TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Web-Only Document 190: Structural Design of Culvert Joints explores the effect of longitudinal bending on joints in rigid (reinforced concrete) and flexible (corrugated steel and thermoplastic) culverts.

The report examines two joint types--those that release the longitudinal bending moments (denoted ‘moment-release joints’) like gasketted bell and spigot joints, and those that transfer them (denoted ‘moment-transfer joints’) such as band connections.