Soil–steel structure design by the Ontario Code: Part 1. General and geotechnical considerations

The paper presents an overview of the Ontario Highway Bridge Design Code provisions dealing with the design of soil–steel structures, which are composed of shells of corrugated steel plate, embedded in an envelope of engineered soil. In particular, the paper deals with the engineering aspect of the soil component of the structure. The soil–structure interaction is discussed in the context of arching of dead loads and the influence of soil properties on the ability of the metallic shell to sustain loads. Hydraulic, geotechnical, and other aspects of soil–steel structure design, such as durability and construction, are also briefly discussed.