30 Min Culvert Design

Jered Carpenter
Region 3 Roadway Design

Design Steps

Step 1)
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step
Step

2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Gather hydrological & site

specific data
Assume culvert size
Find headwater depth for trial size
Try another size
Compute outlet velocity
Determine Invert Protection
Document selection

Del Rio Example

Pictures of Existing Culvert

Step 1) Gather Hydrological Data

Culvert Location

Q = cia = (.35*52*.82) = 14.9 cfs

Step 1 Cont.) Site Specific Data

Invert In El. = 564.9

Invert Out El. = 564.5
Pipe Length = 75
Slope = -0.5%

Step 1 Cont.) Site Specific Data

Calculate Tail Water, TW

2.5 btm, class 50 rip-rap lined FBD with 2:1 side slopes @ outlet
Mannings Equation for discharge

Q = (1.486/n)*A*R2/3S1/2

Using a spreadsheet & setting

Q as a function of depth, I get
the following results when
d=1.7 ft:
15.0 cfs = (1.486/0.07)*10.03ft 2*0.99ft2/30.051/2

TW = 1.7

Key #15186 Del Rio

DR 92+15

Jered Carpenter

11 Feb 08

1 of 1

Rational
52 Ac
-0.5%
Trapezoid

564.9
75

50
100

14.9
16.4

1.7
1.8

564.5

Step 2) Assume Culvert Size

Start With 18 Circular CMP

Step 3) Find HW Depth For Trial Size

Assume inlet control

From Nomograph,
HW/D = 3
HW depth w/ inlet control
approx. 569.4 ft., which
is too high
Ill try a 24 pipe

Step 3) Find HW Depth For Trial Size

Assume inlet control

From Nomograph,
HW/D = 1.2
HW depth w/ inlet control
approx. 566.7 ft., which
is OK.
The 24 pipe looks
good so far

Key #15186 Del Rio

DR 92+15

Jered Carpenter

11 Feb 08

1 of 1

Rational
52 Ac
-0.5%
Trapezoid

564.9
75

50
100

14.9
16.4

1.7
1.8

CMP-Circ.-18-Mitered 14.9 3.0

CMP-Circ.-24-Mitered 14.9 1.2

4.2 569.4
2.4 567.3

564.5

Step 3
Continued
Check for outlet control
Need to calculate H, total outlet
control head loss
Outlet control nomographs can
be used if outlet crown is
submerged.
(TW>Top of Pipe @ Outlet)
TW @1.7 < D @ 2 , so I will not
use the nomograph

Step 3 Continued

Alternatively, H can be calculated by following

the steps on the culvert design sheet
Calculate critical depth, dc

Critical depth = 1.4 (from graph located in Chapter

8, appendix B)

Step 3 Continued

Following Steps 4 thru 5 on the culvert

design sheet:
(dc+D)/2 = (1.4+2)/2 = 1.7
ho = TW or (dc+D)/2 , whichever is
greater
TW @ 1.7 = (dc+D)/2 @ 1.7 ,use 1.7

Key #15186 Del Rio

DR 92+15

Jered Carpenter

11 Feb 08

1 of 1

Rational
52 Ac
-0.5%
Trapezoid

564.9
75

50
100

14.9
16.4

564.5

1.7
1.8

CMP-Circ.-18-Mitered 14.9 3.0

CMP-Circ.-24-Mitered 14.9 1.2

4.2 569.4
2.4 567.3 1.7

1.4 1.7

1.7

Step 3 Continued

Calculate Energy losses, H for the

culvert From the culvert design sheet:
H = (1+ke+(29*n2*L/R1.33))*(V2/2g)
Ke = .7 (from table 9-3, mitered to slope)
n = .024 (from table 8-A-2)
L = 75
Use values of V and R under full flow (d=2)
R = 0.5
V = 4.74 ft/s (Average Velocity)

H = 1.52

Step 3) Continued

Inlet Control HW Elevation = 567.3

Outlet Control HW Elevation = 567.9

The pipe flowing under outlet control.

Step 4) Try Another Size

24 pipe is acceptable.
Remainder of the Culvert design sheet is
completed.

Step 5) Compute Outlet Velocity

Previously calculated value.

Determine if channel protection is
required following the guidance in
Chapter 11 of the hydraulics manual.

Step 6) Determine Invert Protection

Follow guidance in Chapter 5 of the

hydraulics manual to determine if & what
type of invert protection is required.

Step 7) Document Selection

Key #15186 Del Rio

DR 92+15

Jered Carpenter

11 Feb 08

1 of 1

Rational
52 Ac
-0.5%
Trapezoid

564.9
75

50
100

14.9
16.4

564.5

1.7
1.8

CMP-Circ.-18-Mitered 14.9 3.0

CMP-Circ.-24-Mitered 14.9 1.2

4.2 569.4
2.4 567.3 1.7

1.4

1.7

1.7 1.7 1.7 567.9 567.9 4.74

Outlet Control

Trap. Channel:
W=2.5
2:1 side slopes
N= .07 (class 50 rip rap)
S=0.5%
Dc=1.7
24
Metal

Circ.
0.024

Mitered