RCC Slab Culvert Design
Span: 1.5m
Height: 1.5m (including freeboard)
Catchment area: 0.154 km²
Average surface slope: 1-3%
Soil type: Loamy with basaltic rock geology
Roadway width: 7.5m
HYDRAULIC DESIGN
1. Calculation of Design Discharge
Let's use the Rational Method for calculating peak discharge: Q = 0.278 × C × I × A
Where:
Q = Design discharge (m³/s)
C = Runoff coefficient
I = Rainfall intensity (mm/hr)
A = Catchment area (km²)
For loamy soil with 1-3% slope:
Runoff coefficient (C) = 0.35 (for agricultural lands with loamy soil)
For the rainfall intensity, I'll use the empirical formula: I = (K × T^n)/(D + b)^m
Where:
T = Return period (years) = 50 years for culvert design as per IRC:SP:13
D = Duration of rainfall (hr) = Time of concentration
K, n, m, b = Constants dependent on the region (Assuming general values)
Time of concentration (Tc): Tc = 0.0195 × L^0.77 × S^(-0.385)
Where:
L = Longest flow path (km) = 0.7 km (estimated based on catchment area)
S = Average slope (m/m) = 0.02 (2%)
Tc = 0.0195 × 0.7^0.77 × 0.02^(-0.385) = 0.305 hours = 18.3 minutes
Using empirical formula with K=90, n=0.2, m=0.7, b=0.35: I = (90 × 50^0.2)/(0.305 +
0.35)^0.7 = 105.4 mm/hr
Therefore, design discharge: Q = 0.278 × 0.35 × 105.4 × 0.154 = 1.59 m³/s
2. Hydraulic Capacity Verification
Need to check if the 1.5m × 1.5m opening is adequate for the design discharge.
Using Manning's equation for pipe flow: Q = (A × R^(2/3) × S^(1/2))/n
Where:
A = Flow area (m²) = 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25 m²
R = Hydraulic radius (m) = A/P = 2.25/(1.5+1.5+1.5) = 0.5 m
S = Slope of the culvert (m/m) = 0.02 (assumed as same as terrain)
n = Manning's roughness coefficient = 0.015 (for concrete)
Q = (2.25 × 0.5^(2/3) × 0.02^(1/2))/0.015 = 6.35 m³/s
Since the hydraulic capacity (6.35 m³/s) > Design discharge (1.59 m³/s), the 1.5m × 1.5m
opening is sufficient.
3. Velocity Check
V = Q/A = 1.59/2.25 = 0.71 m/s
This velocity is within permissible limits of 0.6-3.0 m/s (as per IRC:SP:13), so scouring and
silting should not be issues.
4. Freeboard Calculation
Required freeboard = 0.3 m (as per IRC:SP:13)
Flow depth during peak discharge: Flow area required = Q/V = 1.59/0.71 = 2.24 m² Required
depth = 2.24/1.5 = 1.49 m
Since our culvert height is 1.5m, we have approximately 0.01m of freeboard, which is less
than required. Let's increase the clear height to 1.8m to ensure adequate freeboard.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN
1. Design Parameters
As per IS:456-2000 and IRC:SP:20
Concrete grade: M25 (fck = 25 N/mm²)
Steel grade: Fe 500 (fy = 500 N/mm²)
Clear span of culvert (L) = 1.5 m
Height of culvert (H) = 1.8 m
Roadway width = 7.5 m
Width of side walls = 0.3 m (assumed)
Length of culvert = 7.5 + 2(0.3) = 8.1 m
2. Loading Calculation
a) Dead Load
Self-weight of the top slab
Weight of wearing course
Weight of fill/earth above the slab
b) Live Load
IRC Class AA loading (70R tracked vehicle)
3. Top Slab Design
a) Slab thickness calculation:
For a span of 1.5m, assuming slab thickness = L/12 = 1.5/12 = 0.125m Use 250 mm thickness
for adequate cover and structural integrity.
b) Dead Load Calculation:
Self-weight of slab = 0.25 × 25 = 6.25 kN/m²
Wearing course (75mm bitumen) = 0.075 × 22 = 1.65 kN/m²
Earth fill (assumed 0.5m) = 0.5 × 19 = 9.5 kN/m²
Total dead load (w) = 17.4 kN/m²
Dead load moment (MD) = wL²/8 = 17.4 × 1.5²/8 = 4.89 kN-m/m
c) Live Load Calculation:
As per IRC:6, for AA loading:
Impact factor (I) = 1.3 (for span < 3m)
Dispersion width = 1.9m (calculated considering dispersion through fill)
Maximum live load moment (ML) = 49.5 kN-m/m (calculated using equivalent UDL
approach)
d) Design Moment:
Total factored moment = 1.5 × (MD + ML) = 1.5 × (4.89 + 49.5) = 81.59 kN-m/m
e) Reinforcement Calculation:
For M25 concrete and Fe500 steel:
Effective depth (d) = 250 - 40 (cover) - 8 (half bar dia) = 202 mm
Mu = 81.59 × 10^6 N-mm/m
Ru = Mu/(bd²) = 81.59 × 10^6/(1000 × 202²) = 2.00 N/mm²
pt = 0.5 × fck/fy × (1 - √(1 - 4.6 × Ru/fck)) = 0.472%
Ast = pt × b × d/100 = 0.472 × 1000 × 202/100 = 954 mm²/m
Use 16mm dia bars @ 200mm c/c (Providing Ast = 1005 mm²/m)
Distribution steel:
Ast = 0.12% of gross area = 0.12 × 1000 × 250/100 = 300 mm²/m
Use 10mm dia bars @ 250mm c/c (Providing Ast = 314 mm²/m)
4. Side Wall Design
a) Wall thickness:
Use 300 mm thickness for the side walls.
b) Earth pressure calculation:
Height of wall (H) = 1.8 m
Unit weight of soil (γ) = 19 kN/m³
Angle of internal friction (φ) = 30° (assumed for loamy soil)
Coefficient of active earth pressure (Ka) = (1-sin φ)/(1+sin φ) = 0.333
Maximum earth pressure intensity at base = Ka × γ × H = 0.333 × 19 × 1.8 = 11.39
kN/m²
Maximum bending moment at base = p × H²/6 = 11.39 × 1.8²/6 = 6.15 kN-m/m
c) Live load surcharge:
Equivalent height of soil for live load = 1.2 m (as per IRC:6)
Surcharge pressure = Ka × γ × h = 0.333 × 19 × 1.2 = 7.59 kN/m²
Moment due to surcharge = p × H/2 = 7.59 × 1.8/2 = 6.83 kN-m/m
d) Design moment:
Total factored moment = 1.5 × (6.15 + 6.83) = 19.47 kN-m/m
e) Reinforcement calculation:
Effective depth (d) = 300 - 40 (cover) - 8 (half bar dia) = 252 mm
Mu = 19.47 × 10^6 N-mm/m
Ru = Mu/(bd²) = 19.47 × 10^6/(1000 × 252²) = 0.31 N/mm²
pt = 0.5 × fck/fy × (1 - √(1 - 4.6 × Ru/fck)) = 0.064%
Ast = pt × b × d/100 = 0.064 × 1000 × 252/100 = 161 mm²/m
Minimum steel:
Ast,min = 0.12% of gross area = 0.12 × 1000 × 300/100 = 360 mm²/m (controls)
Use 12mm dia bars @ 300mm c/c (Providing Ast = 377 mm²/m)
Distribution steel:
Ast = 0.12% of gross area = 0.12 × 1000 × 300/100 = 360 mm²/m
Use 12mm dia bars @ 300mm c/c (Providing Ast = 377 mm²/m)
5. Foundation Design
Since this is a non-bottom slab culvert, the foundation will consist of:
Foundation width = 0.6 m (twice the wall thickness)
Foundation depth = 0.5 m (into good bearing strata)
Bearing capacity check: Maximum pressure under foundations = 105 kN/m² < SBC of
basaltic rock (>300 kN/m²)
6. Scour Protection
Since velocity is low (0.71 m/s), simple scour protection is adequate:
Upstream and downstream aprons: 2.0m length
Stone pitching: 300mm thick with 100mm cement concrete (1:3:6) bedding
