Topic outline

  • Bottomless Culvert Scour Study

    Credits: 5 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    Bottomless (or three-sided) culverts use the natural channel bed and are environmentally attractive alternatives to traditional closed culverts. They are often promoted as alternatives for replacing short bridges.

    This report describes a two-phase study conducted at the FHWA Hydraulic Laboratory:

    Phase I:
    a preliminary investigation focused on measuring maximum scour depths at the culvert entrance and developing equations for estimating inlet scour.

    Phase II:
    a follow-up investigation to include scour measurements at the outlet, submerged entrance scour measurements, detailed velocity and depth measurements with a prescour fixed bed to refine the equations, and evaluation of various potential scour countermeasures to reduce scour at the culvert inlet and outlet.

    Topics:

    • Introduction to Bottomless Culverts
    • Test Facilities and Instrumentation
    • Model Bottomless Culvert Shapes
    • Experimental Parameters
    • Scour protection: Riprap Analysis
    • Theoretical Background
    • Clear Water Scour Experiments
    • Riprap Stability Design Coefficients
    • Use of Cross Vanes for Inlet Scour Control
    • Scour Calculation Examples

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course:
    Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion


    Intended Audience: This course is intended for Hydraulic, Civil, Transportation, Water Resources, and other engineers whose job description may require a general knowledge of the scouring effects of streams and rivers on culvert and bridge structures.
    Publication Source: US DOT (Federal Highway Administration)


    Donald Parnell, PE
    • Topic 1