' DESTEC - Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering, University of Pisa, Largo L. Lazzarino 1, 56127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The paper illustrates the possible causes of collapse of a Corrugated Metal Culvert (CMC), occurred in Northern Sardinia after an extreme rainfall event in 2013. The possible causes of collapse are related to the conditions before and during the rainfall. Erosion and corrosion phenomena, which caused material decay and an improper water flow, have been discussed. Numerical analyses were performed to identify buckling multipliers with a finite element model simulating the effect of combined erosion and corrosion. The analysis showed a greater sensitivity in terms of buckling resistance when the soil erosion is concentrated in the lower portion of the culvert rather than in the lateral one.

Keywords: corrugated metal culverts; extreme rainfall; culvert collapse; soil erosion; corrosion; buckling resistance; Sardinia; numerical simulation; material decay; water flow; finite element method; FEM; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFE.2016.075991

International Journal of Forensic Engineering, 2016 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.69 - 85

Received: 02 Oct 2015
Accepted: 19 Jan 2016
Published online: 20 Apr 2016 *

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