Heger’s pressure distributions are considered a fundamental tool in the design of reinforced concrete culverts per the direct design method. However, there are some factors known to affect soil-structure interaction that are neglected when utilizing Heger’s pressure distributions. These factors include the effect of the trench geometry, the relative stiffness of the existing and backfill soil, and the burial depth of the structure. This thesis presents a detailed finite-element analysis parametric study that investigates the accuracy and applicability of Heger’s pressure distributions for culverts in partial trench installations when the aforementioned factors are considered. Additionally, a detailed pseudo-static finite-element analysis parametric study investigating the applicability and accuracy of the simplified seismic load combination presented in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code is presented.
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