Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control
Culverts, as an essential part of drainage networks worldwide, provide an efficient solution for flowing waters to cross man-made barriers including roads. Existing structures can be many years old and changes in rainfall patterns due to global warming might not have been considered in their origina...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/7/1408 |
| _version_ | 1811274186766680064 |
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| author | Rick Jaeger Katharina Tondera Selvan Pather Mark Porter Carolyn Jacobs Neil Tindale |
| author_facet | Rick Jaeger Katharina Tondera Selvan Pather Mark Porter Carolyn Jacobs Neil Tindale |
| author_sort | Rick Jaeger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Culverts, as an essential part of drainage networks worldwide, provide an efficient solution for flowing waters to cross man-made barriers including roads. Existing structures can be many years old and changes in rainfall patterns due to global warming might not have been considered in their original design. While correctly designed culverts can effectively drain water during high-intensity rainfall events, poorly designed or outdated structures could cause upstream flooding resulting in costly damage and losses. Hydraulic improvements to prepare existing culverts for greater discharge rates could be a favorable alternative to rebuilding every failing structure. Modern design guidelines calculate the performance for inlet and outlet controlled flows on the basis of established hydraulic theories. After calculating the headwater levels for both flow controls, the inferior one is then chosen, based on the assumption that the culvert will operate in its least efficient state. Flow improvements could be made by enforcing the better performing option. Outlet control can be ensured by raising the tailwater levels as high as the outlet thereby utilizing the entire cross-sectional area of the culvert. It was found that, in some cases, an enforced outlet control enables culverts to perform better than operation under inlet control. However, only smooth and short culverts with high losses at the inlet were identified as benefiting from this approach and many existing structures could be improved by better inlet designs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:14:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e43093c1f5a44dbb9969327258ee6876 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:14:22Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-e43093c1f5a44dbb9969327258ee68762022-12-22T03:12:44ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412019-07-01117140810.3390/w11071408w11071408Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet ControlRick Jaeger0Katharina Tondera1Selvan Pather2Mark Porter3Carolyn Jacobs4Neil Tindale5School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, QLD, AustraliaIMT Atlantique Bretagne—Pays de Loire, Department of Energy Systems and Environment, 44307 Nantes, FranceSchool of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, QLD, AustraliaSchool of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs 4556, QLD, AustraliaCulverts, as an essential part of drainage networks worldwide, provide an efficient solution for flowing waters to cross man-made barriers including roads. Existing structures can be many years old and changes in rainfall patterns due to global warming might not have been considered in their original design. While correctly designed culverts can effectively drain water during high-intensity rainfall events, poorly designed or outdated structures could cause upstream flooding resulting in costly damage and losses. Hydraulic improvements to prepare existing culverts for greater discharge rates could be a favorable alternative to rebuilding every failing structure. Modern design guidelines calculate the performance for inlet and outlet controlled flows on the basis of established hydraulic theories. After calculating the headwater levels for both flow controls, the inferior one is then chosen, based on the assumption that the culvert will operate in its least efficient state. Flow improvements could be made by enforcing the better performing option. Outlet control can be ensured by raising the tailwater levels as high as the outlet thereby utilizing the entire cross-sectional area of the culvert. It was found that, in some cases, an enforced outlet control enables culverts to perform better than operation under inlet control. However, only smooth and short culverts with high losses at the inlet were identified as benefiting from this approach and many existing structures could be improved by better inlet designs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/7/1408culvertculvert hydraulicsculvert design flow controldischarge capacityclimate change |
| spellingShingle | Rick Jaeger Katharina Tondera Selvan Pather Mark Porter Carolyn Jacobs Neil Tindale Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control Water culvert culvert hydraulics culvert design flow control discharge capacity climate change |
| title | Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control |
| title_full | Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control |
| title_fullStr | Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control |
| title_full_unstemmed | Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control |
| title_short | Flow Control in Culverts: A Performance Comparison between Inlet and Outlet Control |
| title_sort | flow control in culverts a performance comparison between inlet and outlet control |
| topic | culvert culvert hydraulics culvert design flow control discharge capacity climate change |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/11/7/1408 |
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