University of Ilorin

Faculty of Engineering & Technology

Department Of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering

(WEE425)
DESIGN CRITERIA AND PROCEDURE FOR
MEASURING STRUCTURE - CULVERT

DESIGN OF HYDRAULIC STRUCTURES

ASSIGNMENT

INSTRUCTOR
PROF. AYANNIYI AYANSHOLA
February 21, 2023
GROUP MEMBERS
The names below are the students who partook in the Design Criteria and
Procedure for Measuring Structure – Culvert Assignment

NAMES MATRIC NUMBER

MECHIE EMMANUEL IFEANYI 18/30GQ055

Alade Anthony 18/30GQ020

Akandeowoo Faid 18/30GQ016

Durojaye Inioluwa Boluwatife 18/30GQ065

Sanni Hammed Oluwaseun 18/30GQ080

Yakubu Hamzat Odoba 18/30GQ089

INTRODUCTION
Culverts are an essential component of transportation infrastructure, used to convey water or other
fluids under roadways, railways, or other structures. They can be made of a variety of materials,
including concrete, steel, or other composite materials, and can have various shapes and sizes
depending on the specific design requirements. Culverts are critical for maintaining the safety and
functionality of transportation systems, and they require careful design and construction to ensure
their durability and effectiveness.

The design of culverts involves several key considerations, including hydraulic performance, structural
integrity, durability, and accessibility. Hydraulic performance is critical for ensuring that the culvert can
handle the expected flow rate of water or other fluids, while structural integrity is important for
ensuring that the culvert can withstand the loads and stresses imposed on it by traffic and other
external factors. Durability is also a key consideration, as culverts must be able to withstand the
effects of weathering, corrosion, and other forms of deterioration over their expected lifespan. Finally,
accessibility is important to ensure that the culvert can be maintained and inspected over time, to
ensure its ongoing performance and safety.

To design a culvert that meets these requirements, engineers and designers must follow specific
procedures and guidelines that are set out in codes and standards established by professional
organizations and regulatory agencies. These codes and standards provide detailed guidance on
factors such as culvert sizing, material selection, reinforcement design, and construction techniques.
By following these guidelines and procedures, engineers can design culverts that are safe, effective,
and durable, and that meet the specific needs and requirements of the transportation system in which
they are located.

FUNCTIONS
1. The primary function of a culvert is to provide a safe and efficient passage for water under a
roadway or embankment. Culverts are also used to prevent flooding and erosion, and to
provide habitat for fish and other aquatic species.
 2. Culvert is used to provide a way as a hydraulic structure to any stream or flow under or over
roads, or railways.

3. Culvert serves as a pathway to traffic when it is constructed under the roads and trails.

Design Criteria:
The design of a culvert should take into consideration several factors such as:

1. Hydraulic capacity - The culvert should be designed to accommodate the expected volume of
water flow. This will depend on the size of the watershed, rainfall intensity, and duration.

2. Structural capacity - The culvert should be designed to withstand the expected loads from the
roadway or embankment above, as well as any environmental loads such as soil or water
pressure.

3. Durability - The culvert should be designed to last for a long time and withstand exposure to
the elements and other factors such as erosion and corrosion.

4. Accessibility - The culvert should be designed to allow for easy maintenance and inspection.
Design Procedures:
The design of a culvert typically involves the following steps:

1. Determine the hydraulic design criteria based on the expected volume of water flow. This will
involve calculating the peak flow rate, the design flow rate, and the velocity of flow.

2. Determine the structural design criteria based on the expected loads from the roadway or
embankment above, as well as any environmental loads such as soil or water pressure. This
will involve calculating the loads and stresses on the culvert.

3. Select a suitable culvert material and shape based on the hydraulic and structural design
criteria. This will involve considering factors such as cost, durability, and ease of installation.

4. Size the culvert based on the hydraulic and structural design criteria. This will involve
calculating the required diameter or dimensions of the culvert.

5. Prepare detailed construction plans and specifications based on the design criteria, culvert
size, and material selection.

6. Obtain any necessary permits and approvals from local authorities.

7. Construct the culvert according to the plans and specifications.

CLEAR PICTURES/FIGURES
DETAILED CALCULATIONS
The design of a culvert will typically involve several detailed calculations. For example, the hydraulic
design criteria will involve calculating the peak flow rate using methods such as the Rational Method
or the SCS Method. The structural design criteria will involve calculating the loads and stresses on the
culvert using methods such as the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges or the ASTM
Standards for culverts.

Design criteria for the measurement of culverts will depend on the specific requirements of the
project and the type of culvert being measured. Here are some calculations that may be relevant:

Cross-sectional area: The cross-sectional area of the culvert should be calculated in order to
determine the flow rate through the culvert. This can be calculated by multiplying the width of the
culvert by the height of the water column.

Velocity: The velocity of the water through the culvert should be calculated to determine the capacity
of the culvert. This can be calculated using the formula v = Q / A, where v is the velocity, Q is the flow
rate, and A is the cross-sectional area.

Manning's equation: Manning's equation can be used to determine the flow rate through the culvert,
based on the hydraulic radius, slope, and roughness of the culvert. The formula is Q = (1.49/n) * A *
R^(2/3) * S^(1/2), where Q is the flow rate, n is the Manning roughness coefficient, A is the
cross-sectional area, R is the hydraulic radius, and S is the slope.

Capacity: The capacity of the culvert should be calculated to ensure that it can handle the expected
flow rates. This can be determined using the formula Q = v * A, where Q is the flow rate, v is the
velocity, and A is the cross-sectional area.
Head loss: Head loss through the culvert should be calculated to determine the energy losses that
occur as water flows through the culvert. This can be calculated using the Darcy-Weisbach equation,
which relates the head loss to the friction factor, length of the culvert, velocity, and hydraulic radius.

Inlet and outlet conditions: The inlet and outlet conditions of the culvert should be considered in the
design calculations. The headwater elevation and tailwater elevation should be measured and used to
determine the flow rates and velocities through the culvert.

Structural design: The structural design of the culvert should also be considered in the design
calculations. The load capacity of the culvert should be determined based on the expected traffic
loads, and the dimensions of the culvert should be designed to ensure that it can handle the loads
without failing.

These are some of the calculations that may be relevant for designing the measurement of culverts. It
is important to consult with a professional engineer or other qualified professional to ensure that the
design criteria are appropriate for the specific project and comply with local regulations and
standards.

RESULTS & DISCUSSION

The results of the design process should be a set of detailed plans and specifications that meet the
design criteria and are suitable for construction. The plans and specifications should be reviewed by
qualified engineers and approved by local authorities before construction can begin. During
construction, the plans and specifications should be followed carefully to ensure that the culvert is
built to the required standards.

CONCLUSION
Designing a culvert requires careful consideration of several factors such as hydraulic capacity,
structural capacity, durability, and accessibility. The design process involves several detailed
calculations and should result in a set of detailed plans and specifications that meet the design criteria
and are suitable for construction. The construction of the culvert should be carefully monitored to
ensure that it is built to the required standards

REFERENCES
1. Researchgate-
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340102718_Design_of_a_Box_Culvert
2. Wikipedia-cukvert- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culvert

3. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/pubs/12026/hif12026.pdf