FHWA Resource Center
GEOTECH & HYDRAULICS TEAM
Hydraulic Design Series No. 5
HYDRAULIC DESIGN OF HIGHWAY CULVERTS
Publication No. FHWA-NHI-01-020
September 2001 (Revised May 2005)
ABSTRACT:
Hydraulic Design of Highway Culverts, Hydraulic Design Series No. 5 (HDS-5), combines culvert design information previously contained in Hydraulic Engineering Circulars (HEC) No. 5, No. 10, and No. 13 with hydrologic, storage routing, and special culvert design information. The result is a comprehensive culvert design publication. Hydrologic analysis methods are described, and references cited. Culvert design methods are presented for both conventional culverts and culverts with inlet improvements. Storage routing techniques are included which permit the designer to account for ponding effects upstream of the culvert. Unique culvert applications, erosion and sediment control, debris control, structural aspects, and long-span culverts are discussed and references cited. Inlet control, outlet control, and critical depth design charts, many of which are newly developed, are included for a variety of culvert sizes, shapes, and materials. New dimensionless culvert design charts are provided for the design of
culverts lacking conventional design nomographs and charts. The appendices of the publication contain the equations and methodology used to construct the design charts, information on the hydraulic resistance of culverts, and methods of optimizing culvert design using performance curves and inlet depression. Calculation forms are provided for most of the design methodologies in the manual.
DOCUMENT AVAILABILITY:
To download an electronic copy:
RELATED NHI TRAINING COURSE:
FHWA-NHI-135056, Culvert Design
RELATED FHWA SOFTWARE:
HY8 Culvert Analysis, version 6.1
FHWA TECHNICAL CONTACTS:
Mr. Dan Ghere
Hydraulics Engineer, FHWA Resource Center
Phone: (708) 283-3557
Email: dan.ghere@fhwa.dot.gov
Mr. Joe Krolak
Sr. Hydraulics Engineer, FHWA HQ
Phone: (202) 366-4611
Email: joseph.krolak@fhwa.dot.gov
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