Performance Analysis of Multiple Steel Corrugated Pipe Arch Culvert under Construction and Periodic Vehicle Load

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

1. First-class highway vehicle standard load value

In road traffic, there are many vehicle axle configurations. The article shows vehicles with two axles close to each other. Vehicles and trailers with three axles close together are popular. In this case, the local pressure on the culvert will be greater.

2. Steel Corrugated Pipe Structure

Quantities measuring effort (i.e. the danger of reaching the critical state) may be, for example: maximum. normal stress, elongation, shear stress, etc.; the concept of reduced stress σred. is introduced, i.e. such stress in the state of uniaxial stretching at which the value constituting the criterion for reaching the critical state. (e.g. shear strain energy) reaches the same value as in a specific, complex state of stress. Critical condition occurs if the reduced stresses σred. are greater than the allowable stresses kr (depending on the yield point and the adopted safety factor). Strength calculations boil down to checking the strength condition σred ≤ kr. What hypothesis was adopted for the assessment and what safety factors. In the article, the principal stresses are very small, but this is not a sufficient condition for evaluation. Has a buckling analysis been performed?

Author Response

Respected Reviewers,

 

We, the authors, have revised the manuscript in the light of your comments. We would like to thank you for your valuable suggestions and comments.

 

Best regards,

The Authors

Reviewer 1

1. First-class highway vehicle standard load value

In road traffic, there are many vehicle axle configurations. The article shows vehicles with two axles close to each other. Vehicles and trailers with three axles close together are popular. In this case, the local pressure on the culvert will be greater.

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The focus of this study is to analysis the influence of the dynamic periodic loads on the arch culvert. And the engineering case is first-class highways and urban roads. Hence, the values and type of vehicle load were selected according to the specification of the Chines standard JTGB01-2014 (Technical standards for highway engineering). The authors agree that vehicles and trailers with three axles close together will have a more pronounced effect on the culvert. This will be considered in further research.

 

2. Steel Corrugated Pipe Structure

Quantities measuring effort (i.e. the danger of reaching the critical state) may be, for example: maximum. normal stress, elongation, shear stress, etc.; the concept of reduced stress σred. is introduced, i.e. such stress in the state of uniaxial stretching at which the value constituting the criterion for reaching the critical state. (e.g. shear strain energy) reaches the same value as in a specific, complex state of stress. Critical condition occurs if the reduced stresses σred. are greater than the allowable stresses kr (depending on the yield point and the adopted safety factor). Strength calculations boil down to checking the strength condition σred ≤ kr. What hypothesis was adopted for the assessment and what safety factors. In the article, the principal stresses are very small, but this is not a sufficient condition for evaluation. Has a buckling analysis been performed?

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The analysis of this study is based on the case of Tongji Road west extension project. This background has been introduced in “2. Project Background”. Hence, this study belongs to a case study based on the design scheme of engineering project. This study is mainly to prove the correctness of the design scheme under the normal standard. The result of the stress and deformation involved are relatively small. The rationality of this design scheme can be explained. The structural stress is very small and far from reaching the set yield strength, so the buckling analysis of the case is not carried out. And it can be known that the structure is always in a safe state. On the other side, the rules of stress and deformation under different working conditions are discussed, and their sensitivity is analyzed to obtain the most unfavorable position and unfavorable working conditions. The study could provide some reference for the construction and design. The authors will conduct safety evaluation under unnormal condition such as earthquakes, in the subsequent studies.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

This study utilized numerical simulations to analyze the safety and structural behavior of multiple steel corrugated pipe arch culverts during construction and under vehicle loads. Findings indicated that the most significant soil settlement occurs at the junction of different arch culverts, with key stress points identified at the vault and arch waist, which require careful design consideration. Despite noticeable deformations at the arch's crown, the arch’s waist presented the highest risk for structural damage. The manuscript is well-constructed, though there are a few minor errors that need addressing:

1.      There's a typographical error in Line 12: “project” appears to be misspelled.

2.      In Table 1, the reference “See Figure 1 for parameter meanings” should be corrected to “See Figure 3.”

3.      For Lines 281-284, please confirm if the intended unit is "mm."

 

4.      The simulation and model development heavily rely on numerous assumptions. It's crucial to align these simulations with actual field data in subsequent studies to enhance the model's accuracy and relevance.

Author Response

Respected Reviewers,

 

We, the authors, have revised the manuscript in the light of your comments. We would like to thank you for your valuable suggestions and comments.

 

Best regards,

The Authors

Reviewer 2

This study utilized numerical simulations to analyze the safety and structural behavior of multiple steel corrugated pipe arch culverts during construction and under vehicle loads. Findings indicated that the most significant soil settlement occurs at the junction of different arch culverts, with key stress points identified at the vault and arch waist, which require careful design consideration. Despite noticeable deformations at the arch's crown, the arch’s waist presented the highest risk for structural damage. The manuscript is well-constructed, though there are a few minor errors that need addressing:

1. There's a typographical error in Line 12: “project” appears to be misspelled.

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The authors have revised the “projec” to “project” in the revised manuscript.

 

Please kindly see Line 12 in the revised manuscript.

 

2. In Table 1, the reference “See Figure 1 for parameter meanings” should be corrected to “See Figure 3.”

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The authors have revised the “See Figure 1” to “See Figure 3” in the revised manuscript.

 

Please kindly see Table 1 in the revised manuscript.

 

3. For Lines 281-284, please confirm if the intended unit is "mm."

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The authors have completed confirmation, the unit is determined to be ' m '.

 

4. The simulation and model development heavily rely on numerous assumptions. It's crucial to align these simulations with actual field data in subsequent studies to enhance the model's accuracy and relevance.

Answer: Many thanks for the reviewer’s comment.

The authors will try to collect the actual field data and conduct further research by aligning these simulations with field data in subsequent studies.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx