Velocity distributions near the inlet of corrugated steel pipe culverts

This paper presents the findings of a study examining the velocity field within the inlet region of a corrugated steel pipe (CSP) culvert model with vertical headwall, 45 degrees wingwall, and projecting end inlet treatments. Also examined are the effects of embedding the culvert below the stream bed and backfilling the culvert with granular material. Three-dimensional velocity distributions were measured in an effort to better understand how these inlet treatments may affect fish passage. The study examined velocity structure within a CSP culvert with a diameter of 0.8 m at a flow rate of 0.175 m(3)/s. Measurements were recorded using acoustic Doppler velocimeters at four locations; 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 diameters downstream of the inlet. The velocity field of each inlet configuration was dominated by a central jet of high velocity flow surrounded by a low velocity recirculation zone. Analysis of the percent area less than U-avg for each inlet treatment found that the projecting end configuration contained the largest low velocity zone. The usefulness of the low velocity recirculation zone as a fish passage corridor may however be limited by the presence of significant vertical and spanwise velocities as well as high shear zones.