Types Of Culvert

What Is Culvert?

A small bridge having a total length of 6 m or less than 6 m between the faces of abutments is known as a culvert. A culvert is a permanent drainage structure mainly constructed to carry roadway or railway track over small streams or channels. In this article, different types of culverts are discussed.

Let us discuss them in detail below:

Types of Culverts

Culverts are classified into the following four types:

1. Arch Culvert.
2. Open or Slab Culvert.
3. Pipe Culvert.
4. Box Culvert.

1. Arch Culvert

A culvert having its superstructure consisting of one or two arches constructed of any suitable masonry is known as an arch culvert.

In these types of culverts, segmental arches consisting of brick masonry, stone masonry, or concrete are commonly used. These arches can be easily and cheaply constructed.

The abutments and piers or these arches are constructed sufficiently strong to take their lateral thrust Arch culverts are especially suitable where the approaches are to be constructed in cutting.

2. Slab Culverts

The culvert, having its superstructure consisting of RCC slab which carries the bridge floor, is known as slab culvert.

In this type of culvert, the RCC slab of suitable thickness is provided as simply supported over abutments and piers which are constructed of any suitable type of masonry.

Slab culverts are suitable where the bed of the canal or stream is sufficiently firm. These are provided upto a maximum span of 3 m.

3. Pipe Culvert

These types of culverts consist of one or more pipes placed side by side over a concrete base below the embankment of a roadway or railway track.

In this type of culvert, one or more pipes consisting of cast iron, steel or RCC are held in position over a concrete base by fixing both ends into masonry walls.

In pipe culverts, generally, more than one pipe, of diameter not less than 30 cm is used. However, their exact number and diameter depend upon the discharge and height of the bank.

As far as possible the gradient of the pipe should not be less than 1 in 1000. Pipe culverts are suitable where the flow of water in the stream is very small.

4. Box Culvert

A culvert consisting of one or more numbers of rectangular or square openings, having their floor and top slabs constructed monolithically with abutments and pier, is known as box culvert.

Box culvert is usually constructed of precast RCC slabs. Small span box culverts may be constructed of stone slabs, supported on masonry abutments, with brick or stone flooring.

These culverts provide the least interference to traffic during construction. This type of culvert can be conventionally used for a single span of 3 m or for double span of 6 m.

Box culverts are mainly constructed where the soil is soft and the load has to be distributed over a wider foundation area.

So these were different types of culverts. Hope you now have enough knowledge about it. If you have any questions let us know in the comments.

Also Read

Difference Between Bridge & Culvert

Types Of Caisson Foundation

Different Types Of Bridge

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