TRANSPORTATION

ENGINEERING
II

TPE2601
 CHAPTER 9

CULVERT DESIGN
Design Of Minor Cross Drainage Structures

A minor cross drainage structure conveys water through or under the

road prism, from one side of the road to the other.

The geometric designer is only interested in structures which drain a

catchment of less than 400 hectares.

The structural design office design structures for catchments larger

than this.

The design of a cross drainage structure consists of two basic steps,

which are outlined in the following paragraphs

Estimation of peak discharge from catchment

Selection of Culvert of adequate size to convey the discharge through

the road prism.
Estimation Of Peak Discharge From Catchment
The procedure is based on the “Rational Formula” which states:

𝐶𝐼𝐴
𝑄=
3.6

Where:
Q = peak flow (m3/s)

C = run-off coefficient ( a number between 0 and 1)

I = the average rainfall intensity over the whole catchment (mm/h)

A = the catchment area (km2)

For rural catchments a return frequency of 1:10 years is usually used.

For urban or peri-urban areas a return frequency of 1:50 years is usually

used.
Selection Of Culvert

Culvert Plan Location

The location of a culvert is usually dictated by site considerations.

a culvert is placed at the lowest point of the fill or in the natural channel
of the watercourse to ensure complete draining of the area.

It may be necessary to modify the stream course through the culvert to

reduce skew or to suit the road geometry.

Culvert alignment should take into account the high flood stage route
when this differs from the natural channel alignment under low flow
conditions.

avoid that abrupt changes in channel alignment occur just upstream or

downstream of the culvert, this may cause erosion of the road fill or
increase the siltation of the culvert barrel.
Selection Of Culvert

Culvert Profile Location

culverts are commonly laid along the natural stream-bed or ground profile.

Modified profiles, or profiles that do not follow the natural ground may
be used to shorten the culvert, but care should be taken not to
introduce conditions leading to stream erosion or siltation.
Selection Of Culvert
Choice Of Culvert Type

• The type of culvert used is influenced by both site and economic

considerations.

• Factors affecting the selection of the type and number of culverts to

be used at a particular location are:

– Construction cost

– Ease of construction

– Height of fill cover available

– Potential for clogging by debris

– Allowable headwater depth

– Aggressive or corrosive soil or water conditions

– Culvert abrasion by transported material

Selection Of Culvert
The types of culverts which are normally used are:
Concrete pipes
Corrugated metal pipes
Corrugated metal pipe arches
Precast concrete box culverts (portals)
Cast in-situ concrete box culverts
Culvert Hydraulics
The various factors that will influence the flow through a culvert under a
road are illustrated below:

Where:
HW - headwater or energy level at inlet in m

TW - tailwater or energy level at outlet in m

H - total energy loss between inlet and outlet in m

D - internal diameter or height of culvert in m

L - length of culvert in m

S0 - culvert gradient in m/m

Culvert Hydraulics

For stormwater culverts the most important hydraulic considerations are:

Headwater level at the entrance that will determine upstream flooding.

Roadway overtopping necessitating road closure. (freeboard)

Outlet velocity that could cause downstream erosion.

There are several different types of culvert flow, depending on whether

the control is located at the inlet, along the barrel or at the outlet.
Culvert Hydraulics

When selecting a culvert size it is necessary to establish whether it is

likely to act under Inlet Control or Outlet Control conditions at peak
discharge.

Under Inlet Control, culvert capacity is controlled at inlet primarily by

the Headwater Depth (H1) and the entrance geometry.

Inlet Control usually occurs when culverts lie on relatively steep gradients
and when the Tail-water Depth (H2) at the culvert exit is insufficient
to restrict the flow through the culvert.

The capacity of stormwater culverts is predominantly dependent upon the

inlet and outlet conditions.

Culverts seldom flow full and the energy losses at inlets and outlets due
to sudden transitions far exceed any losses due to friction.
Culvert Hydraulics
 Inlet control occurs when the inlet size, shape and configuration
controls the volume of water that can enter the culvert.
 In other words when the capacity of the inlet is less than the capacity
of the barrel and there is a free discharge downstream of the culvert.
Culvert Hydraulics

 Inlet control happens when the slope of the culvert is steeper than
the critical slope.

 When the culvert flows with an unsubmerged inlet, the flow passes
through critical depth at the entrance to the culvert.

 When the culvert flows with a submerged inlet, which will occur when
HW/D > 1.5, the inlet will act as an orifice and the flow will contracted
as if flowing through a sluice gate.

 The major energy loss will be at the culvert inlet. The total energy
through the culvert and the outlet velocity can be calculated from the
critical or contracted depth at the entrance.
Culvert Hydraulics
 Barrel control occurs when the barrel size, roughness and shape
controls the volume of water that which can flow through the culvert.

 In other words when the capacity of the barrel is less than the
capacity of the inlet and the discharge downstream of it is free.

Barrel control conditions and variations

Culvert Hydraulics

Outlet control occurs when the water level downstream of the culvert
controls the volume of water that can flow through the culvert by
drowning out either inlet or barrel control conditions.

In other words when the capacity of the barrel or the inlet cannot be
realised because there is no free discharge downstream of the culvert

The water surface will not pass through critical depth at any section of
the culvert hence there are no sections where there is a fixed depth
discharge relationship.

The major energy loss will be at the outlet.

Culvert Hydraulics
The capacity and headwater depths for the different types of culvert
flow can be determined by calculation or from nomographs.
Outlet control
Allowable Headwater Depth

All minor culverts in rural areas should be designed for a maximum

Headwater Depth (H1) not greater than 1.2D. Where D is the height or
diameter of the culvert.

In urban or peri-urban areas a maximum Headwater Depth not greater

than 1.0D should be used.

The maximum Headwater Depth should provide for a minimum freeboard

of 0.5m below the finished road surface at the culvert site.

If possible the designer should try to allow 1.0m of freeboard.

Procedure For The Determination Of Pipe Size

Step 1:

Before determining the size of culvert required, select whether you intend
using a box culvert or pipe culvert. The nomographs which follow are
specifically designed for one or the other and are not interchangeable.

𝐻𝑊
Firstly check the inlet control conditions, using the nomographs.
𝐷

Nomograph one is used for pipe culverts and nomograph three for box
culverts.

It is important to know what entrance type the structure is going to have, ie

1, 2 or 3.

If you are checking a specific pipe size then connect the diameter of the pipe
𝐻𝑊
to the peak flow and read off the ratio for the pipe and the appropriate
𝐷

entrance type.
Procedure For The Determination Of Pipe Size

Step 2:

𝑯𝑾
When selecting a pipe size for a given flow, select the 𝑫
= 𝟏. 𝟐 (unless told
otherwise) and connect to the peak flow.

The required pipe size can then be read off always select the next larger
available pipe size from the nomograph.

When the peak flow is large, one pipe may not be suitable and a number of
pipes can then be used.

The same procedure is followed except that the peak flow is divided by the
number of pipes, that you intend to use.

Caution: multiple pipes as they are normally more susceptible to blocking by

debris under flooding condition.

𝑸
If a box culvert is required select an appropriate width and determine 𝑩
value. Now using nomograph three follow the same procedures as for pipe
culverts but read off the height of the box culvert.
Procedure For The Determination Of Pipe Size
Step 3:
Having determined the size of pipe or box culvert calculate the AHW
𝐻𝑊
from the value.
𝐷

Step 4:
Now check the outlet control of the culvert. In most cases it is not
desirable to have water backing up above the soffit on the downstream
side of the culvert.
Firstly determine “dc”(critical depth) using “Q” (peak flow) and “D” (pipe
diameter or box height) from appropriate chart.
In all cases dc cannot exceed D.
Procedure For The Determination Of Pipe Size

Step 5:

𝒅𝒄 + 𝑫
 Calculate: 𝒉𝟎 = 𝟐

Step 6:

 Determine H from nomograph two for pipe culverts and nomograph four for box
culverts.

 If a different value to 0.012 is given for Manning’s, then the length of the culvert
should be adjusted accordingly, using the formula:

𝒏𝒊 𝟐
𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 = 𝑳 ∗ where:
𝒏

n = 0.012

ni = new manning n value

On the nomograph, connect the length (or adjusted length) to the diameter of the
pipe culvert (or dimensions or area of box culvert).

Using peak flow value Q draw a line through turning point and read off H
Procedure For The Determination Of Pipe Size
Step 7:
 Calculate: 𝑯𝑾 = 𝒉𝟎 + 𝑯 − 𝑺𝟎𝑳
Step 8:
 Compare the HW inlet control with the HW outlet control.
 The larger of the two values is the critical condition.

Step 9:
If information is available about the height of embankment under which
the culvert is to be built, then a check should be done to ensure that
there is sufficient cover to allow for the expected headwater depth.
Where possible this minimum cover should exclude the thickness of the
layer works.
Example

If the following information is given, determine the pipe/portal size:

Culvert length = 30m

Culvert slope = 2%

Culvert constant energy coefficient = ke = 0.2

Pipe to run full with no back up above the soffit.

Headwalls are to be square edged.

Peak Discharge through the culvert 𝑄 = 33.35𝑚3/𝑠

Step 1:

Check inlet control conditions.

For the purpose of this example a suitable pipe culvert and box culvert
will be determined.

Assuming theoretical 𝑯𝒘/𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟐

From Nomograph 1 a 3.3 m diameter pipe culvert is required. This is large

and it would probably be more practical to opt for a multiple pipe
solution, in this case, say 1.8m Ø.

Peak flow = 33.35 m3/s /7.4 m3/s = 4.53 say 5 pipes

Peak flow = 33.35 m3/s/5 = 6.67 m3/s per pipe

From nomograph 1 we require 5 x 1.8m diameter pipe culverts

Step 1:

Check inlet control conditions.

For the purpose of this example a suitable pipe culvert and box culvert
will be determined.

Assuming theoretical 𝑯𝒘/𝑫 = 𝟏. 𝟐

For a box culvert option firstly select a width (B), say 3.0m

Therefore the ratio of Q/B = 33.35/3.0 = 11.11m3/s/m

From nomograph 3 we require a 3.1m high box culvert, say 3.3m

Step 2:
Now determine the Hw values for the pipe and box culvert options.
Pipe Hw = 1.2 * 1.8
= 2.16m
Box Hw = 1.2 * 3.3
=3.96m
(If the height of fill was restricted we could also determine the sizing of
a multiple box culvert in the same way as we did for the pipe culverts)
Step 3:
Now check the outlet control condition.
dc pipe = 1.3m < 1.80m therefore OK
dc box = 2.32m < 3.30m therefore OK.
Step 4:
Calculate h0 values:
h0 pipe = (1.23 + 1.80)/2 = 1.52m
h0 box = (2.32 + 3.30)/2 = 2.81m
Step 5:
Determine H from nomograph 2 for pipe and nomograph 4 for box.
pipe H = 0.45 (Nomograph 2)
box H = 0.5 (Nomograph 4)
Step 6:
Calculate Hw for outlet control
Hw = h0 + H - S0 *L
pipe Hw = 1.52 + 0.45 - (0.02 * 30)
= 1.37 m
box Hw = 2.81 + 0.5 - (0.02 * 30)
= 2.71 m
Step 7:

Now compare the Hw values under inlet and outlet control to see which is
the larger and is therefore critical:

pipe Hw inlet = 2.16m > Hw outlet = 1.37m

therefore inlet control is critical and designer must ensure that there is
sufficient cover to the pipe culverts to allow for the required
headwater depth.

Box Hw inlet = 3.96m > Hw outlet = 2.71m

therefore inlet control is critical.