Tree Load

Dear Gurus Redfred, Rixter and Solar Eagle,

It appears that you all are "Sarva kala vallbhans" meaning; masters of all arts or subjects. We have met several times in electronics and electrical forums before.

I think that I underestimated the thickness of the soil above the culvert. It may be 24"and 48" respectively. The trees planted over are cherry, plum and apricot. There is a good possibility that they may not have primary roots and only have secondary and tertiary roots.

Since the secondary roots are growing horizontally and the tertiary roots are practically pocketing the soil together, the weight of the tree can be considered uniformly distributed (Correct me if I am wrong).

Now the question is question is;

1) What will be the effect of this uniformly distributed load combined with the uniformly distributed varying load due to the slanted soil above on the top slab of the culvert. and

2) Will the tertiary roots penetrate the concrete top and eventually crack the top?

Thanks and regards;

Job.

https://thrivingyard.com/do-cherry-trees-have-invasive-roots/

https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/how-to-grow/fruit-trees/plum-trees/location

https://couchtohomestead.com/are-apricot-tree-roots-invasive/

Were a wind to blow it over, there is the possibility that its impact on arrival at the ground will crack or shatter the <...culvert...>.

Tree roots can grow through rocks and concrete.

How, Exactly, Do Plants Break Through Concrete? | CNY Sealing

The roots will seek the water....

"Will the tree that is growing on top of the culvert, as shown in the figure shown below, damage it?"

The type of tree may be significant to any realistic guess as to potential damage.

But, for all the reasons already pointed out, YES! Eventually it will be damaged. How much is anybody's guess.

Get local advice.

My guess would be the roots will get under the top slab and break it away, such that if the tree blows over it will lift up a section. Conversely the roots breaking into the culvert may make the tree stable enough to withstand the wind, but will presumably trap debris and eventually block the culvert.
I'd cut the tree down and make it into bows :)
Del

Yes,the roots will eventually break the concrete.

I have seen many road ways lifted by tree roots from trees over 30 meters away.

Any minor imperfection of the concrete will be exploited by the roots,and as they expand under hydraulic pressure,it is like a slow-mo controlled explosion.A friend described it as :"Slow power."

This,and freezing, is how mountains are eroded and eventually crumbled into dust.

There is, apparently, a shallow water course running roughly parallel to

the concrete conduit beneath it.

New roots will be tend to be nourished by that surface water course.

Existing grasses, native plants, etc., were probably seeking out cracks and

joints in said concrete shortly after the conduit was constructed and back-

filled.

Roughly speaking, about how long has it been since the concrete has been

constructed?

That's an 8-foot wide concrete conduit.

It must be under some Agency's jurisdiction.

Save yourself some future (legal grief), and remove the tree, soon ...

Dear Guru,

The culvert was built about 33 years ago and under city's jurisdiction. The land above had an easement and bylaw that the grading that the city put over it to be maintained so that the ditch formed by the grading can carry the surface water (When it rains) to the catch basins spaced on top of the culvert at about 60' interval. Some owners planted fruit trees above the culvert as I have mentioned before.

I do not have to worry since I am not the violator but if the land above the culvert cannot support the trees and if they fall, they will be falling into my yard damaging the fence.

Kind regards,

<...if they fall, they will be...damaging the fence...>

That would be a valid reason for submitting an insurance claim for the repair or replacement of the <...fence...>. Make sure the landowner(s) know(s) that.

<unsubscribes>

No, but the roots of that tree will.

the roots will grow in the smallest of cracks, and as it grows will make it expand like a wedge.

(just got done reading the rest of the posts after I posted... rixter covered it)