HYDRAULICS OF FLARED END SECTIONS FOR PIPE CULVERTS
The most common end sections for pipe culverts are the shop-fabricated metal end sections and precast concrete end sections available from pipe suppliers. However, the standard reference works on culvert hydraulics provide little information on their hydraulic performance. The hydraulic characteristics of common flared end sections were recently investigated in model tests conducted at the University of Kansas for the Kansas Department of Transportation. Inlet-control rating curves were developed and entrance-loss coefficients for metal and concrete flared end sections of all sizes were determined. The hydraulic effects of floating debris were investigated and some potential design improvements tested. Under inlet control, standard flared end sections perform much better than mitered pipes, slightly better than headwalls with sharp inlet edges, and slightly worse than headwalls with grooved or rounded inlet edges. The concrete flared end sections are slightly more efficient than the metal end sections. Entrance-loss coefficients for flared end sections range from 0.24 to 0.30. Floating debris has little effect on the hydraulic performance of the flared end sections under inlet control. However, an accumulation of debris alters the flow pattern in a way that can cause a shift from inlet control to full flow, a more efficient operating condition. The hydraulic performance of a flared inlet can be improved by adding several bars across the top third of the inlet opening. These "flow bars" have the same beneficial hydraulic effects as an accumulation of debris at the inlet.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1483, 1993 Midwest Floods and Water Quality Best Management Practices. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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Authors:
- McEnroe, Bruce M
- Johnson, Lance M
- Publication Date: 1995
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: p. 72-79
- Monograph Title: 1993 Midwest floods and water quality best management practices
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record
- Issue Number: 1483
- Publisher: Transportation Research Board
- ISSN: 0361-1981
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Culverts; Debris removal; Flow; Flow control (Air traffic control); Hydraulics; Performance evaluations; Pipe culverts
- Uncontrolled Terms: Debris; Flow patterns; Model tests
- Old TRIS Terms: Culvert hydraulics; Flared end sections; Flow control; Inlet flow
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00713561
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Nov 16 1995 12:00AM