Structural Stability Evaluation of Buried Concrete Pipes Under the Minimum Cover Depth Condition: Verification of Theoretical Formulas Based on Field-Measured Earth Pressure

Jungwon Yun; Sukyu Lee; Ingun Park; Jongbae Park

doi:10.7843/kgs.2026.42.1.7

All Issue

2026 Vol.42, Issue 1 Next Page

Structural Stability Evaluation of Buried Concrete Pipes Under the Minimum Cover Depth Condition: Verification of Theoretical Formulas Based on Field-Measured Earth Pressure 최소 토피고 조건에서의 콘크리트 매설관 구조 안정성 평가: 현장 실측 토압을 통한 이론식 검증 중심으로

28 February 2026. pp. 7-17

PDF XML

Abstract

Reliable structural design of buried concrete pipes is critical for maintaining underground infrastructure subjected to external loads such as earth pressure and wheel loads. Current design guidelines recommend a minimum cover depth (MCD) of 1 m; however, this does not sufficiently account for diverse pipe diameters (0.25–1.5 m). In this study, earth pressure and wheel loads acting on buried pipes were measured through field experiments under 1 m MCD, and theoretical formulas were verified based on the field experiment results. Subsequently, the safety factor (FS) was evaluated according to pipe diameter and bedding conditions under the MCD. The analysis results indicated that the FS decreased as the pipe diameter increased and that structural stability improved substantially when the ratio of cover depth to pipe diameter (H/D) exceeded 2. In particular, the required FS of 1.1 was satisfied when H/D ≥ 2 for sand bedding and H/D ≥ 1 for concrete bedding. Furthermore, minimum bedding angles required to ensure stability under sand bedding conditions were proposed: ≥60° for pipe diameters ≤ 500 mm, ≥90° for pipe diameters ≤ 1,000 mm, and ≥120° for pipe diameters ≤ 1,500 mm. This study quantitatively established structural stability criteria for buried concrete pipes based on the field-measured earth pressure, MCD, and H/D ratio, providing a practical foundation for revising current design standards and improving field applications.

Keywords

Bedding condition

Buried concrete pipe

Minimum cover depth

Safety factor

Wheel load

지중 매설 콘크리트관의 신뢰성 있는 구조 설계는 지하 기반 시설을 유지하기 위한 필수조건으로, 토압 및 윤압과 같은 외부 하중을 고려하여 수행된다. 현재 국내외 설계 지침에서는 최소 토피고를 1m 확보하도록 제시하고 있으나, 이는 국내에서 사용되는 다양한 관 직경(0.25~1.5m)의 영향을 충분히 반영하지 못하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 먼저 현장실험을 통해 최소토피고 1m 조건에서 매립관에 작용하는 토압 및 윤압을 측정하였으며, 현장실험 결과를 바탕으로 이론식을 검증하였다. 다음으로, 최소 토피고 조건에서 관 직경 및 기초 조건에 따른 안전율을 평가하였다. 분석 결과, 관 직경이 증가할수록 안전율이 감소하였으며, H(토피고)/D(직경) 비율이 2 이상인 경우 안정성이 현저히 향상되는 것으로 나타났다. 특히, 모래기초의 경우 H/D ≥ 2에서, 콘크리트기초의 경우 H/D ≥ 1에서 안전율 1.1을 확보할 수 있었다. 또한 관 직경별로 안정성을 확보하기 위한 최소 받침각을 제시하였으며, 직경 500mm 이하에서는 60° 이상, 1,000mm 이하에서는 90° 이상, 1,500mm 이하에서는 120° 이상(모래기초 기준)이 적절한 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 현장 실측 토압을 기반으로 퇴소 토피고 조건과 H/D 비율에 따른 구조적 안정성 기준을 정량적으로 제시함으로써, 향후 설계 기준 개정 및 실무 적용을 위한 실질적 근거를 제공하였다.

References

Ban, H.K., Park, S.W., and Kim, Y.R. (2013), “Performance Evaluation of Buried Concrete Pile under Heavy Traffic Load”, J. of the Korean Geotechnical Society, Vol.29, No.12, pp.69-75, http://dx.doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2013.29.12.69.

10.7843/kgs.2013.29.12.69

Barenberg, M.E. (1988), “Correlation of Pipeline Damage with Ground Motions”, J. of geotechnical engineering, Vol.114, No.6, pp.706-711.

10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1988)114:6(706)

Cho, J.W., Choi, B.H., Cho, W.B., Kim, J.M., Hong, S.K., Jeong, S.Y., and Kim, J.H. (2013), “Stress-strain Characteristics of Gas Pipeline according to Burial Depth”, J. of Korean Institute of Gas, Vol.17, No.5, pp.51-57, http://dx.doi.org/10.7842/kigas.2013.17.5.51.

10.7842/kigas.2013.17.5.51

Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) (2024), LH Civil Engineering Design Guidelines, Korea Land and Housing Corporation, Jinju, Korea.

Korean Water and Wastewater Works Works Association (KWWA) (2020), Sewerage Design Guidelines, Seoul, Korea.

Lee, D.S., Sang, H.K., and Kim, K.Y. (2002), “Behavioral of Underground Flexible Pipes Subject to Vehicle Load”, J. of the Korean Geotechnical Society, Vol.18, No.4, pp.65-73.

Lee, D.S., Sang, H.K., Kim, K.Y., and Hong, S.Y. (2003), “Behavioral of Underground Flexible Pipe Subject to Vehicle Load (II) - based on Field Tests”, J. of the Korean Geotechnical Society, Vol.19, No.5, pp.49-58.

Marston, A., and Anderson, A.O. (1913), The Theory of Loads on Pipes in Ditches and Tests of Cement and Clay Drain tile and Sewer Pipe, Bulletin 31, Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanics Arts.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) (2017), Korean Construction Specification (KCS) 61 20 15, Republic of Korea.

Roh, H.S. (2001), “Characteristics of Developed Earth Pressure by Backfill Compaction”, J. of the Korean Geotechnical Society, Vol.17, No.6, pp.163-171.

Ryu, Y.S., Cho, H.M., and Kim, Y.B. (2017), “Evaluation of Structural behavior of Buried Pipes Considering Location of Surcharge Load Buried Depth”, J. of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation, Vol.17, No.2, pp.231-236, https://doi.org/10.9798/KOSHAM.2017.17.2.231.

10.9798/KOSHAM.2017.17.2.231

Spangler, M.G. (1941), The Structure Design of Flexible Pipe Culvert, Bulletin 153, Iowa Engineering Experiment Station.

Trautmann, C.H. and O'Rourke, T.D. (1985), “Lateral Force-displacement Response of Buried Pipe”, J. of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol.111, No.9, pp.1077-1092.

10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:9(1077)

Trautmann, C.H., O'Rourfce, T.D., and Kulhawy, F.H. (1985), “Uplift Force-displacement Response of Buried Pipe”, J. of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol.111, No.9, pp.1061-1076.

10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1985)111:9(1061)

Yoo, H.K., Park, E.S., and Kim, D.R. (2008), “A Study on the Deformation Behavior of the Underground Pipe under the External Load”, J. of the Korean GEO-environmental Society, Vol.9, No.6, pp.71-79.

Zarghamee, M.S. and Fok, K.L. (1990), “Analysis of Prestressed Concrete Pipe under Combined Loads”, J. of Structural Engineering, Vol.116, No.7, pp.2022-2039.

10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9445(1990)116:7(2022)

Information

Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
Volume : 42
No :1
Pages :7-17
Received Date : 2025-11-11
Revised Date : 2026-01-05
Accepted Date : 2026-01-09
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2026.42.1.7

Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society ISSN:1229-2427(Print) 2288-646X(Online) 한국지반공학회 논문집

All Issue