ASTM A796/A796M-21 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM A796/A796M-21 — Standard Practice for Structural Design of Corrugated Steel Pipe, Pipe‑Arches, and Arches for Storm and Sanitary Sewers and Other Buried Applications. This practice provides methods, criteria, and design guidance for the structural design of corrugated and structural‑plate steel pipe and pipe‑arch shapes used in buried storm, sanitary, and other drainage applications, including recommendations for loads, design checks, and soil–structure interaction considerations.

Abstract

This practice covers structural design procedures for corrugated steel pipe and pipe‑arches (including ribbed, composite ribbed, closed‑rib, helical lockseam, and structural‑plate fabrication) and underpasses used as storm sewers, sanitary sewers, and other buried applications. It describes design loads (earth, live, impact), design methods (allowable stress and LRFD/load and resistance design), checks for wall, buckling and seam strength, and the role of soil–structure interaction. Minimum cover considerations, shipment/handling rigidity, and compatibility with related installation practices are addressed.

General information

• Status: Active standard (current designation A796/A796M-21).
• Publication date: March 1, 2021.
• Publisher: ASTM International.
• ICS / categories: 23.040.10 (Iron and steel pipes; drainage/sewer pipe design and fabrication).
• Edition / version: A796/A796M-21 (inch‑pound version A796 and SI version A796M).
• Number of pages: 25 pages.

Scope

The practice applies to the structural design of corrugated steel pipe and pipe‑arches (annular or helical fabrication), ribbed and composite ribbed pipe, ribbed pipe with metallic‑coated inserts, closed‑rib and composite corrugated pipe, and steel structural plate pipe, pipe‑arches, arches and underpasses installed in trenches or embankments and subjected to earth and live loads. The standard covers design methods, unit systems (inch‑pound and SI), criteria for wall, buckling and seam strength, soil–structure interaction, and references related installation practices. Deep corrugated plate design is included only for providing design properties; deep corrugated structural design is not supported by this practice.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and classification of corrugated and structural plate steel pipe types and fabrication methods (helical lockseam, annular, riveted/spot‑welded, bolted structural plate).
• Design loads: earth load, live load, and impact load represented as periphery pressures acting on the pipe.
• Design methodologies: allowable stress (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) methods presented for structural checks.
• Strength checks: wall strength, buckling strength, and seam/joint strength requirements and test bases.
• Soil–structure interaction: emphasis on the composite action of the steel ring and surrounding soil envelope, including soil stiffness effects on performance.
• Thrust and joint function checks: three criteria to evaluate thrust in the pipe wall considering the joint action of pipe and soil envelope.
• Installation compatibility: references and applicability with installation practices (e.g., A798/A798M and A807/A807M) and minimum cover considerations for roads and pavements.
• Units and tolerances: separate inch‑pound (A796) and SI (A796M) provisions; values in each system are to be used independently when applicable.

Typical use and users

Primary users are civil and geotechnical engineers, drainage and infrastructure designers, municipal/public works specifiers, manufacturers of corrugated and structural‑plate steel pipe, contractors and installers, and testing laboratories. The practice is used to prepare structural designs, to evaluate pipe selection for specific cover and loading conditions, and to support procurement specifications and product development.

Related standards

Commonly referenced and related ASTM practices and specifications include A798/A798M (installation of factory‑made corrugated steel pipe), A807/A807M (installation of corrugated steel structural plate pipe), A760/A760M and A762/A762M (specifications for metallic‑coated and polymer‑precoated corrugated steel pipe), A1108 (seam strength/ultimate strength test methods used for design), and other A05 committee documents addressing coatings, fasteners and structural‑plate fabrication. Designers also coordinate with relevant local design codes and AASHTO or project‑specific loading requirements where applicable.

Keywords

corrugated steel pipe; pipe‑arch; structural plate; buried pipe design; soil–structure interaction; LRFD; allowable stress design; seam strength; buckling; earth load; live load; storm sewer; sanitary sewer.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM A796/A796M‑21 is a Standard Practice that provides structural design methods and criteria for corrugated steel pipe, pipe‑arches, structural plate pipe, arches and underpasses used in storm, sanitary and other buried applications.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers types and fabrication of corrugated and structural‑plate steel pipe, the definition of design loads (earth, live, impact), design methods (allowable stress and LRFD), checks for wall, buckling and seam strength, soil–structure interaction considerations, minimum cover guidance, and compatibility with installation practices.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Civil and geotechnical engineers, water resources and drainage designers, public works agencies, pipe manufacturers, contractors, and testing labs involved in the specification, design, manufacture, testing and installation of corrugated steel pipe systems.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The published edition is A796/A796M‑21 (published March 1, 2021) and is the active designation. Users should note that standards are periodically reviewed; a work item to revise A796/A796M was initiated in 2026, so users specifying the standard should confirm there is no later approved revision at the time of procurement or design.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — A796/A796M sits within a family of ASTM A05 documents addressing corrugated and structural steel pipe and installation practices. It is commonly used together with installation practices and material specifications such as A798/A798M, A807/A807M, A760/A760M and A762/A762M.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: corrugated steel pipe, pipe‑arch, structural plate, soil–structure interaction, LRFD, seam strength, buckling, buried pipe design, storm sewer, sanitary sewer.