What are the primary applications of culverts in infrastructure?

Culverts are commonly used as cross-drains to manage water from roadside ditches and to facilitate the passage of water under roads at natural drainage and stream crossings. They can also function as bridge-like structures, allowing vehicular or pedestrian traffic to cross over a waterway while ensuring water can flow underneath.

What is the specific function of a 'dry culvert' in highway environments?

A dry culvert is a specialized structure used along highways to channel a fire hose beneath a noise barrier. This design provides firefighters with access to water without the need for hydrants directly on the roadway, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

What variety of shapes can culverts be constructed in?

Culverts are manufactured in a wide array of shapes to suit different needs, including round, elliptical, flat-bottomed, open-bottomed, pear-shaped, and box-like constructions. The selection of a culvert's shape is influenced by factors such as hydraulic performance requirements, limitations on upstream water surface elevation, and the height of the roadway embankment.

What is the process known as 'daylighting' in relation to culverts?

Daylighting is the practice of removing culverts to restore a watercourse to its natural, open-air state. In the United Kingdom, this process is also referred to as 'deculverting'.

What materials are commonly used in the construction of culverts?

Culverts can be constructed from a variety of materials, including cast-in-place or precast concrete (which can be reinforced or non-reinforced), galvanized steel, aluminum, and plastic materials, most notably high-density polyethylene.

Can culverts be made from a combination of different materials?

Yes, culverts can be constructed using a combination of two or more materials to form composite structures. For instance, open-bottom corrugated steel structures are frequently built on concrete footings.

What are the typical issues that arise during the installation of a culvert?

The process of installing a culvert typically involves disturbing the site's soil, stream banks, and stream beds. This disturbance can lead to unwanted problems such as the formation of scour holes or the slumping of banks adjacent to the culvert structure.

Which U.S. federal agencies, along with state or local authorities, mandate specific design and engineering standards for culverts?

Several U.S. agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Environmental Protection Agency, along with state and local authorities, require that culverts be designed and engineered to meet specific federal, state, or local regulations and guidelines. This ensures proper function and helps prevent failures.

On what basis are culverts typically classified?

Culverts are classified according to established standards that define their load capacities, water flow capacities, expected lifespans, and the specific requirements for their installation, including bedding and backfill.

What are the main categories of reasons that can lead to culvert failures?

Culvert failures can occur due to a variety of reasons, broadly categorized into maintenance-related issues, environmental factors, installation problems, functional failures stemming from capacity or volume issues that cause erosion, and structural or material failures such as collapse or corrosion of the culvert's components.

What can cause sudden and catastrophic failures of culverts?

Sudden and catastrophic culvert failures, which can result in injury or loss of life, are often caused by poorly designed and engineered crossing sites or by unexpected changes in the surrounding environment that exceed the original design parameters.

What is the impact of improper backfill on the structural integrity of a culvert?

If the backfill support around a culvert is improperly designed, it can lead to material collapse or failure due to inadequate load support, compromising the overall stability and function of the culvert.

When might rehabilitating an existing culvert with a reline pipe be a preferred option over replacement?

Rehabilitation using a reline pipe is often preferred for existing culverts that have experienced degradation, lost structural integrity, or need to comply with new codes or standards, as it can be less disruptive and costly than a full replacement.

What is the purpose of grouting the annular space when installing a reline pipe into an existing culvert?

Grouting the annular space between the reline pipe and the host pipe serves to prevent or reduce seepage and soil migration. It also plays a crucial role in establishing a structural connection between the new liner, the original culvert, and the surrounding soil.

How can a reline pipe with a very smooth internal surface improve hydraulic flow?

By selecting a reline pipe with a very smooth internal surface, such as those with a high Hazen-Williams Friction Factor C value, the reduced cross-sectional flow area caused by the liner can be offset. This can potentially increase hydraulic flow rates due to reduced surface flow resistance.

What are examples of pipe materials known for having high Hazen-Williams Friction Factor C values?

Pipe materials like high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which has a C value of 150, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), with a C value of 140, are examples of materials with smooth internal surfaces that offer reduced flow resistance and are suitable for reline pipes.

What are the environmental benefits associated with safe and stable stream crossings facilitated by culverts?

Safe and stable stream crossings, when properly managed by culverts, can accommodate wildlife movement and protect stream health. They also contribute to reducing costly erosion and structural damage to infrastructure.

What negative environmental impacts can undersized or poorly placed culverts have?

Undersized and poorly placed culverts can degrade water quality through scour and erosion. Critically, they can also restrict the movement of aquatic organisms, such as fish, between upstream and downstream habitats, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation.

What happens if a culvert is unable to handle the volume of water during a rain event?

If a culvert is undersized or becomes blocked, the water may overflow the road embankment, leading to significant erosion. The material washed away can then clog downstream structures, causing them to fail, and can also damage nearby crops and property.

What are the long-term advantages of replacing culvert styles in stream restoration projects?

The long-term benefits of replacing culverts with designs that are more compatible with natural stream processes include a reduced risk of catastrophic failure and improved passage for fish and other aquatic life, enhancing ecological connectivity.

What critical issue can arise from the high velocities within a culvert barrel, despite proper hydraulic design?

Although culvert discharge capacity is determined by hydraulic engineering, the high velocities often generated within the culvert barrel can create a significant barrier to fish passage, impeding their movement.

What specific culvert parameters are identified as critical for ensuring effective fish passage?

The critical parameters for fish passage in culverts include the dimensions of the culvert barrel, specifically its length and cross-sectional shape, as well as the invert slope, which is the gradient of the culvert's bottom.

What role does flow turbulence play in the context of fish navigating culverts?

Flow turbulence plays a significant role in fish behavior and their ability to successfully pass through culverts. Understanding the characteristics and impact of turbulence is considered essential for designing hydraulic structures that effectively support upstream fish passage.

What is the primary design concept behind a 'minimum energy loss culvert'?

A minimum energy loss culvert is engineered with the fundamental principle of minimizing head loss, which is particularly important in areas with very flat natural slopes, such as coastal plains, where only a small drop in water level is permissible.

Who developed the concept of minimum energy loss culverts?

The concept of minimum energy loss culverts was developed collaboratively by a shire engineer in Victoria, Australia, and a professor at the University of Queensland during the late 1960s.

What are the key design features of a minimum energy loss culvert aimed at minimizing energy dissipation?

To minimize energy loss, the flow is contracted through a streamlined inlet into the barrel where the channel width is at its narrowest, and then it is expanded through a streamlined outlet before being released into the downstream natural channel. Streamlining both the inlet and outlet is crucial to avoid significant form losses.

What is the purpose of lowering the barrel invert in a minimum energy loss culvert?

The barrel invert, which is the bottom surface of the culvert, is often lowered in minimum energy loss culverts. This modification is made to increase the structure's discharge capacity.

What does the image of a culvert in Bromsgrove, England, illustrate?

The image illustrates a culvert located in Bromsgrove, England, which is equipped with a secure headwall, a common feature used to stabilize the entrance or exit of a culvert and manage water flow.

What is depicted in the image of a stone culvert in Haapsalu, Estonia?

The image shows a culvert that has been constructed from stone, situated in Haapsalu, Estonia.

What does the image of a steel culvert with a plunge pool at its outflow show?

The image displays a steel culvert that features a small plunge pool at its outflow, which is the point where water exits the structure, often to dissipate energy and reduce erosion.

What is illustrated by the image of a multiple culvert assembly in Italy?

The image depicts a configuration where multiple culverts are joined together, a setup that has been observed in Italy.

What type of culvert is shown in the image labeled 'Precast concrete box culvert'?

The image shows a culvert that is a box-like structure made from precast concrete, indicating that it was manufactured in sections off-site before installation.

What does the image of a large box culvert on the Rio Monterroso depict?

The image features a large box culvert that is situated on the Rio Monterroso.

What is shown in the image of a steel corrugated culvert with a drop in northern Vermont?

The image captures a steel corrugated culvert in northern Vermont that has a drop at its exhaust end, meaning the outflow point is at a lower elevation than the inlet.

What does the image of a culvert under the Vistula river levee in Warsaw represent?

The image depicts a culvert that passes beneath a levee of the Vistula River and also under a street in Warsaw, Poland.

What is notable about the culvert shown in the image with a natural surface bottom?

The culvert in this image is distinguished by its natural surface bottom, a design feature intended to connect areas of wildlife habitat and facilitate the movement of animals.

What does the image of a culvert replacement in Franklin, Vermont, signify?

The image illustrates a culvert replacement project in Franklin, Vermont, which has been designed to be compatible with aquatic organism passage and is located just upstream from Lake Carmi.

What is the significance of the 'invert slope' in relation to fish passage through culverts?

The invert slope, which refers to the gradient of the culvert's bottom, is identified as one of the critical parameters that influences a fish's ability to pass through a culvert, alongside barrel dimensions.

What are the potential consequences of culvert failures for infrastructure and public safety?

Culvert failures, particularly sudden ones, can lead to severe consequences such as road collapses, which may result in injuries or fatalities. They can also cause extensive erosion, damage to property, and significant disruption to transportation networks.

What is the role of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in culvert design and engineering?

The FHWA is one of the key U.S. agencies that mandates culverts be designed and engineered according to specific federal, state, or local regulations and guidelines. This ensures proper functionality and helps prevent failures.

How can culvert design impact aquatic ecosystems?

Poorly designed culverts can negatively affect aquatic ecosystems by degrading water quality through erosion and scour. More critically, they can restrict the movement of aquatic organisms, such as fish, between upstream and downstream habitats, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation.

What is the purpose of a 'headwall' on a culvert, as suggested by the image caption?

The image caption mentions a culvert with a secure headwall, indicating that headwalls are structures used to stabilize the entrance or exit of a culvert. They help prevent erosion and ensure water is channeled effectively into or out of the culvert.

What is 'afflux' in the context of culvert design, and why is it important for minimum energy loss culverts?

Afflux refers to the rise in water level upstream of a culvert. Minimum energy loss culverts are designed to produce small afflux values, which is particularly important in areas with limited vertical clearance or very flat gradients where upstream water levels must be carefully managed.

What is the relationship between turbulence and fish swimming performance in culverts?

The interaction between turbulence and fish swimming is complex; while excessive turbulence can impede passage, some research suggests that fish may be able to utilize certain turbulent structures. Understanding this interplay is crucial for designing culverts that better facilitate fish passage.

What is the purpose of the 'See also' section in the article?

The 'See also' section provides a list of related concepts and structures, such as bridges, drainage systems, fish ladders, and subterranean rivers. This section serves to offer additional context and suggest further areas of interest for the reader.

What is the significance of the 'Authority control' section at the end of the article?

The 'Authority control' section provides links to external databases and catalogs, such as national libraries and archives, that contain further information or metadata about the subject of culverts, aiding in research and verification.

What does the image of a corrugated metal culvert show?

The image displays a culvert constructed from corrugated metal, a common material used for its strength and durability in such structures.

Culvert Wiki: The Flow of Infrastructure: Understanding Culverts

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What is a Culvert?

Definition and Purpose

A culvert is a critical civil engineering structure designed to channel water safely and efficiently past an obstacle or into a subterranean waterway. Typically, these structures are embedded within the earth, surrounded by soil, and serve to manage water flow under roads, railways, or other embankments. In the United Kingdom, the term can also refer to a longer, artificially buried watercourse.

Functional Applications

Culverts are indispensable in modern infrastructure, serving multiple vital functions. They act as cross-drains to manage water from roadside ditches and are essential for conveying water under roads at natural drainage points and stream crossings. When installed beneath roadways, they often remain dry but are engineered to handle significant water volumes during precipitation events. Some culverts are designed as bridge-like structures, allowing vehicular or pedestrian traffic to traverse waterways while ensuring unimpeded water passage.

Forms and Configurations

Culverts are not monolithic in design; they manifest in a variety of shapes to suit specific hydraulic and site requirements. Common configurations include round pipes, elliptical structures, flat-bottomed channels, open-bottomed designs, pear-shaped conduits, and box-like constructions. The selection of a culvert's type and shape is a meticulous process, influenced by hydraulic performance needs, constraints on upstream water surface elevation, and the height of the overlying roadway embankment.

Materials of Construction

Core Construction Materials

The selection of materials for culvert construction is driven by durability, cost-effectiveness, hydraulic properties, and structural integrity. Common materials include:

Concrete: Both cast-in-place and precast concrete are widely used, often reinforced to enhance strength and longevity.
Steel: Galvanized steel and aluminum are frequently employed, particularly for corrugated pipe designs, offering flexibility and corrosion resistance.
Plastics: High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a popular choice due to its light weight, flexibility, and excellent corrosion resistance.

Composite Structures

To leverage the advantages of different materials, composite structures are also common. For instance, corrugated steel culverts are often paired with concrete footings or headwalls to provide robust support and protection against scour at the inlet and outlet. These combinations aim to optimize performance and lifespan while managing construction costs.

Design and Engineering Principles

Site Considerations and Performance

The installation of a culvert inherently involves site disturbance, impacting stream banks and beds. This can lead to issues such as hydrodynamic scour holes and erosion of adjacent banks. Therefore, proper design and engineering are paramount to ensure the culvert's functionality and longevity. Key considerations include precise sizing to match hydraulic requirements, appropriate installation techniques, and robust protection against erosion and scour.

Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Numerous agencies, including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States, along with various state and local authorities, mandate specific regulations and guidelines for culvert design and installation. These standards ensure proper function, prevent failures, and address environmental concerns. Culverts are classified based on load capacities, water flow capabilities, expected lifespans, and installation requirements for bedding and backfill.

Culvert Failures and Rehabilitation

Causes of Failure

Culvert failures can stem from a variety of factors, broadly categorized into maintenance, environmental, and installation-related issues. Functional failures often arise from undersized culverts or capacity exceedances during flood events, leading to erosion of surrounding soil. Structural and material failures can occur due to collapse or corrosion. Improper backfill and bedding compaction can also compromise load support, leading to material failure.

Consequences and Mitigation

Sudden and catastrophic culvert failures can result in severe consequences, including injury or loss of life, and road or railway collapses. Undersized culverts can lead to significant scour, undermining the structure and causing failure even during moderate rain events. Flood events overwhelming culverts can disrupt infrastructure and cause extensive damage to property and agricultural land. Proper design, including adequate sizing and erosion protection, is crucial for mitigation.

Rehabilitation Strategies

For existing culverts experiencing degradation or requiring upgrades to meet new standards, rehabilitation is often preferred over complete replacement. Relining involves inserting a new pipe within the existing structure. This process requires careful hydraulic design for the new conduit and meticulous installation, often involving grouting the annular space between the host pipe and the liner. This grouting stabilizes the structure, prevents seepage, and can improve hydraulic performance by using materials with high flow resistance factors, such as HDPE or PVC.

Environmental Impacts and Considerations

Water Quality and Aquatic Life

The design and placement of culverts have significant environmental implications, particularly for water quality and aquatic ecosystems. Poorly designed or undersized culverts can degrade water quality through scour and erosion, releasing sediment into waterways. More critically, they can act as barriers to the movement of aquatic organisms, such as fish, leading to habitat fragmentation and loss. This impediment to natural migration patterns is a major concern in stream restoration efforts.

Facilitating Fish Passage

Ensuring adequate fish passage through culverts is a key aspect of modern stream crossing design. Culverts that restrict fish movement can isolate populations and degrade habitat quality. Factors such as high water velocities within the culvert barrel, turbulence, and the absence of natural substrate can create significant barriers. Research focuses on understanding fish-hydrodynamic interactions, including the role of secondary flows and turbulence scales, to design structures that minimize these impediments.

Stream Restoration and Culvert Replacement

The replacement of culverts is a common practice in stream restoration projects. By upgrading to culverts designed with aquatic organism passage in mind, connectivity between upstream and downstream habitats can be restored. This practice not only benefits fish populations but also reduces the long-term risk of catastrophic culvert failure and associated infrastructure damage. Adhering to best management practices during replacement minimizes short-term impacts on the aquatic biology.

Specialized Designs: Minimum Energy Loss

Concept and Application

In regions with very low natural slopes, such as the coastal plains of Queensland, Australia, culverts must be designed to minimize energy loss and headwater (afflux). This led to the development of "minimum energy loss" (MEL) culverts. These structures are engineered to maintain a low head loss by carefully managing the flow's contraction and expansion through streamlined inlets and outlets, often with a lowered barrel invert to increase discharge capacity.

Development and Innovation

The concept of MEL culverts originated from collaborative research between a shire engineer in Victoria and academics at the University of Queensland during the late 1960s. While initial applications were in smaller structures in Victoria, significant larger-scale designs were subsequently tested and implemented in southeastern Queensland. This innovation demonstrates a sophisticated approach to hydraulic design, balancing infrastructure needs with environmental flow management.

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References

Turner-Fairbank Highway research Center (1998). "Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts" (PDF), Report #FHWA-IP-85-15 US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, McLean, Virginia.

Alberta Transportation (2004). "DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR BRIDGE SIZE CULVERTS" (PDF), Original Document 1995 Alberta Transportation, Technical Standards Branch, Government of the Province of Alberta

Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (2006). "Culvert Use, Installation, and Sizing" Chapter 8 (PDF), Low Volume Engineering J Chapter 8, blm.gov/bmp.

Environmental Protection Agency EPA Management (2003-07-24). "Culverts-Water" NPS Unpaved Roads Chapter 3 (PDF), "CULVERTS" epa.gov.

Architectural Record CEU ENR (2013). "Stormwater Management Options and How They Can Fail" (Online Education Course), McGraw Hill Construction Architectural Record-engineering News Record.

Apelt, C.J. (1994). "The Minimum Energy Loss Culvert" (videocassette VHS colour), Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Queensland, Australia.

A full list of references for this article are available at the Culvert Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional engineering advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional civil engineering consultation, design, or analysis. Always consult with qualified engineers and refer to official standards and documentation for any real-world infrastructure projects. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

The Flow of Infrastructure

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

What is a Culvert? ℹ️

💧 Definition and Purpose

🛣️ Functional Applications

📐 Forms and Configurations

Materials of Construction 🧱

🏗️ Core Construction Materials

🔗 Composite Structures

Design and Engineering Principles ⚙️

📐 Site Considerations and Performance

📜 Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Culvert Failures and Rehabilitation ⚠️

💥 Causes of Failure

📉 Consequences and Mitigation

🔄 Rehabilitation Strategies

Environmental Impacts and Considerations 🌳

🌊 Water Quality and Aquatic Life

🐟 Facilitating Fish Passage

♻️ Stream Restoration and Culvert Replacement

Specialized Designs: Minimum Energy Loss ⚡

📉 Concept and Application

💡 Development and Innovation

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📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

What is a Culvert?

Definition and Purpose

Functional Applications

Forms and Configurations

Materials of Construction

Core Construction Materials

Composite Structures

Design and Engineering Principles

Site Considerations and Performance

Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Culvert Failures and Rehabilitation

Causes of Failure

Consequences and Mitigation

Rehabilitation Strategies

Environmental Impacts and Considerations

Water Quality and Aquatic Life

Facilitating Fish Passage

Stream Restoration and Culvert Replacement

Specialized Designs: Minimum Energy Loss

Concept and Application

Development and Innovation

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice