TR 50

Design of Rectangular
Structural Channels

California Design Regional Technical Team

 Some SCS history
The computer programs CCHAN, (TR-50) and CBASIN, (TR-54) were
obtained by the US Army Corps of Engineers from the Soil Conservation
Service, USDA. The original program was written by Mr. Edwing S. Alling,
Engineering Division , Hyattsville, MD.

This project was a task of the U- FRAME Basins and Channels Task Group of
the Computer-Aided Structural Engineering (CASE) Project.

Currently the CASE Project is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The goals of the CASE Project include:

- Better design/analysis of hydraulic structures / COE structures.
- Reduction in time required for design/analysis of hydraulic structures / COE structures
- Elimination of duplication of program efforts, o different learning curves for different
programs.
- Organized and cost effective approach for development of computer programs based
on design engineer input.
- Uniform application of design criteria and good documentation and software support.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
This program is suitable for use in the structural analysis of reinforced
concrete rectangular channels.
This program performs the concrete design based on the working stress
method for service hydraulic structures:
Compressive strength of concrete _____________ f'c = 4,000 psi
Allowable concrete stress ___________________ fc = 1,600 psi
Yield strength of steel _____________________ fy = 40,000 psi
Allowable steel stress ______________________ fs = 20,000 psi
Allowable Shear Stress _____________________ v = 70 psi
Modular ratio of steel to concrete ______________ n = 8

This program accepts as input the overall geometry, water elevations, and soil
parameters, with structural details as determined by the program. The user
cannot change these details.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

This program is adapted to four channel types:

Type T1F : The walls and the floor slab constitute a reinforced concrete
U-shaped rigid frame. The cantilever walls are integral with the floor:
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

This program is adapted to four channel types:

Type T3F : The walls are designed as reinforced concrete cantilever

retaining walls. The most advantageous toe length, X, is determined in the design.
The pavement slab between the retaining wall bases, is independent of the base
exept for any thrust imposed on it by the retaining wall bases.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

This program is adapted to four channel types:

Type T3FV: This is similar to type T3F except that the joints between the
pavement slab and the retaining wall bases are designed to transmit shear forces
and the slab is monolithic between these two shear joints. Thus in type T3FV the
pavement slab and retaining wall base deflect equally at the joints.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

This program is adapted to four channel types:

Type T1S: This is similar to type TF1 except that two reinforced concrete
struts are provided in each longitudinal span between transverse joints.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
Two load conditions are considered in the design of structural channels.
Parameter values should be selected so that these loading conditions reflect
extremes of probable conditions:
LOAD CONDITION NO. 1: In this loading the channel is empty. The backfill
is submerged to a height, HWl, above the top of the floor slab. The backfill is naturally
drained, i.e., moist, above HWl. Load condition No. 1 is meant to represent conditions
following a rapid lowering of the water surface in the channel, but before the water
table in the backfill has lowered significantly from a high level. Thus this loading
should maximize: lateral soil load, lateral water load, and uplift. The lateral pressure
ratio, Ko 1, should be taken as high as can reasonably be expected.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
Load condition No. 2 : In this loading the channel is full of water
To the top of the wall and the backfill is submerged to a height, HW2, above the top
of the floor slab. Load condition No. 2 is meant to represent conditions following a
rapid raising of the water surface in the channel, but
before the water table in the backfill has raised significantly from
a low level. Thus this loading should minimize lateral soil load,
lateral external water load, and uplift. The lateral pressure ratio, Ko 2, should be
taken as low as can reasonably be expected.
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
Design Parameters:

Channel Type : 0 - preliminary design 1 - T1F 2 -T3F 3 -T3FV 4 - T1S

B Channel Width
HT Wall Height
GMOIST Moist Unit weight backfill
GSAT Saturated Unit weight backfill
Ko Lateral earth ratio LC1
Ko Lateral earth ratio LC2
FLOATR Factor of Safety flotation
JOINTS longitudinal span between transverse joints
CFSC Soil to concrete friction
CFSS Soil to soil friction
KPASS Passive Earth pressure
HW1 Water height from the invert, load condition 1
HW2 Water height from the invert, load condition 2
HWP Uplift head on slab
MFOUND Modulus of the foundation
A value MFOUND = 1 essentially produces a design corresponding to rigid body mechanics
ABP Allowable Bearing Pressure
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

Foundation Analysis and Design by Bowles, 5th edition recommends

approximate values for subgrade reaction modulus:

kips/ft3
30 to 100
60 to 500
400 to 800
200 to 500
150 to 300

From 75 to 300 kips/ft3

Default value in TR-50 - 100,000 Lb/ft3

 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
INPUT
First Header
Second Header
B H H Type Default 1 Default 2 Default 3 Default 4

backfill (0,1, 2, 3 or 4) 1 1 1 1

HW1 HW2 HWP Gmoist Gsat Ko 1 Ko 2 FLOART

MAXFTG Joints MFOUND

CFSC CFSS KPSS

fc COESF fs ABP TMIN

(ratio Fc
to Fc)
Y
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OUTPUT
TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)

0.56 in2
3 ft

0.29 in2 1.44 in2

1.81 in2 0 ft
20ft

1.27 in2
TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
 TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)
Surcharge and Seismic loads: Surcharge or seismic loads are not included in
the software as a specific loading. The effects of this loads can be duplicated to
some extent by arbitrarily increasing lateral pressure ratios, soil unit weights, or
backfill height.
i.e. First, static loads are modeled, and then higher lateral pressure ratios are
input to match the total moment at the base of the wall produced by these load
combinations.
2
g

2
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g

g
g
g
TR- 50 , CCHAN (X0097)