Culverts provide hydraulic flow without interrupting traffic. So, here are the different culvert types and their benefits.

What Are Culverts?

Culverts are tunnel structures supporting roadways or railways while providing cross drainage for hydraulic flow. They function as hydraulic conduits, streamlining waterways from one side of roads or railways to the other. Culverts transfer water under roads and railways so that traffic is not interrupted and the roads and railways are not disturbed by the water flow. The culverts must be designed to accommodate the anticipated flow rate of water and act as a load-bearing structure that can support the weight of the traffic above them.

Types of Culverts

Culverts are made in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are typically round, elliptical, arched, or box-like.

Pipe Culverts

Pipe culverts are among the most common types of culvert designs due to easy installation and competitive pricing. Pipe culverts can take many shapes—elliptical, circular, and pipe arches—as each shape works under the site conditions and other constraints.

Pipe culverts have a handful of advantages, including being economical, withholding varying stresses, allowing water to cross under the structure, and providing desired strength based on design, thickness, and proper installation.

Box Culverts

Box culverts consist of concrete and RCC, also known as Reinforced Concrete. They require a dry surface for installation, which can create a challenge.

Otherwise, the impeccably strong concrete flooring allows for water direction changes in large amounts. Some benefits of box culverts include a rigid frame structure and economical price due to that rigidity. Additionally, the bottom slab reduces soil pressure and provides a solution for weak culvert foundations.

Bridge Culverts

Bridge culverts offer two purposes: a culvert and a supportive bridge. A culvert bridge typically consists of parallel culverts that span over 20 feet. The benefits of a bridge culvert are that it is an inexpensive way to bridge a body of water and allows traffic to pass over a solid foundation.

Arch Culverts

Arch culverts often consist of corrugated metal (CMP), concrete, or stone masonry. Construction doesn’t take a considerable amount of time, and water diversion isn’t necessary, as arch culverts can be installed without disturbing water currents. They offer many benefits, including design-build advantages, saving costs, allowing greater hydraulic efficiency, and accelerating construction schedules.

At InfraSteel, we’re founded on servicing our nation’s failing infrastructure by providing steel liners that rehabilitate existing arched culvert pipe, and other shapes, specializing in consistently high-quality structural steel pipe liners. Our arched culvert pipe liner designs match the radii of existing structures to maximize hydraulic flow. Our culvert pipes are manufactured from the highest quality steel, providing the strength and dependability of smooth wall carbon steel. Contact us today to learn more about our culvert pipes.