Bottomless Culvert Scour Guidelines
The ECO-SPAN Arch System is classified as a precast concrete three-sided structure and also as a bottomless culvert. Scour in bottomless culverts has long been a concern for designers since they are similar to bridges in some cases and culverts in others.
The fifth edition of the Hydraulic Engineering Circular Number 18 (HEC-18) presents the state of knowledge and practice for the design and inspection of bridges for scour. The updated document draws upon updated material from previous editions and incorporates the results of new research completed by FHWA, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), State Departments of Transportation, and Universities. Phase 1 of this comprehensive research program was compete in 2003 and Phase 2 in 2007.
This addition to HEC-18 provides much needed guidelines for designers of three-sided structures.
