Culvert Installation Research Articles

Sewer Culvert Installation Method to Accommodate Underground Construction in an Urban Area with Narrow Streets

Sewer Culvert Installation Method to Accommodate Underground Construction in an Urban Area with Narrow Streets

Sewer Culvert Installation Method to Accommodate Underground Construction in an Urban Area with Narrow Streets (The Development of Shield Switching Type Micro-Tunneling Method and the Introduction of Construction Examples)

Sewer Culvert Installation Method to Accommodate Underground Construction in an Urban Area with Narrow Streets (The Development of Shield Switching Type Micro-Tunneling Method and the Introduction of Construction Examples)

Analysis of a 610-mm-Diameter Pipe Installed Using Pipe Ramming

AbstractDepartments of transportation are increasingly embracing pipe ramming for culvert installation under roadways due to its cost effectiveness and ability to mitigate problems associated with open-cut trenching. Despite the increase in use, little technical guidance is available for the engineering of pipe-ramming installations. This study presents the analysis of the performance of an instrumented 610-mm-diameter steel pipe installed using pipe ramming. Measurements include ground surface movement and dynamic force and velocity waveforms to obtain driving stresses, hammer-pipe energy transfer, and static and dynamic soil resistance during the installation. Ground movements are compared to existing settlement prediction models. Inverted normal probability distribution models commonly used in tunnel engineering were evaluated and were observed to capture the observed settlement close to the center of the pipe but did not accurately predict the observed transverse settlement profiles. The transfer of e...

Turbidity and suspended-sediment changes from stream-crossing construction on a forest haul road in West Virginia, USA

A forested headwater watershed in West Virginia was monitored to examine changes to in-stream turbidity following the construction of a 0.92 km (0.57 mi) haul road. Due to the design of the study, most of the sediment that entered the stream following road construction was known to result from the stream crossings and approaches to the crossings. Stream-water samples collected daily and sequentially during stormflow from 1999 through 2005 were used to interpret the effects of stream-crossing construction on turbidity and suspended-sediment concentrations (SSC). Daily and stormflow turbidity and SSC values increased as a result of the construction. Average sediment loads (kg per storm) and total annualized sediment loads (kg per year) also increased significantly, both by a factor of about 1.8. Sediment delivery to the stream was caused by mechanical introduction of soil during stream-crossing culvert installation and fill-slope construction in the crossing approaches, and by erosion of those areas due to delays in vegetation re-establishment. Inputs from stream-crossing construction affected the overall sediment regime of the stream; the turbidity-discharge hysteresis changed from the normal clockwise pattern to a counter-clockwise pattern for about seven months. As the crossing fills and approach fill slopes became re-vegetated, they stabilized, and annualized sediment loads declined. However, at the end of the study, sediment exports remained above pre-disturbance levels.

Seismic Design and Analysis of Buried Culverts and Structures

This paper presents a method to analyze and evaluate buried culverts and cut-and-cover tunnels for seismic loading in addition to standard static loading from dead and live loads. Using CANDE-2007, a plane-strain finite-element program, the soil-structure problem is characterized by a cross-sectional slice through the structure and surrounding soil envelope. First, the static-design loads are applied with a series of incremental load steps. Next, the seismic loading condition is simulated by specifying quasistatic displacements at the peripheral boundaries of the soil envelope to produce a shear-racking distortion equivalent to the maximum free-field seismic shear strain from the design earthquake. The proposed method is based on two recently completed NCHRP projects and is presented here in detail. An initial linear-elastic study investigates two basic culvert shapes, circular and rectangular, wherein moment and thrust distributions from CANDE-2007 are shown to compare favorably with closed-form solutions. A second study investigates a nonlinear reinforced concrete box culvert installation under the combination of static and seismic loadings. Plots of moment, thrust, and shear distributions show how and where the seismic loading alters the response of static loading including the effect on safety factors for steel yielding, concrete crushing, and shear failure. It is concluded that the proposed seismic method is rational, easy to apply, and fulfills an engineering need heretofore unfulfilled. The procedure applies to any culvert shape, size, and material, and the safety of the culvert installation may be assessed either by working stress or load resistance factor design.

Seismic Design and Analysis of Buried Structures with CANDE-2007

A method is presented to analyze and evaluate buried culverts and cut-and-cover tunnels for seismic loading in addition to standard static loading from dead and live loads. With CANDE-2007, a plane–strain finite element program, the soil–structure problem is characterized by a cross-sectional slice through the structure and surrounding soil envelope. First, the static design loads are applied with a series of incremental load steps. Next, the seismic loading condition is simulated by specifying quasi-static displacements at the peripheral boundaries of the soil envelope to produce a shear-racking distortion equivalent to the maximum free-field seismic shear strain from the design earthquake. The proposed method is based on two recently completed NCHRP projects and is presented here in detail. An initial linear-elastic study investigates two basic culvert shapes, circular and rectangular, wherein moment and thrust distributions from CANDE-2007 are shown to compare favorably with closed-form solutions. A second study investigates a nonlinear reinforced concrete box culvert installation under the combination of static and seismic loading. Plots of moment, thrust, and shear distributions show how and where the seismic loading alters the response of static loading, including the effect on safety factors for steel yielding, concrete crushing, and shear failure. It is concluded that the proposed seismic method is rational, easy to apply, and fulfills an engineering need heretofore unfulfilled. The procedure applies to any culvert shape, size, and material, and the safety of the culvert installation may be assessed by working either stress or load and resistance factor design.

Relation Between Species Assemblages Of Fishes and Water Quality In Salt Ponds and Sloughs In South San Francisco Bay

This study was conducted to characterize fishery resources inhabiting salt-evaporation ponds and sloughs in South San Francisco Bay, and to identify key environmental variables that influence distribution of fishes. The ponds, which were originally constructed and operated for commercial production of salt, have undergone preliminary modifications (installation of culverts, gates, and other water-control structures) in preparation for full restoration to mostly tidal wetlands over the next 2 decades. We sampled fish from two salt-pond complexes (Alviso complex and Eden Landing complex), each consisting of several pond systems and their associated sloughs. Cluster analysis of species of fish indicated that at least two species assemblages were present, one characteristic of ponds and the other characteristic of sloughs and slough-like ponds. The slough-like ponds exhibited water-quality conditions (especially salinity) that resembled conditions found in the sloughs. Pond fishes were represented by 12 species, whereas slough fishes were represented by 22 species. Except for bay pipefish (Syngnathus leptorhynchus), which was unique to ponds, all species present in ponds also were in sloughs and slough-like ponds. These results indicated that species of fish in ponds originated from the sloughs. According to canonical-discriminant analysis, four environmental variables were useful for discriminating between the two species assemblages. Most discriminatory power was contributed by the index of habitat connectivity, a measure of minimum distance that a fish must travel to reach a particular pond from the nearest slough. Apparently, as fish from sloughs enter and move through interconnected salt ponds, environmental stress factors increase in severity until only the more tolerant species remain. The most likely source of stress is salinity, because this variable was second in importance to the index of habitat connectivity in discriminating between the two species assemblages. Water temperature and concentration of dissolved oxygen also seemingly influenced spatial distribution of fishes, although they were less important than salinity.

Hydraulic geometry and microtopography of tidal freshwater forested wetlands and implications for restoration, Columbia River, U.S.A.

In many coastal areas, diking has severed the lateral connectivity between river channels and tidal freshwater floodplain forests that, historically, were shaped by riverine and oceanic hydrologic processes and local surficial geology. This paper assesses geomorphological aspects of Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce) reference wetlands and restoration sites on the West Coast of North America. Multi-scale methods from fluvial and estuarine sciences included field surveys and spatial analysis of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. At reference wetlands, correlations between channel cross-sectional area at outlet and catchment-scale features (catchment area, total length of channels) were consistent with previously published hydraulic geometry of two tidal salt marsh systems. Hydrologic reconnection restoration actions on agricultural lands – dike breaching, culvert installation, and tide gate replacement – all affected channel cross-sectional geometry. Diked land had subsided and lost microtopographic features associated with large wood during agricultural use, while channel density remained comparable to reference wetlands. Thus, at restoration sites, a greater area-time inundation index and frequency of inundation increased both sedimentation rates and channel cross-sectional areas when compared to reference wetlands. Such site-scale restoration affects ecosystem processes and produces measurable patterns in hydraulic geometry and channel morphology.

Modeling Habitat Change in Salt Marshes After Tidal Restoration

AbstractSalt marshes continue to degrade in the United States due to indirect human impacts arising from tidal restrictions. Roads or berms with inadequate provision for tidal flow hinder ecosystem functions and interfere with self‐maintenance of habitat, because interactions among vegetation, soil, and hydrology within tidally restricted marshes prevent them from responding to sea level rise. Prediction of the tidal range that is expected after restoration relative to the current geomorphology is crucial for successful restoration of salt marsh habitat. Both insufficient (due to restriction) and excessive (due to subsidence and sea level rise) tidal flooding can lead to loss of salt marshes. We developed and applied the Marsh Response to Hydrological Modifications model as a predictive tool to forecast the success of management scenarios for restoring full tides to previously restricted areas. We present an overview of a computer simulation tool that evaluates potential culvert installations with output of expected tidal ranges, water discharges, and flood potentials. For three New England tidal marshes we show species distributions of plants for tidally restricted and nonrestricted areas. Elevation ranges of species are used for short‐term (<5 years) predictions of changes to salt marsh habitat after tidal restoration. In addition, elevation changes of the marsh substrate measured at these sites are extrapolated to predict long‐term (>5 years) changes in marsh geomorphology under restored tidal regimes. The resultant tidal regime should be designed to provide habitat requirements for salt marsh plants. At sites with substantial elevation losses a balance must be struck that stimulates elevation increases by improving sediment fluxes into marshes while establishing flooding regimes appropriate to sustain the desired plants.

Contamination from forestry activities: implications for stream sediment exploration programmes

Although it is well established that background geochemical patterns in stream sediments generally depend on drainage basin geology, little is known of the effects of watershed disturbance on such patterns. Here we report on the effects of forestry activities on sediment geochemistry on the Interior Plateau of British Columbia. Stream sediment samples were collected from six small streams in 1996, before logging, and in 1997 after clear-cut logging. Samples were sieved and the −212 μm fraction analysed by multi-element ICP after both strong acid and total decomposition procedures. Field and analytical duplicates, and samples from unlogged control sites were used to estimate variations not associated with logging activities. Results show that prior to logging each stream had a distinct multi-element geochemical signature related to drainage basin geology. There was no overall effect of logging on these signatures within or downstream of the cut-blocks — probably because unlogged buffer zones along the stream channels prevented the development of new sediment sources. Logging roads did, however, cause local changes of sediment geochemistry in two ways. (1) Abrasion of zinc from galvanized culverts results in zinc anomalies, with concentrations > 200 ppm. These anomalies can extend several hundred metres downstream and persist for at least five years after installation of culverts. (2) Construction of stream crossings and roadside ditches create new sources of sediment supply to the streams. Although of local origin, the newly exposed and eroding surficial deposits contain more fine-grained material and have multi-element geochemical signatures that differ significantly from those of the mature fluvial sediments found in the stream channel before logging. Input of the new material results in geochemical anomalies that can extend several hundred metres downstream from the source. In this study Co, Mg and Ni were found to have the largest concentration differences between sediment sources and sediments, and hence to give the longest anomalous dispersion trains. The effects of logging roads on sediment geochemistry thus relate to creation of new sources of local sediment as well as to introduction of exotic materials into the stream. No geochemical response could be attributed to the clear-cut forest block. Such changes might develop eventually if soil erosion increased or if changes to the groundwater regime modified input of dissolved elements to the stream channel.

What We Know -- and Don't Know -- about Water Quality at Stream Crossings

Abstract Forest road stream crossings, including fords, culverts, and bridges, are primary contributors of sediment to forest streams. Information on the water quality impacts from each type of crossing is limited, but the available literature indicates that significant amounts of sediment are produced during installation of fords and culverts; construction and use of temporary bridges have the least impact on water quality. This review of our current state of knowledge on the water quality impacts from crossings shows that we need date for a wide variety of steam sizes, soil types, terrain, and climatological conditions so that policymakers can develop scientifically sound best management practices.

Drainage Culvert Installation by Jacking and Boring

On all highway construction projects conveying water originating on and adjacent to the roadway site is an important component of a well designed project. In most cases, inlets and pipes are installed using conventional trenching techniques. This paper discusses the procedure of pipe jacking and boring that is a technique to consider when site constraints will not allow trenching. The process of jacking and boring is discussed in general terms to familiarize the reader with the advantages and disadvantages of this technique.

Estuarine reconnection of an impounded mangrove salt marsh in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida: short-term changes in fish fauna

Fish population dynamics in a 24.3 ha mangrove-dominated mosquito impoundment in east-central Florida were examined by seining and culvert traps before and after installation of culverts that established estuarine connection for the first time in 39 years. In a 27-day period following the culvert opening, fish species increased from 9 to 21, while total number of fish in the impoundment decreased. Movement of fishes through culverts in both directions commenced immediately following culvert opening. Recruitment of transient species into the impoundment appeared to key on a single wind-driven high tide event. Such short-term events may be important cues for fish movement into and out of impounded salt marshes.

Measurement of burst swimming performance in wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) using digital telemetry

Swimming performance of wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) was investigated in an experimental flume using coded radio signals. To calculate swimming speed, distance moved and time elapsed were measured with a digital spectrum processor using near real-time spectrum analysis. This device was designed to be used in a coprocessing arrangement with a receiver, thereby providing pulse position code discrimination, verification and continuous data storage. Radio-tagged adults (48.3 to 54.8 cm long) voluntarily swam against water velocities, ranging from 1.32 to 2.85 m s−1, in an 18 m long flume at a mean water temperature of 10.1±1.6°C. At water velocities of 1.32–1.55 m s−1, individuals successfully ascended the flume at swimming speeds of 1.61–2.55 m s−1, or 3.30–4.79 body lengths per second (l s−1), respectively. At high water velocities ranging from 1.92 to 2.85 m s−1, individual swimming speeds increased from 2.55 to 3.60 m s−1, or 4.94–7.27 l s−1, respectively. However, above a threshold value of 1.92 m s−1, individuals traversed shorter distances and were unable to ascend the flume. The highest swimming speed observed was 4.13 m s−1, or 8.35 l s−1. The results of this study indicate that in addition to its applicability in the determination of burst swimming speeds, digital telemetry could prove a useful tool in the design and evaluation of future fishways and culvert installations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Long-Span Reinforced Steel Box Culverts

A comprehensive investigation of soil–metal structure interaction for long-span deep-corrugated reinforced steel box culverts was carried out in a project sponsored by the National Research Council of Canada in 1996. Two 12-m span box culverts were erected at a Dorchester, New Brunswick, test site using two backfill densities, one structural steel plate thickness, and a minimum cover of 300 mm. These structures are the largest steel box culverts erected to date. One structure was reinforced using continuous deep-corrugated crown stiffeners, and the other was intermittently reinforced using composite concrete metal-encased stiffeners. Strain and deflection of the structure were monitored in response to static axle loads positioned at six locations on the test surface. A finite element model was then used in numerical simulations of the soil–metal structure system. The measured culvert response was then compared with results from the finite element model. A nonlinear soil-structure interaction program (NLSSIP) was used to analyze the two long-span box culverts. NLSSIP was developed specifically for long-span soil–metal culverts and has been used for structures with and without stiffeners. The box culvert test provided a definitive relationship between soil stiffness and metal structure stiffness. The test was the first that evaluated intermittently reinforced composite concrete metal-encased stiffeners relative to conventional continuous reinforcement. The performance of the two types of stiffeners is evaluated and recommendations are made for future design and installation of long-span deep-corrugated steel box culverts.

Use of the Wesche Method to Evaluate Fine-Sediment Dynamics in Small Boreal Forest Headwater Streams

Fine-sediment infiltration was monitored by the Wesche sediment method in the Copper Lake watershed, Newfoundland, Canada, from June 1993 to October 1994 as part of a multidisciplinary forest harvesting buffer zone research project. Initial study in Copper Lake has focused on evaluating the ability of this method to measure sediment dynamics in small boreal forest streams and in developing methods for data analyses and interpretation. The Wesche method discerned expected differences in sediment yield among sites due to logging-road construction and seasonal trends. Stream reaches impacted by bridge construction and culvert installation had significantly higher sediment accumulation than streams not affected by road construction. The Wesche method was a relatively simple and inexpensive way to compare fine sediment yield in streams with similar hydrologic regimes and was easily used in remote locations. Due to the nonparametric nature of the data collected with this method, randomization techniques were used to develop 95% confidence intervals around the mean. Use of these statistics allowed a significance level to be used in comparisons between stream reaches, an approach easily understood by the multidisciplinary audience interested in fishery–forestry research and management.

Brush Creek Improvements: Double Cell Arch Culvert Installation in Prairie Village, Kansas

A double line of precast concrete, three-sided, arch culvert-bridge units that were used to enclose Brush Creek between two Kansas City, Missouri, suburbs is described. Two principal streets intersected on top of the structure. The contractor was allowed only 14 days to complete construction of the structure and reopen the intersection. The Brush Creek Improvements project in Prairie Village, Kansas, required 100 pieces of double-cell CON/SPAN precast culvert units with 6.10 m (20 ft) of span and 2.13 m (7 ft) of rise and 78 pieces of precast concrete footings. The design also featured an S-curve alignment.

Avoidance of Nonanadromous Fish Passage Impedance Caused by Highway Culverts

Highway culverts may hinder the normal migrations of various trout species in wild trout streams through increased flow velocity, shallow water depths, increased turbulence, and perching. This can impede migrational movements, affecting the genetic diversity and long-term survival of some species. Often, the proper installation of culverts can reduce the adverse effects on fish while maintaining hydraulic efficiency. This study characterized the problems with existing culverts to develop guidelines for the future use of culverts in areas with high gradient streams. Installation criteria will ideally limit the use of bridges where culverts are appropriate, and eliminate the use of culverts where they would create fish passage problems. This will reduce installation, maintenance, and retrofitting costs. The study concluded that culverts can be considered the primary option for crossing trout streams if the culvert can be placed on the same slope as that of the streambed, the slope of the stream is less than 3 percent, the flow velocity does not exceed 1.2 m/sec under normal flow conditions, and the barrel of the culvert can be properly countersunk at the outlet to prevent perching. Bridges should be used at these crossings if any of these criteria cannot be met. The study also concluded that baffles should not be used to control streamflow velocities in newly installed culverts, and concrete aprons should not be used at culvert outlets.

Avoidance of Nonanadromous Fish Passage Impedance Caused by Highway Culverts

Highway culverts may hinder the normal migrations of various trout species in wild trout streams through increased flow velocity, shallow water depths, increased turbulence, and perching. This can impede migrational movements, affecting the genetic diversity and long-term survival of some species. Often, the proper installation of culverts can reduce the adverse effects on fish while maintaining hydraulic efficiency. This study characterized the problems with existing culverts to develop guidelines for the future use of culverts in areas with high gradient streams. Installation criteria will ideally limit the use of bridges where culverts are appropriate, and eliminate the use of culverts where they would create fish passage problems. This will reduce installation, maintenance, and retrofitting costs. The study concluded that culverts can be considered the primary option for crossing trout streams if the culvert can be placed on the same slope as that of the streambed, the slope of the stream is less than...

Costs of Protecting Water Quality During Harvesting on Private Forestlands in the Southeast

Abstract Data on harvest volumes, topography, and other site and area characteristics were obtained from 22 timber harvests in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. An economic analysis was then used to estimate the marginal costs of implementing each state's recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs), as well as a set of enhanced BMPs on these sites. Considering all of the areas combined, the costs of using the recommended BMPs averaged 2.9% of gross timber sale revenue, $2.34 per thousand board feet (mbf) of timber harvested, or $12.45/ac. The cost of implementing the enhanced BMPs averaged 5.1% of gross stumpage value, $4.13/mbf, or $21.94/ac. Seed, fertilizer, and mulch, broad based dips, and water bars were the most expensive practices on a total cost basis. Culvert installation, streamside management zones, and road relocation costs were less expensive for most tracts. South. J. Appl. For. 16(1):13-20.