Inlet loss coefficients and inlet control head-discharge relationships for buried-invert and slip-lined culverts

With the increasing popularity of buried-invert and slip-lined culvert geometries comes the need to determine the components necessary for calculating the hydraulic capacity of these alternative culvert designs. In current practice, inlet loss coefficients and inlet control head-discharge relationships for slip-lined culverts as well as buried-invert culverts designed for fish passage applications are either ignored or approximated using traditional culvert design data due to a lack of data specific to these alternative culvert geometries. This study included the experimental determination of inlet loss coefficients and inlet control head-discharge relationships for slip-lined culverts and circular culverts with invert burial depths of 20%, 40%, and 50%. This thesis outlines the experimental methods used to determine inlet loss coefficients and inlet control head-discharge regression constants relative to these alternative culvert geometries and presents the data relevant to the hydraulic design and evaluation of these culverts.