Hydraulic Capacity of Type-H Inlets

Type H Inlets are frequently used by the Texas Department of Transportation as median drains for divided highways. Despite frequent use, engineers do not have adequate design information to mathematically describe the hydraulic performance of these structures. Typically, it has been assumed that IL-H-G and IL-H-L function essentially the same as roadway grates or curb inlets, but there is no basis for that assumption. Type-H drop inlets were investigated using a database from literature-reported experiments for similar inlets and physical model studies conducted at Texas Tech University (TTU). The findings of this study are: Type-H inlets, as studied, perform similar to the HEC-22 expectations when the weir-type conditions are applied (Equation (4-26) in HEC-22). Orifice-type models could not explain the TTU or the literature-derived observations. A power-law model that uses the dimensionless groups suggested by Cassidy (1966), with the slopes omitted, provides a reasonable explanation of inlet behavior. SWMM was investigated as a predictive tool by comparison to the TTU experimental results. The SWMM model was subject to very minimal calibration yet predicted performance reasonably well, especially when full inlet capture may occur. Examples of performance prediction using HEC-22, the power-law model and SWMM are presented to provide some guidance for Type-H inlet design.

• Record URL:
  http://www.depts.ttu.edu/techmrtweb/reports/complete_reports/0-5823-fpr.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Tech University, Lubbock

  Water Resources Center, 10th and Akron
  Lubbock, TX  United States  79409-1022

  Texas Department of Transportation

  Research and Technology Implementation Office, P.O. Box 5080
  Austin, TX  United States  78763-5080

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Cleveland, Theodore G
  • Rainwater, Kenneth A
  • Smirnov, Sergey
  • Barnes, Wade
  • DaCosta, Larissa
  • Basnet, Bijay
  • Aseze, Martin
  • Mendoza, Zeferino
  • Singleton, Kirsten
  • Murphy, Holly
  • Ulary, Annabell
• Publication Date: 2010-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Technical Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 242p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Culvert inlets; Design; Divided highways; Drainage structures; Hydraulics; Literature reviews; Medians; Structural models
• Identifier Terms: SWMM (Computer program)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hydraulic capacity; Performance prediction
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01346510
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-09/0-5823-1, Report 0-5823-1
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 5 2011 4:09PM