DESIGN OF MANHOLE

Introduction:
The following calculations pertain to analysis and design of Manhole. The manhole is designed for both
Strength Limit Case and Service Limit Case. The manhole is checked for lateral earth pressure and
vertical earth pressure on walls and slab. Manhole is provided for Waste Water Treatment, thus no
need to consider the water pressure on walls of manholes. A three dimensional (3D) plane model is
used to analyse the model in Staad.Pro software. The model is assumed to be equilibrium. The load
coming from the top slab, manhole necks and walls load will be resisted by the bottom slab through
upward pressure from soil. Thus, in model the stiffness of the bottom slab is considered and not the
self weight. Support conditions are provided at the bottom of walls on four sides.

The manhole will be casted on site, is considered for flexure and shear design. The top slab, bottom
slab, side walls are modeled as plate element .i.e. two way action.

Ground Level

200 200
1850

700
2600 100
300

6450
4000

3500

300

300 3500 300

4100

Fig. 1 Cross Section of Manhole

 300 850 300

300
300
2650

300

1800

1500

300 300

300 3500 300

Fig. 2 Plan of Manhole

Design Data and Material Properties:
The following are the design data and material properties required for
Manhole:
Clear Cell Height of Manhole = 4000 mm
Clear Cell Width of Manhole = 3500 mm
Depth of Back fill = 1850 mm
Top Slab Thickness of Manhole = 300 mm
Bottom Slab Thickness of Manhole = 300 mm
Exterior Wall Thickness of Manhole = 300 mm
Exterior Wall Thickness of Manhole Neck = 200 mm
Opening of Manhole Neck = 700 mm
Overall Height of Manhole Depth = 6450 mm
Yield strength of
Concrete Characteristics:
reinforcement steel
Compressive strength of concrete at 28 days
Modulus of Elasticity of
Deck slab Elastic Modulus (E c ) = 33000K 1 w c 1.5 (f' c steel
) 0.5

for unit weight (25 kN/m 3 )

Poisson’s ratio of concrete

Density of Concrete

Reinforcing Steel Characteristics:

 = 0.2
= 25 kN/m3
fc' = 4.35ksi
fc' = 30N/mm2
= 3800.24ksi fy = 420N/mm2
K
1 = 1 E
s = 200000N/mm2
wc = 0.145kcf
= 26201.7N/mm2
Design Method (Limit State):
Requirements of LRFD method:
Q = Ση i γ i Q i ≤ φR n = R r ………. Eq. 1.3.2.1 - 1
where
ηi = Load Modifier
γi = Load Factor
Force effect: Moment, Shear, Stress range or Deformation caused by applied
Qi = loads
Q =Total Factored Force effect
φ =Resistance Factor
Nominal Resistance: Resistance of a component to Force
Rn = effects
Rr = Factored Resistance = φRn

Strength I Service I
Descriptions Notation
Load Factors Load Factors
Dead Load - Components DC 1.25 0.9 1
Vertical Earth Pressure EV 1.3 0.9 1
Horizontal Earth Pressure EH 1.35 0.9 1
Live Load Surcharge LS 1.75 1.35 1

Load Combination:
Ultimate Load Case 1-
1.25*DC + 1.3*EV + 1.35*EH +1.75*LS

Ultimate Load Case 2-

0.9*DC + 0.9*EV + 0.9*EH + 1.35*LS

Service Load Case 3-

1*DC + 1*EV + 1*EH + 1*L
Reinforced Concrete Cast-in-Place Box Structures
Flexure = 0.9
Shear = 0.85

Reinforced Concrete Precast Box Structures

Flexure = 1
Shear = 0.9

Structural Analysis
Calcualtion of Dead Load (DC)
The appropriate self-weight is applied in the model in Staad Software. The load considered for dead
load is self-weight due to top slab, manhole neck walls, vertical side walls. The density of concrete
considered is 25 kN/m3. The bottom slab weight is not applied in the model because its load is
assumed to be directly resisted by the soil.

At the time of designing the bottom slab of manhole, the self weight act in downward direction and the
soil pressure acts in upward directions, which helps to reduce the bending moment and shear in the
slab.

Calcualtion of Lateral Earth Pressure (EH)

As per the Clause 3.11.5.1 given in AASHTO LRFD, the lateral earth pressure shall be assumed to be
linearly proportional to the depth of earth and taken as given below:
p=ko*γ*z ………. Eq. 3.11.5.1. - 1
where,
p =Lateral earth pressure
γ =Unit weight of soil
z =Depth below the surface of earth
k
o = Earth pressure coefficient at rest
 Rankine Earth Pressure Coefficients (As per Geotechnical Investigation Report)

Soil horizontal earth load (magnitude at bottom of wall). It is obvious that vertical wall shall be act as one
way slab.
γ = 18 kN/m3
z = 6.45 m
ko = 0.5

6.45 m 17.04 17.04 kN/m

58.05 kN/m 58.05 kN/m

 −4 m3
1.20626 x 10
secs

p = 0.5 * 18 * 6.45
= 58.05 kN/m = 58.05 kN/m2

Calcualtion of Vertical Earth Pressure (EV)

The weight of fill on top of the manhole produces vertical earth pressure ( EV ). The fill height is
measured from the top surface of the top slab to the top of the pavement or fill. The unit weight of soil
fill is 18kN/m3.

As per the Clause 12.11.2.2 given in AASHTO LRFD, the interaction factor for embankment conditions
is dependent on the height of fill ( H ) and the outside width of the manhole (B c):
F e = 1 + 0.20*H/B c ………. Eq. 12.11.2.2.1. - 2

γ = 18 kN/m3 Unit Weight of Soil

H = 1.85 m depth of backfill above top edge of top
B
c = 4.1 m slab span of Manhole
Fe = 1.09
As per the Clause 12.11.2.2 given in AASHTO LRFD, the interaction factor shall not exceed 1.15 for
installations with compacted fill along the sides of box sections or 1.40 for installations with
uncompacted fill along the sides of the box sections.
Thus,
F
e = 1.09
Now, the total unfactored earth load will be given by below equation:
W e = F e * γ *B c *H ………. Eq. 12.11.2.2.1. - 1

W
e = 36.31 kN/m = 36.31 kN/m2
Calcualtion of Live Load Surcharge (LS)
a live surcharge shall be applied where vehicular load is expected to act on the surface of the backfill
within a distance equal to one-half of wall height behind the back face of wall. A trapezoidal pressure
distribution is assumed with the maximum pressure p,max at the top of manhole and the minimum
pressure p,min at the bottom of manhole. The live load surcharge is only to be applied on the exterior
walls of manholes. For simplication purpose, the live load surchage shall be applied equal and
opposite reactions to other walls.

As per the Clause 3.11.6.4 AASHTO LRFD, the increase in horizontal pressure due to live load
surcharge may be estimated as:
p = k * γ s *h eq ………. Eq. 3.11.6.4. - 1

For calculating p,min, heq is determine based on the distance from the top of the top slab to the top of
pavement or fill h1. For calculating p.max, heq is determined based on the distance from the bottom of the
bottom slab to top of pavement or fill h2.

The height for the live load surcharge calculation at the top of the manhole is the distance from the top
surface of the top slab to the top of the pavement or fill.
The height
is:
h1 = 1.85 m

The equivalent fill height, h eq is dependent on the depth of fill and can be found using AASHTO Table
3.11.6.4-1.

By interpolation, the equivalent height for a fill depth of 2.1 m is:

h eq.1 = 1.154 m As per Table 3.11.6.4-1

The corresponding lateral live load surcharge on the top of manhole is given as:
ko = 0.5
γ = 18 kN/m3
h
eq.1 = 1.154 m

W
sltop = 10.386 kN/m = 10.386 kN/m2
The height for the live load surcharge calculation at the bottom of the manhole is the distance from the
bottom surface of the bottom slab to the top of the pavement or fill.
The height
is:
H = 6.45 m

By interpolation, the equivalent height for a fill depth of 2.1 m is:

As per Table 3.11.6.4-
h
eq.1 = 0.6096 m 1
The corresponding lateral live load surcharge on the bottom of manhole is given as:
ko = 0.5
γ = 18 kN/m3
h
eq.1 = 0.6096 m

W
sltop = 5.486 kN/m = 5.486 kN/m2

13.716 kN/m 13.716 kN/m

10.386 kN/m 10.386 kN/m

6.45 m

5.4864 kN/m 5.4864 kN/m