by Dr. Robert J. Houghtalen, P.E.
RANDOM INSPECTION OF RANDOM INSPECTION OF PIPE ARCH CULVERTS IN PIPE ARCH CULVERTS IN
CRAWFORD COUNTYCRAWFORD COUNTY(7/24/02)(7/24/02)
FAILED CULVERT FAILED CULVERT (Large CMP Arch)(Large CMP Arch)
The failed culvert was replaced by a 15.5 ft. The failed culvert was replaced by a 15.5 ft.
round, CMP w/headwalls and wingwalls.round, CMP w/headwalls and wingwalls.
Assorted pictures of Assorted pictures of the new culvert. the new culvert.
Picture inside looking Picture inside looking downstreamdownstream
Relative size of culvert.Relative size of culvert. Downstream headwall Downstream headwall
and wingwalls.and wingwalls.
PURPOSE AND EXTENT PURPOSE AND EXTENT OF INSPECTION OF INSPECTION
Purpose – The inspection was initiated to gain insight into the pipe arch culvert failure of August 7, 2000 in Crawford County that caused 3 deaths.
Extent – Three pipe arch culverts were chosen at random on county road 1150E just north of Robinson.
Location of Inspected CulvertsLocation of Inspected Culverts
Inspected Culverts are CMP ArchesInspected Culverts are CMP Arches
Southern Culvert
Northern Culvert
Middle Culvert
Upstream side Upstream side of culvert. of culvert.
Note the scour Note the scour hole on the hole on the
south side and south side and the debris the debris build-up. build-up.
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH
Inside the Inside the entrance of the entrance of the culvert. Note culvert. Note the abrasion the abrasion holes, loss of holes, loss of annealing?, annealing?, and rust. and rust.
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH
Upstream side Upstream side of culvert on of culvert on
the north side. the north side. Riprap has Riprap has
been dumped been dumped into a scour into a scour
hole. hole.
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH
The entrance The entrance lip of the lip of the
culvert. The lip culvert. The lip is being is being
undermined undermined and corrosion and corrosion
is present. is present.
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH
Outlet side of Outlet side of culvert. Size: culvert. Size: 11.5’ wide by 11.5’ wide by
7.5’ high. Note 7.5’ high. Note the rock the rock
reinforcement reinforcement of the southern of the southern
culvert culvert sidewall. sidewall.
Close-up of Close-up of the rock the rock
reinforcement. reinforcement. This has This has
obviously been obviously been placed to help placed to help
prevent prevent culvert culvert
collapse. collapse.
THE SOUTHERN CMP ARCHTHE SOUTHERN CMP ARCH