THE CORRUGATED METAL CONDUIT AS A COMPRESSION RING

BRIEF DISCUSSIONS OF THE TYPES OF LOADINGS ON A CORRUGATED METAL STRUCTURE ARE GIVEN. THE LOADS CONSIDERED ARE THOSE ACTING IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE STRUCTURE WHICH TEND TO CHANGE ITS CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE. TWO TYPES OF STRENGTH IN THE STRUCTURE ARE CONSIDERED - RING COMPRESSION STRENGTH AND RING BENDING STRENGTH. A DISCUSSION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR RING COMPRESSION STRENGTH INCLUDES THE APPLICABLE FEATURES OF A RING COMPRESSION THEORY AND SHOWS HOW A CORRUGATED METAL CONDUIT CARRIES FILL LOAD BY MEANS OF ITS RING STRENGTH AND ITS ABILITY TO UTILIZE SUPPORT FROM SURROUNDING EARTH. A METHOD OF APPLYING LINEAR ARCH THEORY TO THE STRUCTURE IS GIVEN WHICH WILL ENABLE A DESIGNER TO APPROXIMATE THESE COMPRESSION REQUIREMENTS IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE STRUCTURE AND PRESSURE REQUIREMENTS IN THE SOIL SURROUNDING IT. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BENDING STRENGTH ARE PRESENTED IN THREE PARTS DEALING WITH STRENGTH FOR RESISTING COLUMN BUCKLING IN THE STRUCTURE'S WALLS AND FOR BRIDGING INCONSISTENCIES IN THE BACKFILL, STRENGTH FOR MINIMUM COVER INSTALLATIONS, AND STRENGTH FOR HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, ERECTING AND INSTALLATION OF THE STRUCTURE. A DISCUSSION OF INSTALLATION FEATURES SUCH AS FOUNDATION CONDITIONS, BEDDING, IMPERFECT TRENCH METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION IS GIVEN, INCLUDING WHAT CONSTITUTES ADEQUATE BACKFILL AND COMPACTION AROUND A STRUCTURE. A SUMMARY INCLUDES STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES FOR THE VARIOUS METHODS OF DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF CORRUGATED METAL STRUCTURES AS LOAD-CARRING CONDUITS. /AUTHOR/