Abstract
Abstract Reinforced concrete box culverts are designed to provide hydraulic conveyance at peak stream discharge in a cost-effective manner; however, these structures can promote headcutting. Many state departments of transportation construct soil saver walls or similar structures on the upstream of box culverts to prevent headcutting. These walls act as a drop inlet and may hinder free movement of aquatic organisms. The potential impact on aquatic organism passage has resulted in regulatory pressure to develop alternatives or modifications to the traditional soil saver wall design. This article contains the results of an analysis of the potential impact of box culverts with solid soil saver walls on aquatic organism passage. The results of a survey of thirty states and fifteen field sites on the current state-of-practice for box culverts, and flume tests using model box culverts with a solid soil saver wall and with modified design to promote aquatic passage are presented. Modifications to the soil saver wall design are recommended based on the results of the survey of states, field surveys, and flume testing.
Highlights
Design considerations for reinforced concrete box (RCB) culverts have traditionally included traffic capacity and safety, hydraulic conveyance for design stream discharge, and low initial cost in construction and maintenance as compared with other crossing structures, such as single- or multiple-span bridges [1]
A flume study was performed in the laboratory to compare the headcutting patterns that form upstream of a solid soil saver wall (SSW) and evaluate the walls modified with added notches to promote aquatic organism passage (AOP)
The flume bed level (FBL), sand bed level (SBL), and water surface level (WSL) at upstream of SSW were recorded at the center of the flume
Summary
Design considerations for reinforced concrete box (RCB) culverts have traditionally included traffic capacity and safety, hydraulic conveyance for design stream discharge, and low initial cost in construction and maintenance as compared with other crossing structures, such as single- or multiple-span bridges [1]. Many departments of transportation (DOTs) have used a grade control structure, referred to in this article as a soil saver wall (SSW), at the upstream end of box culverts where the potential for headcutting is a concern.
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