Installing Corrugated Aluminum Structural Plate Pipe for Culverts and Sewers

B789/B789M: Standard Practice for Installing Corrugated Aluminum Structural Plate Pipe for Culverts and Sewers

When it comes to critical infrastructure like culverts and sewers, proper installation is paramount to ensuring long-term performance and structural integrity. For engineers and construction professionals working with corrugated aluminum structural plate pipe, ASTM B789/B789M provides an authoritative guide to achieving these goals. This essential standard practice ensures that these robust drainage structures are installed correctly, maximizing their service life and preventing costly failures.

What is B789/B789M?

ASTM B789/B789M is a comprehensive standard practice developed by ASTM International. It outlines the procedures, soil requirements, and soil placement techniques necessary for the correct installation of corrugated aluminum structural plate pipe used in culvert and sewer applications. Its primary purpose is to guide engineers and contractors in the field to ensure these factory-fabricated, site-assembled structures perform as designed, functioning as flexible rings that interact with the surrounding compacted soil.

Scope & Purpose

This standard governs the installation of corrugated aluminum structural plate pipes and pipe-arches, whether they are installed in trenches or embankments. It details the requirements for site preparation, foundation support, bedding, and the placement and compaction of backfill materials. Crucially, it applies to structures designed in accordance with ASTM B790/B790M and focuses solely on the installation process after the structural plates have been fabricated and delivered to the site. It does not cover the design or fabrication of the plates themselves.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Civil Engineers, Construction Managers, Site Engineers, Geotechnical Engineers, and Project Managers involved in infrastructure development.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Civil Engineering, Municipal Services, Transportation, and Utilities.
• • Compliance nature: While generally considered a recommended practice, compliance is often mandated by project specifications, local ordinances, and contractual agreements, making it effectively required for approved installations.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically overseen by project engineers, third-party inspectors, and municipal or governmental regulatory bodies during construction and project closeout.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires that the foundation soil beneath the structure provides uniform support, necessitating the excavation and replacement of any rock or soft materials that could compromise stability.
• • Professionals must ensure that the surrounding soil acts as an integral part of the structural system, emphasizing the need for acceptable backfill materials and proper compaction techniques.
• • Key provisions include detailed guidance on trench excavation, ensuring sufficient working space while considering the load-bearing capacity of adjacent undisturbed soil.
• • The standard mandates that bedding material be carefully prepared to the correct grade and alignment, with special attention paid to shaping the bedding for structures with small-radius corner plates adjacent to large-radius inverts.
• • It requires rigorous field verification of soil density and compaction to ensure it meets project-specific requirements, often referencing standard ASTM test methods for soil properties.

Related Standards & References

ASTM B789/B789M works in conjunction with several other ASTM standards to provide a comprehensive framework for corrugated aluminum structural plate pipe projects. These include:

• • ASTM B746/B746M: Specification for Corrugated Aluminum Alloy Structural Plate for Field-Bol