Aluminum Sheet Thickness (Nominal) Table 3 AASHTO M 197 Specified Culvert Sheet Thickness (Nominal) Table 4 AASHTO M 218 0.060 inches {1.5 mm} 0.064 inches {1.6 mm} 0.075 inches {1.9 mm} 0.079 inches {2.0 mm} 0.105 inches {2.7 mm} 0.109 inches {2.8 mm} 0.135 inches {3.4 mm} 0.138 inches {3.5 mm} 0.164 inches {4.2 mm} 0.168 inches {4.3 mm} NOTE: Minimum acceptable aluminum sheet thickness 0.060 inches {1.5 mm}. Tolerances for aluminum sheet thickness noted in Table 1 AASHTO M 197 shall apply.
b.Fabrication. All pipe furnished under this Article shall be fabricated with circumferential corrugations and a riveted lap joint or with helical corrugations and a continuous lock seam or welded seam extending from end to end of each length of pipe provided the seams and ends of the pipe comply with the additional requirements of paragraph 2 of Subarticle 850.02(b).
c.Bituminous Coating and Paved Invert. Bituminous coatings and paved inverts shall comply with the requirements of Subarticle 850.02(c).
d.Connecting Bands. The width and design of connection bands shall be as noted in AASHTO M 196 with the pitch and depth of corrugations, etc. consistent with the type corrugations of the pipe being used. Bituminous coating for use with bituminous coated pipe and pipe arches shall conform to the appropriate requirements of AASHTO M 190.
e.Handling and Storage. Handling and storage shall meet the requirements of Subarticle 850.02(f). SIDE DRAIN PIPE
851.01 Concrete Pipe.
a.General. Concrete pipe shall be reinforced circular or reinforced arch concrete pipe except that pipe 24 inches {600 mm} or less in diameter, and equivalent size arch pipe, may be plain concrete provided the pipe meets all other requirements of this Article.
b.Special Design. When so permitted by the plans or in the proposal, pipe of designs other than those shown in the standard plans may be permitted; however, such pipe must meet the performance and test requirements specified, for AASHTO M 170 and shall be installed under the same specifications as circular pipe.
c.Classes of Pipe.
1.Plain Concrete Pipe (PC). Only plain concrete pipe 24 inches {600 mm} or less in diameter (or equivalent area in arch pipe) will be permitted. Circular pipe shall meet the requirements for Class 2 pipe of AASHTO M 86 or for Class II of AASHTO M 170 without steel reinforcement, provided the same strength requirements for the same size pipe provided in AASHTO M 86 for Class II pipe are met. Arch pipe equivalent to a 24 inches {600 mm} diameter round pipe or less shall meet the requirements for Class A-II of AASHTO M206 without steel reinforcement provided the same strength requirements of the equivalent size circular pipe provided in AASHTO M86 for Class 2 pipe are met.
2.Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RC). Circular pipe shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 170 for the class of pipe designated by the plans. Arch pipe shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 206 for the class of pipe designated by the plans.
d.Materials. Coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, cement, steel reinforcement, and water shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 170 or M 206, whichever is applicable except as modified in applicable Sections of Division 800, Materials.
e.Tests. All precast products furnished must meet the requirements of Section 831, Precast Concrete Products.
f.Handling and Storage. Handling and storage shall meet the requirements of Subarticle 850.01(f).
851.02 Corrugated Steel Pipe (CS).
CS used in the construction of side drain culverts shall be either circular or arch pipe meeting the requirements of Article 850.02, except that most side drain pipe may use plain galvanized steel pipe.
851.03 Corrugated Aluminum Pipe (CA).
CA used in the construction of side drain culverts shall be either circular or arch pipe meeting the requirements of Article 850.03.
851.04 Vitrified Clay Pipe (VC).
a.General. VC used in the construction of side drain culverts shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 65 or ASTM C 700 for Extra Strength pipe.
b.Handling and Storage. Handling and Storage shall meet the requirements of Subarticle 850.01(f).
851.05 Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe (PVC).
PVC shall meet one of the following specifications: ASTM D 2241, F 789, D 1785, D 2665, D 3034, D 2680, F 794, F 949, or F 679.
851.06 Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Pipe (ABS).
ABS shall meet the requirements of ASTM D 2751 or D 2680.
851.07 High Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE).
HDPE shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 294, Type S. HDPE shall be furnished from an approved producer. Approved producers are shown on List I-11, "Producers of High Density Polyethylene Pipe" in the Department’s "Materials, Sources and Devices with Special Acceptance Requirements" manual. Information concerning this list is given in Subarticle 106.01(f).
851.08 High Performance Polypropylene Pipe (PP).
PP shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 330. PP shall be furnished from an approved producer. Approved producers are shown on List I-14, "Producers of High Performance Polypropylene Pipe" in the Department’s "Materials, Sources and Devices with Special Acceptance Requirements" manual. Information concerning this list is given in Subarticle 106.01(f).
851.09 Special Requirements.
The Specifications for all pipes, as covered by Articles 851.05, 851.06, 851.07, and 851.08 are amended to the effect that any of these materials are acceptable in any configuration which will meet the criteria listed below:
1.Pipe shall have a minimum pipe stiffness as shown in AASHTO M 294 for HDPE, AASHTO M 304 for PVC, ASTM D 2751 for ABS, and AASHTO M 330 for PP when tested in accordance with ASTM D 2412.
2.Fill heights will be restricted to 50 feet {15 m} maximum. Pipe cover shall be 12 inches {300 mm} minimum.
3.All joints shall be soil-tight.
4.Pipe ends shall be encased in accordance with Special Drawing – Concrete Slope Paved Headwall and Grate for Sidedrain Pipe. SECTION 852 UNDERDRAIN PIPE MATERIALS SECTION 852 UNDERDRAIN PIPE MATERIALS
852.01 Vitrified Clay Pipe.
This pipe shall meet requirements for standard strength, either plain or perforated pipe of AASHTO M 65 or ASTM C 700.
852.02 Concrete Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 86, Class 1 for plain pipe; for perforated pipe AASHTO M 86, Class 1 and AASHTO M 175, Type 1 or 2; for porous concrete pipe, AASHTO M 176, extra strength class, with special attention directed to Section 831, Precast Concrete Products.
852.03 Corrugated Iron or Steel Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 36 for Type III, Class I, II, or III Pipe, fabricated from a specified sheet thickness of 0.064 inches {1.6 mm} and may be perforated or non-perforated as required.
852.04 Coated Corrugated Iron or Steel Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of Article 852.03 coated as specified in Subarticle 850.02(c).
852.05 Corrugated Aluminum Pipe.
This pipe shall meet requirements of AASHTO M 196 for Type III, Class I, II, or III, pipe fabricated from a specified sheet thickness of 0.060 inches {1.5 mm} and may be perforated or non-perforated as required.
852.06 Coated Corrugated Aluminum Pipe.
This pipe shall meet requirements of Article 852.05 coated as specified in Subarticle 850.02(c).
852.07 Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (P.V.C.) Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of ASTM D 3034. Pipe having a nominal diameter of 4 inches {100 mm} shall have a standard dimension ratio (SDR) of 35; pipe having a nominal diameter of 6 inches {150 mm} or more shall have a standard dimension ratio of either 35 or 41. Perforations, if required, shall be in accordance with the perforation requirements of AASHTO M 175 for either Type 1 or Type 2. Pipe meeting the requirements of ASTM F 949 or ASTM F 758, Type PS 28 or Type PS 46, may be used in lieu of the above designated pipe.
852.08 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (A.B.S.) Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of ASTM D 2751 for SDR 42 or SDR 35 pipe. Perforations, if required, shall be in accordance with the perforation requirements of AASHTO M 175 for either Type 1 or Type 2.
852.09 High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipe.
This pipe shall meet the requirements of AASHTO M 252, and in addition have a full circular cross-section, with an outer corrugated pipe wall and a smooth inner liner. Corrugations may be either annular or helical. Pipe may be perforated or non-perforated as required. HDPE pipe shall be furnished from an approved producer. Approved producers are shown on List I-11, "Producers of High Density Polyethylene Pipe" in the Department’s "Material, Sources and Devices with Special Acceptance Requirements" manual. Information concerning this list is given in Subarticle 106.01(f).
852.10 Filter Material.
a.Type A - Coarse Filter Material. The coarse filter material may be slag, gravel, or crushed stone, meeting gradation of ALDOT sizes 67, 7, 78, or 710, at the Contractor's option, provided he gives the Engineer written notice of his choice in advance. Soundness and Los Angeles Abrasion tests will not be required.
b.Type B - Fine Filter Material. Fine filter material shall be reasonably clean, natural sand or manufactured sand produced from the crushing of quartzite gravel, sandstone, or sandstone conglomerates meeting the following requirements: Permeability - at least 0.5 mm/sec when measured by the constant head method of AASHTO T 215.
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Source: 2026 Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 736–738 of 826. View official source ↗