Abstract: Based on 3-D FEM for the culvert under dam on the soft foundation, the earth pressure and settlement of the culvert are analysed. It is found that as follows: (1)When the reducing load measure is applied, the earth pressure distribution around the culvert and non-uniform settlement of bottom of the culvert are the same as without reducing load measure, but the vertical earth pressure reduce greatly which shows the effect of reducing load is obvious. (2) The variation of depth of the ground treatment has effect on stress around the culvert. The vertical earth pressure on the top of culvert slowly increases and the horizontal earth pressure at the side of culvert slowly reduces with the increase of depth of the ground treatment. (3)Although the settlement of the bottom of the culvert slowly decreases with increase of depth of the ground treatment, but the non-uniform settlement ratios are less than 0.5% which affecting the culvert are the same as each other. No treating the ground of the culvert, the danger is not produced with a few increase of the non-uniform settlement.

Key words: culvert under dam on soft foundation, earth pressure, settlement, finite element method