Rv/rRc] 2°
indian Roads Congress
Special Publication 13
GUIDELINES FOR
THE DESIGN OF
SMALL BRIDGES
AND CULVERTS
Published by the Indian Roads Congiess
Copies can be had from the
Se ian Roads Congress,
ui se, Shahjahan Road,
Ne 10001
New Delhi 1998 Price Rs. 72
(Plus packing &
postage)Published in August 1973
Reprinted in April 1978
Reprinted in April 1982
Reprinted in March 1986
Reprinted in June 1990
Reprinted in January 1994
Reprinted in June 1995
Reprinted in Janvary 1998
(The Rights of Publication ond Translation are reserved)
Printed at M/s. Sagar Printers & Publishers, New Delhi.
(500 copies)
PREFACE
The Paper entitled “Guidelines for the Design of
Small Bridges and Culverts” by Shri Goverdhan Lal who
retired as Additional Director General to the Government
of India (Roads), was published as Paper No. 167 in
Volume XVIII-Part 2 of the Journal of the Indian
Roads Congress. One of the main objectives of the
Author in preparing this Paper was to help the Highway
Engineers in the country to do the planning and
design of culverts and small bridges for road projects
correctly and expeditiously. The object of the Author
seems to have greatly been achieved as there has been
continuous demand for this Paper and every Highway
Engineer has been wanting to possess it as a book of
reference. The Indian Roads Congress is, therefore,
indebted to the Author for his labour and ingenuity in
making the above mentioned contribution which has not
only helped the members of the profession, but has also
assisted in accelerating the progress of road develop-
ment in the country.
While the Paper in its original form has still great
value, the Indian Roads Congress felt that if it is revised
in the light of the revised IRC Bridge Codes and the
experiences gained since its first publication, it will make
the Paper almost an uptodate text-book or manual for
the design of culverts and small bridges. Shri Goverdhan
Lal, the Author of the Paper has kindly permitted the
Indian Roads Congress to revise this Paper and bring it
out as a Special Publication of the Congress. The IndianRoads Congress express their high appreciation and
thanks to Shri Goverdhan Lal for this kind permission.
They also express their thanks to the Director General
(Road Development) for kindly getting the manuscript
of this Special Publication examined in the Roads Wing
and for the useful suggestions offered. We are sure that
this new publication “Guidelines for the Design of Small
Bridges and Culverts” would prove asa useful book of
reference to the Highway Engineers and also a guide to
the enginecring students.
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
2
13
14
1s
Introduction
Site Inspection
The Essential Design Data
Empirical. Formulae for Peak Run-off
from Catchment
Rational Formulae for Peak Run-off
from Catchment
Estimating Flood Discharge from the
Conveyance Factor and Slope of the
Stream
Estimating Flood Discharge from Flood
‘Marks on an Existing Structure
Fixing Design Discharge
Alluvial Streams—Lacey’s Equations
Linear Waterway of Bridges
‘The Normal Scour Depth of Alluvial
Streams
The Normal Scour Depth of Quasi-
Alluvial Streams
The Effect of Contraction on the Normal
Scour Depth
Maximum Scour Depth
Depth of Bridge Foundations (D,)
Length of Clear Span and Number of
Spans
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