Hydraulics Engineering Publications

Title: Introduction to Highway Hydraulics

Description: Hydraulic Design Series No. 4 provides an introduction to highway hydraulics. Hydrologic techniques presented concentrate on methods suitable to small areas, since many components of highway drainage (culverts, storm drains, ditches, etc.) service primarily small areas. A brief review of fundamental hydraulic concepts is provided, including continuity, energy, momentum, hydrostatics, weir flow and orifice flow. The document then presents open channel flow principles and design applications, followed by a parallel discussion of closed conduit principles and design applications. Open channel applications include discussion of stable channel design and pavement drainage. Closed conduit applications include culvert and storm drain design. Examples are provided to help illustrate important concepts. An overview of energy dissipators is provided and the document concludes with a brief discussion of construction, maintenance and economic issues.

FHWA Publication Number: NHI-08-090

Publication Year: 2008

Document Links: HTML PDF (4 mb)

Other documents in this series:

Archive

• Introduction to Highway Hydraulics
• Introduction to Highway Hydraulics (SI)
• Design of Roadside Drainage Channels