USGS

Measurement of Peak Discharge at Culverts by Indirect Methods

U.S. Geological Survey, Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, Book 3, Chapter A3

By G.L. Bodhaine


Table of Contents

Preface

Symbols and units

Abstract

Introduction

Description of culvert flow

General classification of flow

Discharge equations

Critical depth

Type l flow

Type 2 flow

Flow with backwater

Type 3 flow

Type 4 flow

Flow under high head

Type 5 flow

Type 6 flow

Field data

High-water profiles

Headwater

Tailwater

Approach section

Culvert geometry

Normal culverts

Skewed culverts

Mitered culverts

Photographs

Special conditions

Debris

Breakinslope

Natural bottom

Roughness coefficients

Approach section

Culvert

Corrugated metal

Standard riveted section

Multiplate section

Paved inverts

Concrete

Other materials

Natural bottom

Computation of discharge

Flow at critical depth

Type 1 flow

Circular sections

Pipe-arch sections

Rectangular sections

Irregular sections

Type 2 flows

Circular sections

Pipe-arch sections

Rectangular sections

Irregular sections

Flow with backwater

Type 3 flow

Type 4 flow

Flow under high head

Concrete culverts

Corrugated-pipe culverts

Type 5 flow

Type 6 flow

Routing method

Unusual conditions

Multiple culverts

Coefficients of discharge

Types 1, 2, and 3 flow

Flush setting in vertical headwall

Pipe culverts

Box culverts

Wingwall entrance

Pipe culverts set flush with vertical headwall

Box culverts

Projecting entrance

Corrugated-metal pipes and pipe arches

Concrete pipes with beveled end

Mitered pipe set flush with sloping embankment

Types 4 and 6 flow

Flush setting in vertical headwall

Box or pipe culverts

Wingwall entrance

Pipe culverts set flush with vertical headwall

Box culverts

Projecting entrance

Corrugated-metal pipes and pipe-arches

Concrete pipes with beveled end

Mitered pipe set flush with sloping embankment

Type 5 flow

Flush setting in vertical headwall

Box or pipe culverts

Wingwall entrance

Pipe culverts set flush with vertical headwall

Box culverts

Projecting entrance

Corrugated-metal pipes and pipe-arches

Concrete pipe with beveled end

Mitered pipe set flush with sloping embankment

Unusual culvert entrances

General remarks

Storage

Stage-discharge relationships for culverts

Ratings with transition between flow types

Type 4 flow

Type 3 flow

Slope-area measurement within a culvert

Verification of culvert flow

Where to measure

Pipes flowing full

Accuracy of culvert computations

Examples

1. Type 1 flow through a corrugated-metal pipe culvert

2. Type 1 flow through a concrete box culvert

3. Type 2 flow through a corrugated-metal pipe culvert

4. Type 2 flow through a concrete box culvert

5. Type 3 flow through a corrugated-metal pipe culvert

6. Type 4 flow through a concrete pipe culvert

7. Type 5 flow through a corrugated-metal pipe culvert

8. Type 6 flow through a concrete pipe culvert

9. Computation of flow by the routing method

10. Computation of type 3 flow through an irregularly shaped culvert

Selected references

 


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