Nomograph Design Example

Step 1 Assemble Site Data and Project File

A: Site survey project file contains:

Figure 6-8 Cross-Section

 roadway profile and

 embankment cross section (see Figure 6-8)

Site visit notes indicate

 no sediment or debris problems and
 no nearby structures

B: Studies by other agencies – none

C: Environmental risk assessment shows

 no buildings near floodplain
 no sensitive floodplain values and
 convenient detours exist

D: Design criteria
 50-year frequency for design and
 100-year frequency for check

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Step 2: Determine Hydrology

TRRL equations yield

 Q50 = 11.3 m3/s
 Q100 = 14.16m3/s

Step 3: Design Downstream Channel (see figure 6-9)

Figure 6-9 Cross-Section of Channel (Slope = 0.05 m/m)

Point Station, m Elevation, m

1 3.7 54.86
2 6.7 53.34
3 9.8 53.19
4 10.4 52.58
5 11.9 52.58
6 12.5 53.19
7 15.5 53.34
8 18.6 54.86

Q (m3/s) TW (m)
2.83 0.43
5.66 0.63
8.50 0.76
11.33 0.85
14.16 0.93

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Step 5: Select Design Alternative

Shape - Box
Size - 2135 mm by 1830 mm
Material – Concrete
Entrance - Wingwalls, 45o bevel, rounded

Step 6: Select Design Discharge

(Qd = Q50 = 11.33 m3/s)

Step 7: Determine Inlet Control Headwater Depth (HWi)

Use inlet control nomograph - Chart 6-6

a. D = 1.83 m
b. Q/B = 11.33/2.13 = 5.32
c. HW/D = 1.27 for 45o bevel
d. HW i = (HW/D)D = (1.27)1.83 = 2.32 m (Neglect the approach velocity)

Step 8: Determine Outlet Control Headwater Depth at Inlet (HWoi)

a. TW = 0.85 m for Q50 = 11.33 m3/s

b. dc = 1.43 m from Chart 6-7
c. (dc + D)/2 = (1.43 + 1.83)/2 = 1.63 m
d. ho = the larger of TW or (dc + D/2)
ho = (dc + D)/2 = 1.63 m
e. KE = 0.2 from Table 6-2
f. Determine (H) - use Chart 6-8
 KE scale = 0.2
 culvert length (L) = 90 m
 n = 0.012 same as on chart
 area = 3.90 m2
 H = 0.85 m
g. HW oi = H + ho - SoL = 0.85 + 1.63 - (0.05)90 = - 2.02 m
HW oi is less than 1.2D, but control is inlet control, outlet control
computations are for comparison only
Step 9: Determine Controlling Headwater (HWc)

 HW c = HW i = 2.32 m > HWoi = - 2.02 m

 The culvert is in inlet control

Step 10: Compute Discharge over the Roadway (Qr)

a. Calculate depth above the roadway:

HWr = HW c - HW ov = 2.32 – 2.59 = - 0.27m

b. If HW r  0, Qr = 0

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Step 11: Compute Total Discharge (Qt)

Qt = Qd + Qr = 11.33 m3/s + 0 = 11.33 m3/s

Step 12: Calculate Outlet Velocity (Vo) and Depth (dn)

Inlet Control
a. Calculate normal depth (dn):
Q = (1/n)A R2/3 S1/2 = 11.33 m3/s
= (1/0.012)(2.13*dn)[(2.13*dn/(2.13+2dn)]2/3(0.05).5
= (2.13*dn)[2.13*dn/(2.13+2dn)]2/3 = 0.608
try dn = 0.6 m, 0.675 > 0.608
use dn= 0.55 m, 0.596  0.608

b. A = (2.13)0.55 = 1.17 m2
c. Vo = Q/A = 11.33/1.17 = 9.68 m/s

Step 13: Review Results

Compare alternative design with constraints and assumptions, if any of the following are
exceeded repeat, Steps 5 through 12
 barrel has (2.59 m – 1.83 m) = .76 m of cover
 L = 90 is OK, since inlet control
 headwalls and wingwalls fit site
 allowable headwater (2.59 m) > 2.32 m is ok and
 overtopping flood frequency > 50-year

Step 14: Plot Performance Curve

Use Q100 for the upper limit, Steps 6 through 12 should be repeated for each discharge used
to plot the performance curve, these computations are provided on the computation form,
Figure 6-11 that follows this example.

Step 15: Related Designs

Consider the following options (see Section 6.3: Design Features)

a. Consider tapered inlets, culvert is in inlet control and has limited available headwater

 No flow routing, a small upstream headwater pool exists

 Consider energy dissipators since Vo= 9.5 m/s > 6 m/s in the downstream
channel
 No sediment problem

Step 16: Documentation

Report prepared and background filed

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Figure 6-11 Performance Curve for Design
Example

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CHART 6.1

6
CHART 6.2

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 CHART 6-3 – CRITICAL DEPTH – CIRCULAR PIPE

This curves are obtained from the following formula :

With :
3
Q – Discharge (m /s)
2
g - gravity constant (m/s )
Dc – Critical depth (m)
, r - See sketch (degree, radian)
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CHART 6.4

9
CHART 6.5

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CHART 6.6

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 Chart 6-7

1.6

1.4

1.2
Critical Depth-dc (Meters)

0.8

0.6
dc CANNOT EXCEED TOP OF PIPE
0.4

0.2

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Q/B

4.5

4
Critical Depth-dc (Meters)

3.5

2.5
dc CANNOT EXCEED TOP OF PIPE
2

1.5

1
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Q/B

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CHART 6.8

Q=flow (m3/s)
B=base of section (m)
Dc=0.467 (Q/B ) 2/3

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 Assemble Site data,
profile, cross-section,
design criteria, hydrology,
channels…
Using one of the nomographs
Using
(Chart 6-1,one
6-2oforthe
6-3nomographs
according to
Select design alternative : Select design (Chart
the 7-1,
type of 7-2 orto7-3
culvert) according
determine
Shape, size, material… discharge Qd to theand
HW/D typeHW.
of culvert) determine
HW/D and HW.

END
Is
Considerdesign
design option
options The approach Yes
Consider
depending on
on the
the results.
results. velocity V
depending
See 6.3: Design Features neglectable ?
See 7.3 : Design features
No
Yes Hwi = HW
Hwi = HW-V²/2g

Do you
have enough values to Yes
plot performance Compute the Tailwater depth TW
curve ? Compute the Tailwater
(see 6.3 Design depth
Limitations)
TW (See 7.3 DESIGN
LIMITATIONS)
No Yes

Are results in Calculate critical depth (dc) using chart

Calculate6-3critical
or 6-7depth (dc)
agreement with cons-
using chart 7-3 or 7-7
traints and assump-
tions ?

Ho= Max (TW,dc+D/2)

Compute Outlet velocity Vo

and depth dn Determine Ke (see Table 6-2)
Determine Ke (See Table 7-2)

Compute total discharge : Determine lossloss

Detrmine H through
H throughthe culvert using
the culvert
Qt=Qd+Qr Eqn. using
6.5 forEquation
a full barrel
7.5(Y=Q/Section
for a full
barrel.(V=Q/Section)

Compute drainage Qr=0 Calculate outlet control

over roadway Qr. headwater HWoi=H+Ho-SoL

Yes
No
HWc= HWi Yes HWi>Hwoi ?
HWc-HWov>0 ? Inlet control
(HWov=height of road
above inlet invert) No
Yes
HWc= Hwoi HWoi>1.2D ?
Outlet control

Flowchart 6-1 Design of Culverts No

(See Procedure in section 6-5) Approximation has to
be checked (see Step 8)

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 Table 6-2 Entrance Loss Coefficient (Outlet Control, Full or Partially Full)

He = Ke (V2/2g)

Type of Structure and Design of Entrance Coefficient ke

Pipe, concrete
Mitered to conform to fill slope 0.7
End-section conforming to fill slope* 0.5
Projecting from fill, square cut end 0.5
Headwall or headwall and wingwalls
Square-edge 0.5
Rounded (radius = 1/12D) 0.2
Socket end of pipe (groove-end) 0.2
Projecting from fill, socket end (groove-end) 0.2
Beveled edges, 33.7˚ or 45˚ bevels 0.2
Side- or slope-tapered inlet 0.2

Pipe, or pipe-arch, corrugated metal

Projecting from fill (no headwall) 0.9
Mitered to conform to fill slope, paved or unpaved slope 0.7
Headwall or headwall and wingwalls square-edge 0.5
End-section conforming to fill slope 0.5
Beveled edges, 33.7˚ or 45˚ bevels 0.2
Side- or slope-tapered inlet 0.2

Box, Reinforced Concrete

Wingwalls parallel (extension of sides) square-edged at 0.7
crown
Wingwalls, 10˚ to 25˚ or 30˚ to 75˚ to barrel, square-edged 0.5
at crown
Headwall parallel to embankment (no wingwalls)
Square-edged on 3 edges 0.5
Rounded on 3 edges to radius of 1/12 barrel dimension 0.2
Beveled edges on 3 sides 0.2
Wingwalls at 30˚ to 75˚ to barrel, crown edge rounded to 0.2
radius of 1/12 barrel dimension, or beveled top edge
Side- or slope-tapered inlet 0.2

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