HYDRAULICS II – Week 6: Lecture 1

CULVERTS & CULVERT DESIGN

Definition

A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow under a

road, railroad, trail, or similar obstruction from one side
to the other side. Typically embedded so as to be
surrounded by soil, a culvert may be made from
a pipe, reinforced concrete or other material. In
the United Kingdom, the word can also be used for a
longer artificially buried watercourse.
Culverts are commonly used both as cross-
drains to relieve drainage of ditches at the
roadside, and to pass water under a road at
natural drainage and stream crossings. A culvert
may be a bridge-like structure designed to allow
vehicle or pedestrian traffic to cross over the
waterway while allowing adequate passage for
the water.
Culverts come in many sizes and shapes
including round, elliptical, flat-bottomed, open-
bottomed, pear-shaped, and box-like
constructions. The culvert type and shape
selection is based on a number of factors
including requirements for hydraulic
performance, limitations on upstream water
surface elevation, and roadway embankment
height.
Culverts are classified according to which end
controls the discharge capacity, the inlet or
outlet.

(i) Inlet Control

If water can flow through and out of the culvert
faster than it can enter, the culvert is under Inlet
Control. Flow capacity is controlled at the
entrance by the headwater depth, cross-
sectional area and type of inlet edge.
Culverts under inlet control will always flow
partially full and are in a state of shallow, high
velocity known as Supercritical flow. Any
downstream disturbance will not be propagated
upstream since the flow of water is too great.
The roughness, length and outlet conditions are
not factors in determining capacity. Flow is
therefore controlled upstream and is limited to
what can enter the culvert. Culverts that have
a drawdown at the inlet and a perch or hydraulic
jump at the outlet are usually inlet control.
Outlet Control
If water can flow into the culvert faster than it
can flow through and out, then it is under Outlet
Control. Culverts under outlet control can flow
either partially full or full. In this case water is
relatively deep and slower, known as Subcritical
flow and a disturbance propagates upstream.
Therefore flow is controlled downstream and
limited to what the pipe can carry.
In this case friction and roughness in the culvert
are significant in the flow through a culvert and
the difference in headwater and tailwater depth
represents the energy which conveys flow
through the culvert.

Inlet and outlet control are set by the slope of

the stream, it is not a designed feature.
Generally speaking, when culverts are designed,
calculations are made assuming both inlet and
outlet control and comparing the headwater
depth under both conditions.
Designs for low headwater depths reduce pipe
diameter and fill material, but risk overtopping
and often result in undersized culverts when
exposed to natural conditions. Conversely
designs for higher headwater depths are more
conservative and generally govern design.
Factors affecting Inlet and Outlet Control:

Outlet Control Inlet Control

Headwater Depth Headwater Depth

Tailwater Depth n/a

Inlet Edge Inlet Edge

Cross Sectional Area Cross Sectional Area

Shape Shape

Fall n/a

Length n/a

Roughness n/a