Marston-Spangler Load Analysis

Theory for Sewer Sanitary System

Home/ Building Technology and Construction Guide / Marston-Spangler Load Analysis Theory for
Sewer Sanitary System

Marston-Spangler theory for analysis of loads on sewer sanitary

system pipe is established by Marston and it is applicable for most
of the loading conditions that may encountered in site.

Not only does this analysis approach based on the theory but also
on experiments, and it is considered to be substantially reliable but
conservative.

Marston-Spangler theory for analysis of loads on sewer sanitary

pipe is explored in this article.

Marston-Spangler Load Analysis Theory for Sewer

Sanitary System
Following topics regarding load analysis for sewer sanitary system is
discussed:

 Marston-Spangler theory and assumptions

 Types of loading conditions

Marston-Spangler Load Analysis Theory and

Assumptions
The theory states that the load on the installed sewer sanitary pipe
is equal to the weight of soil prism, which is termed as interior
prism, on the pipe minus or plus the frictional shearing force
transferred to the soil over the pipe by the trench wall side or
exterior soil prisms on either side of interior prism.

The direction and magnitude of the frictional force is dependent on

the settlement of the prism over the pipe in relation to the
neighboring soil prisms.
Assumptions considered in this theory is that, the computed load
equal to the load developed when maximum settlement is realized
and Rankine theory is used to calculate lateral pressure which
generates shearing force between the soil prism over the pipe and
adjacent soil prisms.

Finally, the general form of the equation of Marston-Spangler load

analysis theory can be seen below:

W=CwB2 ->Equation-1
Where:
W: vertical load per unit length acting on sewer pipe due to gravity
soil loads
C: dimensionless coefficient that combine the influence of the height
of fill to trench width ratio, shearing force between interior prism
and adjacent prisms and the direction and magnitude of interior
prism settlement in relation to the adjacent prisms for embankment
conditions.
w: soil unit weight
B: sanitary sewer trench breadth
Types of Loading Conditions on Sewer Sanitary
System
Even though all factors required for the analysis of all types of
sewer sanitary pipe placement conditions are included in the
general form of the equation of Marston-Spangler theory, it is more
suitable to categorize the placement conditions which may be
encountered in the field, derive specific form of equations and
generate graphs and tables for each type of installation condition.

Trench, Negative-projecting embankment, Positive-projecting

embankment and induced trench condition, which is a specific
installation condition, are types of sewer sanitary pipe placement
methods considered while Marston-Spangler loads analysis is
conducted. These are explained in the following sections separately:

Trench Installation Condition for Sewer Pipes

Trench condition is the case where the sanitary sewer pipe is placed
in nearly narrow width trench excavated in undisturbed soil and
covered with backfill materials to the original ground level as shown
in Figure-1.

Fig.1: Loads Imposed on Sewer Pipes in Trench Condition

In the trench installation method, the imposed load consists of two
components which includes the load of the prism soil directly above
the pipe and the shearing forces generated due to relative
settlement of soil prism above the pipe and adjacent prisms.

The direction of the shearing force created due to the relative

settlement of interior prism in relation to the adjacent undisturbed
soil is upward and consequently decrease the load of the prism to a
certain degree. As a result, the force imposed on the pipe would be
equal to the soil prism load minus shearing force.

The weight of the prism is computed according to the following formula:

 Wc=CdwBd2 -> Equation-2
Where:

Wc: soil prism load

w: backfill material density
Bd: trench width at the top of the pipe
Cd: is computed according to the following equation:

Where:
: friction coefficient between interior prism and adjacent
undisturbed soil

H: height of backfill material above the pipe

k: Rankine’s ratio of active lateral unit pressure to vertical unit
pressure, and it can be computed using the following expression:

Where:
: coefficient of internal friction of backfill material and it is always
equal or greater than .

It should be known that equation-2 provides total load imposed on

the sanitary sewer pipe. If the pipe is rigid, then it will support all
the load calculate using equation-2.

However, if the pipe is flexible and soil on both sides of the pipe is
compacted to an extent that experience deformation under vertical
load, that is smaller than the load under which the pipe itself is
deformed, then backfill material on either side of the pipe are
anticipated to support a portion of the vertical load.

So, the equation used to estimate loads on the pipe would be as

follow:
 Wc=Cd wBc Bd -> Equation-5
Where the Bc is the outside width of the pipe.
Finally, it is recommended to estimate the transition width of the
trench because if the trench width is wider than the transition width
for any reason, then it may be required to employ sanitary sewer
pipe with greater strength.

The transition width is the trench width at which the maximum

vertical load is realized and the extra increase of trench width would
not influence the load.
Positive Projecting Embankment Condition for Sewer Pipes
In the case of positive projecting embankment condition, the pipe is
covered above the original ground surface or the trench width is so
large that the influence of trench wall friction does not exist and the
top of the pipe is above the original ground surface.

The load exerted on sanitary sewer pipe in positive projecting

embankment condition is equal to the weight of soil prism above
the pipe plus or minus the shearing force extended from the sewer
pipe side upward into the embankment.

When adequate embankment height is available, then it is likely

that shearing force would not reach the top of the embankment but
rather ends at some distance above the top of the pipe. The location
at which shearing force ends is termed as plane of equal settlement
as shown in Figure-2.

Moreover, Figure-2 illustrates different types of settlements which

involves settlement of natural ground adjacent to the pipe (sg),
sewer pipe deflection (dc), settlement at the bottom of the pipe (sf),
and compression of soil columns (sm) of height (pBc) that affect the
load on the positive projecting sewer pipe.
Furthermore, if the sanitary sewer pipe is pile supported in organic
soil, it would be necessary to take down drag loads into
consideration and the load imposed on the pipe is larger than that
of interior prism over the pipe.
Fig.2: Settlement which affects the Load Imposed on Positive Projecting Sanitary
Sewer Pipe
Regarding fill loads which the pipe is subjected to in positive
projecting embankment condition, it may be estimated using the
following expression:

Wc=Cc wBc2 ->Equation 6

Where:
Wc: load supported by sewer sanitary pipe
w: backfill material density
Bc: outside width of the pipe
Cc: can be estimated using one of the following expressions:
If plane of equal settlement ends at a distance above the pipe, the
means H>He as can be observed in Figure-2, then the following
formula is used to compute (Cc)

Otherwise, the equation provided below should be applied to

estimate (Cc):

To compute (He) in equation-7, the relationship between the

deflection of the sewer sanitary pipe and relative settlement
between interior soil prism and neighboring soil prisms should be
considered. This relationship is called settlement ratio and may be
evaluated as follow:

Settlement ration design values have been established and advised

to employ. These values can be found in Table-1.

Table-1: Design Value for Settlement Ratio

Sanitary sewer pipe type Soil condition Settlement ratio, rsd

Rigid Rock or unyielding foundation +1

Rigid Ordinary foundation +0.5 to +0.8

Rigid Yielding foundation 0 to +0.5

Rigid Negative projecting installation -0.3 to +0.5

Poorly compacted fills on either

Flexible -0.4 to 0
side of pipe

Flexible Well compacted fill on either side 0

 of the pipe

The fill load exerted on the positive projecting pipe is affected by

the multiplication of settlement ratio (rsd) times projection ratio (p).
The projection ratio is equal to the vertical distance that the
sanitary sewer pipe projects above the original ground surface
divided by outside vertical height of the pipe (Bc‘).
The value of (Cc) can be estimated for different values [(H/Bc) rsd] and
projection ratio (p) using Figure-3. It can be noticed that curved
lines represent complete trench condition and projection condition
whereas straight lines represent incomplete trench condition and
projection condition.
If the plane of equal settlement is located above the embankment,
then the installation is termed as complete trench condition or
complete projection condition according to the direction of the
shearing force.

However, If the plane of equal settlement is within embankment as

shown in Figure-2, then the installation is incomplete trench
condition or incomplete projection condition.
 Fig.3: Determination of Cc Coefficient for Positive Projecting Sewer Pipes
Negative Projecting Embankment Condition for Sewer Pipes
In the case of negative embankment condition, the pipe is placed in
a trench which is narrow compared with pipe size and trench depth.
In this installation condition, the top of the pipe is below the original
ground surface and the fill material over the pipe exceeds the
original ground level surface as shown in Figure-4.
 Fig.4: Load on Negative Projection Sewer Pipes and Different Types of
Settlement
When interior soil prism over the pipe experiences settlement, an
upward shearing force is created which decrease the load imposed
on the pipe. As the backfill material compressibility and negative
projection ratio increases, the interior soil prism settlement
increases.

That is why materials such as sawdust and other material with

similar property are frequently added to the soil directly above the
sanitary sewer pipe to increase interior prism settlement.

The load of fill material on the negative projecting sewer pipe is

calculated using the following formula:
 Wc=Cn wBd2 -> Equation-10
When the material inside sub-trench is compacted adequately, then
equation-10 would be expressed as follow:

Wc=Cn wBd Bd‘ -> Equation-11

Where:
Wc: load on the pipe
w: backfill material density
Bd: trench breadth
Bd‘: average of trench width and outside diameter of the pipe
Cn: can be estimated using one of the following expressions:
If H>He as shown in Figure-4, then the following formula is used to
compute (Cn)

Otherwise, the equation provided below should be applied to

estimate (Cn):

Similar to the positive projecting condition, it is required to specify

the relationship between pipe deflection and relative settlement
between interior prism and exterior prisms so as to evaluate (He).
the relationship that is called settlement ratio is expressed as
follow:

Where:
sd: the compression within the fill for the height of (p’Bd), where p’
negative projection ratio which is equal to the vertical distance from
the top of the pipe to the original ground surface at the time of
installation divided by trench width.
If the natural ground surface is not levelled, then it is required to
consider average vertical distance from the top of sanitary sewer
pipe to the both side of the trench

Finally, table-1 provides recommended design values for settlement

ratio for negative projecting condition. The value of (Cn) can be
estimated for different values (rsd) and projection ratio (p) value of
0.5, 1. 1.5, and 2. Values falling between the provided projection
ratio (p) should be found by interpolation.

Fig.5: Cn values for Negative Projecting Condition Sewer Pipes

Induced Trench Condition for Sewer Pipes
As can be noticed from the Figure-5, induced trench sewer pipe is
initially placed as positive projecting sewer pipe. After that, an
embankment, which is extended to a certain height above the
ground surface is constructed over the pipe and properly
compacted.

Then, a trench is dug over the sewer pipe as shown in Figure-5, and
filled with compressible material. Finally. The remaining part of the
embankment is completed.

The load on induced trench sewer pipe is estimated as follows:

Wc=Cn wBc2 -> Equation-15

Where:
Bc: is the width of infill which is the same as the width of the pipe
Cn: the same procedure used in the negative projecting condition is
employed to estimate this coefficient.

Fig.6: Induced Trench Sewer Pipe

Read More:
 How to Set Up Sewer Sanitary System Layout?
Drains and Sewers Terms Definitions
Direct Design of Concrete Pipes for Sewer Sanitary
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