* Hydraulic design of culvert using Empirical equation and
Nomographs
Course Name:- Bridge and Culvert hydraulics
Course Code:- HENG-5203
Semester :- II
Prerequisite:- Road Engineering
Credit Hours:- 3
Instructor:- Hailu K
Email: kebede2040@[Link]
Section:- G5HWRE
Wollega University (2021/22)
Hydraulic & WR Engineering Dep’t
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o Data Required for culvert and bridge
• Hydrological data :Peak flow, hydrograph, flood routing
• site data: culvert location, waterway(X-section, u/s and d/s water depth,
Resistance,L_slope
o Peak flow estimation techniques(both for gauged and ungauged catchments)
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Hydraulic design of culvert using Empirical equation and
Nomographs
HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF CULVERTS
The objective of hydraulic design of culvert is to determine
the most economic dimension that can provide the passage
of a design discharge without exceeding the allowable head
water elevation.
o The major component of a culvert usually includes the
inlet, the pipe barrel, the outlet and an outlet energy
dissipater if necessary.
o Inlet structures protect embankments from erosion and
improve the hydraulic conditions of culverts.
o Outlet structures are designed to protect the culvert outlet
from scouring.
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The hydraulic operation of culverts may be
→ Submerged inlet and outlet (Flow Type IV)
→ Submerged inlet with full flow but free discharge at the
outlet (Flow Type VI & VII)
→ Submerged inlet with partially full pipe (Flow Type V )
→ Unsubmerged inlet (Flow Type I, II & III)
Formulas A = Area of the pipe (m 2)
Manning’s Equation: R = Hydraulic radius (m)
Q = (1/n)* A * (R)2/3 * (S)1/2 S = Slope of the culvert
Q = Discharge (m3)
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n = Hydraulic roughness coefficient (barrel roughness)
Weir Equation ( unsubmerged Inlet):- *
Q = Cw (Lw) h 3 / 2
Where:
Q = discharge (m3/s)
Cw = dimensionless weir coefficient (2.2 to 3.1 are
typical
values for a broad-crested weir)
Lw = the length of the weir perpendicular to the
flow (m)
h = is the energy head (depth + velocity head) of
the approaching flow above the crest of the
spillway.
If the weir is substantially submerged by tail water,
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Orifice Equation (Submerged Inlet):
Q = Co Ao (2g ho) 1/ 2
Where:
Q = discharge (m3/s)
Co = dimensionless orifice coefficient (0.62 is a typical
value for a sharp-edged orifice)
Ao = the area of the orifice perpendicular to the flow (m2)
g = gravitational constant of 9.81 m/sec 2
ho = the orifice energy head (depth + velocity head) of the
approaching flow from inlet centroid6 (m)
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Energy Grade Line:- represents the total energy at any point along the culvert barrel.
Equating the total energy at sections 1 and 2, upstream and downstream of the culvert
barrel in Figure below, the following relationship results:
Hwo +LS + ( Vu2/2g) = TW + (Vd2/2g) + HL
Where:
HWo = headwater depth above the intlet invert, m HL = sum of all losses
Vu = approach velocity, m/s L = length of culvert
TW = tail water depth above the outlet invert, m S = slope of culvert
Vd = downstream velocity, m/s
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Head Loss through Submerged Tube :( Barrel Losses)
hL = he + hf + ho
Where:
* hL = the total head loss (m)
* he = entrance loss (m)
* hf = friction loss through the pipe (m)
* ho = exit loss (m)
* he = ke (V ^2 / 2g)
Where:
* ke = Entrance loss coefficient
* V = the flow velocity just inside the barrel inlet (m/ sec)
g = gravitational constant of 9.81m / sec 2
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hf = (V^2 n ^2 ) (L) / ( R^4 / 3 )
Where:
hf = friction loss through the culvert
V = average barrel velocity, m/s
L = length of pipe
A = area of the pipe
R = hydraulic radius ( R = A / Wp - area divided by
the wetted perimeter)
n = Hydraulic roughness coefficient (barrel roughness)
ho = ko [(V2/2g) - (Vd2/2g)] , ko = 1
Where:
Vd = channel velocity downstream of the culvert, m/s
(usually neglected,).
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ho = hv = V2/2g
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Total Loss:
hL = [ 1 + ke + (19.62 n ^2. L) / R ^4/3 ] V2 / 2g
Critical Depth:
Q2 / g = Ac^3 / Tc…………for circular shape
Where:
Q = discharge
g = the gravitational constant
Ac = cross sectional area at critical flow
Tc = top width of water surface at critical flow
For rectangular sections, critical depth can be directly
computed as:
Yc = (q2 / g)^1/ 3 Where:
q = discharge per unit width(Q/B)
g = the gravitational constant10
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From the above formulas for
A) Submerged inlet and outlet (Flow Type 4)
→ use Energy equation
B) Submerged inlet with full flow but free discharge at the
outlet . (Flow Type 6 & 7)
→ use Energy equation
In order to avoid backwater calculations, approximate
methods have been developed to analyze partly full flow
conditions. use depth at outlet (Y3) = (Yc +D)/2, or
the tail water depth if higher. (for type 7)
C) Submerged inlet with partially full flow (Flow Type 5 )
→use Orifice equation
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D) Unsubmerged inlet ( Type 1,2,&3 ) *
For Type 1 →use Weir & Energy equation
o For Type 2 →tail water depth (Y4) is lower than critical
depth then use depth at outlet (Y3) as critical depth and
use Energy equation and critical flow condition to
design/to calculate water surface elevation at the upstream
(Hw).
o The direct step back water method is used to determine
the water surface profile through the conduit.
o For Type 3 →tail water depth (Y4) is higher than critical
depth then use Y4 as critical depth.
o Use critical flow condition and energy equation
o The direct step back water method
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is used to determine
the water surface profile through the conduit.
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Outlet Velocity:-Culvert outlet velocities should be
calculated to determine the need for erosion protection or an
energy dissipater at the culvert exit.
If inlet control is the controlling head water:-
a) calculate flow depth at culvert exit
→use normal depth (Yn). ( i.e. An approximation
used to avoid backwater calculations, may be calculated
using a trial and error solution of the Manning equation.)
→use water surface profile .( beginning at Yc at the entrance
and proceed downstream to the exit.
b) Calculate flow area (A)
c) Calculate exit velocity ( Vo) =
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Q/A
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# If outlet control is the controlling head water:-
In outlet control, the cross sectional area of the flow is defined by
the geometry of the outlet and either critical depth, tail water depth, or
the height of the conduit.
a) calculate flow depth at culvert exit.
o Critical depth is used when the tail water is less
than critical depth ( Yc if Yc > Tw).
o Tail water depth is used when tail water is
greater than critical depth but below the top of the
barrel ( Tw if Yc < Tw < D).
o Total barrel area is used when the tail water
exceeds the top of the barrel ( D if D< Tw ).
b) Calculate flow area (A)
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c) Calculate exit velocity ( Vo) = Q/A
Roadway Overtopping:-
Overtopping will begin when the headwater rises to the elevation of
the roadway .
The overtopping will usually occur at the low point of a drop vertical
curve on the roadway.
The flow will be similar to flow over a broad crested weir.
( Qo = Cd .L.(Hwr)^1.5 )
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Example # 1.
o The depth of water above inlet centroid of a pipe culvert is
1.8m. The downstream side of the culvert is unsubmerged
and the discharge coefficient is Co=0.6. The pipe has a
diameter of 2m. What is the flow through the pipe?
Example # 2.
oA box culvert with an unsubmerged inlet functions as a
weir. The culvert has a bottom width of 2m. The tail water
does not back through culvert, The ―ponded‖ water
elevation immediately upstream of the inlet is1.2m above
the inlet flow line. Assume the approach is short and the
velocity in the ―pond‖ is zero. Use Weir Coefficient value of 2.2.
What is the maximum estimated discharge that will pass
through the inlet? 17
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Example # 3.
A concrete pipe is used as a culvert that must carry a flow rate of
5.3m3/s and discharge in to air. At the entrance the maximum
available water head is 3.2m above the bottom as shown in the figure
below. The culvert is 35m long with
square edged entrance and slope of 0.003. Determine the
diameter of the pipe. Use Ke = 0.5, n = 0.013, Cd = 0.62
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Example # 4.
o The design flood with a 20-year return period is 15m3/s.
Design the culvert type cross drainage structure with a
high embankment with the following data; culvert
length 30m ; slope=1.5%; available pipe barrel
corrugated pipes in multiples of 250mm diameter, n=
0.024; Ke = 0.9. The maximum permissible head water
level is 4m above the invert with the barrel flowing full.
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In the inlet control design Nomographs, HW is measured
to the total upstream energy grade line including the
approach velocity head. Inlet control Nomographs are
shown below as Charts 7-1, 7-2 and 7-6 , for concrete pipe
culverts, corrugated metal culverts, and box culverts,
respectively
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Example # 5.
The inlet of a 1.4m diameter reinforced concrete pipe (RCP)
is submerged by a flow of 5m3/s. The inlet has a Groove
end treatment with headwall. What is the inlet control
headwater depth above the inlet invert (flow line)? The
slope of the culvert is 0.015 m/m.
Example # 6.
Compute the ―inlet‖ control headwater depth and elevation
using the Nomographs. The headwater needs to be
determined for a discharge of 2.88m3/s through a 1.2 m by
1.2m concrete box culvert. The culvert has an entrance
with wing wall 45o. The barrel has an upstream invert
elevation of 30m at the inlet.
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Outlet Control Nomographs (full flow)—The Nomographs
were developed assuming that the culvert barrel is flowing
full and:
•TW > D, Flow Type IV
•dc> D, Flow Type VI
Vu is small and its velocity head can be considered a part of
the available headwater (HW) used to convey the flow
through the culvert.
•Vd is small and its velocity head can be neglected.
Energy Equation becomes:
HW = TW + H – SoL
HW = depth from the inlet invert to the energy grade line, m
H = is the value read from the28Nomographs , m
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Outlet Control Nomographs (Partly full flow):- for Type 2 & 3
, Approximate method—The following equation should be used:-
HW = ho + H –SoL
ho= the larger of TW or (dc+ D)/2, m
HW = depth from the inlet invert to the energy grade line, m
H = is the value read from the nomographs , m
SoL = drop from inlet to outlet invert, m
- If the headwater depth falls below 0.75D,
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the approximate
method shall not be used.
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Example # 7.
A 1.4m by 1.4m concrete box culvert has a length of 60m, an
entrance loss coefficient Ke of 0.2, and a roughness
coefficient of 0.012. The inlet invert elevation ―Eli‖ is
29.5m. The outlet invert elevation ―Elo‖ is 27.5m. The
tail water depth at the outlet is 2.5m and submerges the
outlet. Calculate the outlet control headwater elevation
―ELHwo‖ and depth for a flow of 7m3/s.
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