Effects of Cracks in Concrete Culvert Pipe
It is well known that reinforced concrete pipe is designed and can continue to sustain a load and function as a conduit after exhibiting visible cracking. As with other reinforced concrete structures, the reinforcement is not effectively utilized until the concrete does crack. The question is always raised, however, “To what degree can cracking be tolerated in an installed reinforced concrete pipe before repairs are required?” A corollary, or perhaps a part of the same question is, “Will a crack width greater than 0.01 inch result in corrosion of the reinforcement and perhaps reduce the life expectancy of the pipe?” This article answers these questions, as applied to the Diamond Bar Culvert installed beneath an 80 foot high fill in mid-1962 at Diamond Bar, Los Angeles County, California. While the findings pertain to this particular culvert, they are indicative of what should be justifiably expected in similar environments. Additional investigations such as that for the Brazos River Authority, report similar conclusions of the minimal effect of cracking on the functional integrity of reinforced concrete pipe and the susceptibility of the reinforcement to corrosion.
