What is a Culvert?

Types of Culverts, its

Materials and Location
Home » Constrution » What is a Culvert? Types of Culverts, its Materials and Location

What is a Culvert?
Culvert is a tunnel structure constructed under roadways or railways to provide
cross drainage or to take electrical or other cables from one side to other. The
culvert system is totally enclosed by soil or ground.

Materials for Culvert Construction

Culverts are like pipes but very large in size. They are made of many materials
like

o Concrete

o Steel

o Plastic

o Aluminum

o high density polyethylene

In most cases concrete culverts are preferred. Concrete culverts may be

reinforced or non-reinforced. In some cases culverts are constructed in site
called cast in situ culverts. Precast culverts are also available. By the
combination above materials we can also get composite culvert types.

Location of Culverts
The location of culverts should be based on economy and usage. Generally it is
recommended that the provision of culverts under roadway or railway are
economical. There is no need to construct separate embankment or anything for
providing culverts.

The provided culverts should be perpendicular to the roadway. It should be of

greater dimensions to allow maximum water level and should be located in such
 a way that flow should be easily done. It is possible by providing required
gradient.

Types of Culverts
Following are the types of culverts generally used in construction:

o Pipe culvert ( single or multiple)

o Pipe Arch ( single or multiple)

o Box culvert ( single or multiple)

o Arch culvert

o Bridge culvert

Pipe Culvert (Single or Multiple)

Pipe culverts are widely used culverts and rounded in shape. The culverts may
be of single in number or multiple. If single pipe culvert is used then larger
diameter culvert is installed.

If the width of channel is greater than we will go for multiple pipe culverts. They
are suitable for larger flows very well. The diameter of pipe culverts ranges from
1 meter to 6m. These are made of concrete or steel etc..

Pipe Arch Culvert (Single or Multiple)

Pipe arch culverts means nothing but they looks like half circle shaped culverts.
Pipe arch culverts are suitable for larger water flows but the flow should be
stable. Because of arch shape fishes or sewage in the drainage easily carried to
the outlet without stocking at the inlet or bottom of channel.

This type of culverts can also be provided in multiple numbers based on the
requirement. They also enhance beautiful appearance.

Box Culvert (Single or Multiple)

Box culverts are in rectangular shape and generally constructed by concrete.

Reinforcement is also provided in the construction of box culvert. These are
used to dispose rain water. So, these are not useful in the dry period.

They can also be used as passages to cross the rail or roadway during dry
periods for animals etc. Because of sharp corners these are not suitable for
larger velocity. Box culverts can also be provided in multiple numbers.
Arch Culvert

Arch culvert is similar to pipe arch culvert but in this case an artificial floor is
provided below the arch. For narrow passages it is widely used. The artificial
floor is made of concrete and arch also made of concrete. Steel arch culverts are
also available but very expensive.

Bridge Culvert

Bridge culverts are provided on canals or rivers and also used as road bridges
for vehicles. For this culverts a foundation is laid under the ground surface. A
series of culverts are laid and pavement surface is laid on top this series of
culverts. Generally these are rectangular shaped culverts these can replace the
box culverts if artificial floor is not necessary.
Construction of Culverts and Minor Bridges-
Siting and Investigation of Catchment Area
Home » Constrution » Construction of Culverts and Minor Bridges- Siting and Investigation of Catchment Area

Road or rail line projects involves construction of culverts and minor bridges.
Siting considerations and investigation of catchment area for construction of
culverts and minor bridges is discussed.

If detailed investigation is carried for every project, more time will be consumed
resulting in an expensive construction.

Approximation during the construction can be carried out if required. This is

because the repairs or any kind of replacement due to inadequacy can be done
with minimum dislocation and cost.
Construction of Culverts and Minor Bridges
The two main investigations that is carried out during construction of culvert and
minor bridge, i.e. the siting and the catchment area study.

A crossing with a total length not greater than 6m, that is measured between
the faces of the abutments or the extreme vent way boundaries is called as
the culvert. This measurement is carried out in the direction perpendicular to the
axis of the vent away.
Pipes, arches, slabs of reinforced concrete on piers or abutments, reinforced
concrete boxes are used to make these minor drainage works. In the areas
where the bank is appreciably high or where the cushion is sufficiently available
pipes and arch culverts are provided.

The pipe culverts can be provided for low discharges up to 10 cubic meters per
second (cumecs). This is found to be cheap and quickest form to construct in
the before-mentioned discharge range.
Box culverts are also constructed in individual spans for length from 1 to 4m.
These are provided in single or multiple units. For span ranging from 2 to 6m,
arches and slab culverts are the best choices.
While constructing box and slab culverts, a wearing course is directly placed on the
top of the slab without the need for any earth cushion. The figure-1 below shows
the section of culverts.

Fig.1: Typical Sections of Different Types of Culverts

Siting Considerations and Investigation of Catchment Area for
Construction of Culverts and Minor Bridges
For the investigation for any major road or rail line, the survey is conducted
through the center line of the alignment that is proposed as the initial survey.
The details of the same are obtained by undergoing plane table survey for about
100m, done on either side of the alignment.

To plot the longitudinal section, levels are taken along the alignment at certain
intervals. These intervals must not be less than 25m in plains.
In the case of an undulating country, the intervals must be close when chosen.
Hence, the interval is selected based on the terrain characteristics.

Clear and efficient contours can be obtained for the area that is surveyed by
taking a sufficient number of the cross section. The intervals that is considered
for vertical contour levels should be 1 to 2m.

The rivers, canals and natural streams that are crossed while surveying is
marked and noted down with respect to that location. These are points called
the obligatory pointsthat will be considered for drainage crossing provision.
Openings are provided in the embankments wherever necessary, to consider
any form of low level points that will result in the collection of water to the
upstream during the embankment construction or result in the formation of
water impound.

The valley points can be discerned by plotting and studying the longitudinal
section. Once the valley points are noted, the contours are examined properly to
decide whether there is any need for draining the major local pockets.

In areas where a continuous form of ups and down undulations are prominent,
say with a difference of successive points not more than 0.3m, a diversion at the
suitable point will enable the local pocket to get drained.

The Proper examination must be made to undergo any kind of diversion. Based
on this assessment the catchment is drained by means of a culvert at any
location.

Other investigations that must be carried out are on the soil characteristics, the
catchment area that must be drained and on the flood level that is anticipated to
determine the clearances.

Provision of Diversions during Construction of Culverts and

Minor Bridges
 The investigating engineer will see the possibility of diversion in the case of the
culvert and minor bridge construction.

The following details are noted during investigations for the same:

o The catchment area

o Soil characteristics

o The nature of the stream – It can be either perennial or seasonal

o The highest flood level

o The lower water level slope

o The requirements for navigation

o Other construction problems that may arise

No need for alternative sites in the case of the man-made or another type of
culverts. The culverts and the minor bridges can be provided without altering
the road or rail alignment.

To run the flow normal to the road or the alignment of the rail, special
modifications or training can be carried out. The bridge span will have shorter
length if a normal crossing is carried out. It also reduces the length of the pier
and the abutments.

This arrangement will enable smooth flow and facilitates construction of

segmental wing wall and return walls. This will bring structures that have a
minimum sharp angle, which would facilitate the reduction of eddies and cross
currents.

If normal crossing cannot be provided due to the space constraint problems,

skew crossing can be carried for the water course training works. The skew is
preferred to be less than 30 degrees.

Catchment Area Consideration for Culvert Construction

A catchment area is the area from where a river mostly gets its water or pour
out, that varies with rivers to lakes be in meters or in km.

A direct measurement from a scaled map with essential contours can give the
catchment area for any bridge or culvert crossing. In the case of small
crossings, the area can be prepared from the survey plan that covers details up
to 100m on either side.

In the case where the catchment area exceeds the surveyed boundaries, a
traverse must be run at the site along the extreme ridge line that envelope the
area which has to be drained. After this, the area to be drained is computed.

In the case of small streams, the topographic sheets help in direct calculations
from the contour details given in the sheet. It is good if the topographic sheet
has scale 1” = 1 mile or 1:50,000 or 1: 25,000.

If this is not available, a traverse must be run along the ridges on either side
which separate the stream under consideration from the neighboring streams.
This traverse can be carried out with the help of a chain, prismatic compass, and
an Abney Level.