Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
(OP)
I'm being asked to design a culvert being installed at a pretty aggressive site. The channel in which the culvert will be placed is upwards of 20%. It looks like in the vicinity of the culvert, a ~17% slope in the culvert would work with the channel slope.
I'm having a hard time finding guidance for maximum pipe slope for CSP in the 48" diameter range. I've seen a lot of jurisdictions require slope anchoring at 20% or greater, but does the size of pipe play into that?
I'm having a hard time finding guidance for maximum pipe slope for CSP in the 48" diameter range. I've seen a lot of jurisdictions require slope anchoring at 20% or greater, but does the size of pipe play into that?
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
What are you covering the culvert with?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
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Since I don't what your design flow or design material are, I decided to check this as an RCP culvert (Mannings n=0.013). Here are my results at selected depth ratios:
D/d --- Q --- V ----- NF
10% 12.4 cfs 18.9 fps 6.4
30% 116.0 cfs 36.6 fps 6.9
50% 296.1 cfs 47.1 fps 6.6
70% 495.9 cfs 52.8 fps 5.8
90% 631.2 cfs 53.0 fps 4.2
The American Concrete Pipe Association (concretepipe.org) says, on their FAQ page, "At velocities up to 40 feet per second, the severity of velocity-abrasion effects depends upon the characteristics of the bed load." (https://www.concretepipe.org/faqs/#:~:text=Q%3A-,W....) The ACPA Concrete Pipe Design Manual (https://www.concretepipe.org/wp-content/uploads/20...) says "Maximum Velocity. Tests have indicated that concrete pipe can carry clear water of extremely high velocities without eroding. Actual performance records of storm sewers on grades up to 45 percent and carrying high percentages of solids indicate that erosion is seldom a problem with concrete pipe." You should be able to find similar information for corrugated metal pipes, HDPE, etc., either through additional internet sleuthing or by contacting pipe manufacturers.
I don't like to see velocities that high (in the flat country of the San Joaquin Valley, it's not an issue) and I like to avoid supercritical flow when possible. For your slope, would a combination of flatter slopes and drop structures work? Regardless, it appears that laying concrete pipe on a 17% slope is not out of line according to the ACPA. I just don't like it.
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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
sump to capture sand and gravel is also recommended to minimize erosion
flatter slopes with drops might be a better option
steep down drains with cmp are fairly common, but expect a shorter than avg service life
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
From my models of the drainage, I get the following results:
2YR Storm:
Q max = 1.84 cfs
d/D = .05
Max V (culvert) = 6.96 fps
Mat V (outfall channel) = 4.97
100YR Storm:
Q max = 6.85 cfs
d/D = .1
Max V (culvert) = 10 fps
Mat V (outfall channel) = 8.24 fps
It seems like the velocities aren't anything crazy, but they are within the "High abrasion" category for FHWA.
17.7% something to be worried about for slope anchorage?
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
Regarding anchors, the most common value I have seen for when anchors are required is >= a 20% slope. But, you should start with the local agency and find out what their design standards (if any) require. If they don't have any specific requirements, your pipe vendor may have a recommendation as well as a ready-made anchor system if you need it (which they would be glad to sell you
Estimating the slope of the downstream channel, I get a normal depth of around 0.1' for the 100-year storm. Hydraulically, this works, but please check local design standards to see if the there is a minimum freeboard requirement. You have 0.9', will that be enough?
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"Is it the only lesson of history that mankind is unteachable?"
--Winston S. Churchill
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
RE: Max slope for 48" CSP culvert being installed on steep terrain?
If there's sediments carried by the water for yours, you should consider a series of drop structures, or plan on using concrete and relining the pipe periodically. Using corrugated pipe will help slow down the velocity some, but not enough to prevent sediments from wearing through the steel fairly quickly.
Rod Smith, P.E., The artist formerly known as HotRod10