Overview
The hydraulics of bridge waterways should be analyzed by the designer in order to ensure that upstream properties are not affected or the bridge doesn’t fail due to flooding or scour. The constriction of the bridge structure causes a constriction to the flow. This constriction causes a loss of energy, which is reflected in a rise in the water surface.
With the high volume of roadway traffic and the real estate that can be potentially affected upstream, it is essential that the bridge is designed as to not cause a significant rise in upstream water levels. A failure of a bridge due to excessive backwater can cause backwater damage suits, overtopping of roadways, excessive scour under the bridge and costly maintenance. This course will provide the student with the knowledge to analyze the hydraulics of bridge waterways.
The course materials are based solely on the materials “Hydraulics of Bridge Waterways” as published on the website of the Federal Highway Administration. The student should note that the AASHTO standard specification for Highway Bridges, which is referenced in the document, has been updated since this text. The latest published document is the 17th edition released in 2002.
To receive PDH credit, the student must take a multiple choice quiz of forty (40) questions.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- How confining flood waters can cause backwater
- The three types of flow encountered in bridge waterway design
- How to determine the backwater coefficient
- How dual bridges are analyzed for backwater
- How to determine the Manning coefficient
- Factors that affect water stage at bridge sites
- How piers in a bridge constriction affect backwater
- Design storms used to design bridges and culverts
- How to determine eccentricity
- How abutments have an effect on backwater
Course
Click on the following link to the PDF document to review the course material before taking the quiz for credit.
Hydraulics of Bridge Waterways
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