Beyond the Barrel

Consider the End Treatments

When designing a Culvert or Storm Sewer the designer needs to take into consideration the type of end treatments that are available in the marketplace. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA-HIF-12-026 Hydraulic Design Series Number 5) recommends that all pipe 48” in diameter and greater needs to have proper end protection. This selection is one of the major decisions as the Engineer of Record that you must make. Both prefabricated and constructed in place installations are available options for the designer.

Projecting barrel, cast-in-place headwalls, end sections and mitered ends are commonly used end treatments for pipe barrels. The designer needs to take into consideration the following attributes of the installation. What are the hydraulic performance, structural stability, erosion control, fill retention, and aesthetics for the project.

It is also likely that the designer consider the use of headwalls, wingwalls, and cutoff walls of the pipe barrel or barrels. Headwalls may shorten the length of the barrel, retain fill, and reduce erosion of the embankment.  They also provide a counter measure to bouyant forces and reduce piping. Cutoff walls protect the pipe barrels from piping. Wingwalls can improve hydraulics to some degree but the major advantage is erosion control and additional resistance to uplift. 

Contech is pleased to present CHS® “Culvert Headwall System”. Contech CHS® is composed of a corrugated metal pipe (CMP) culvert, prefabricated flat panel headwall and metric sheeting wingwalls to create a single or multi-barrel system for 24” through 120” in round or pipe arch shapes. CHS® will save significant time and money when compared to an alternative cast-in-place headwall / wingwall configuration.

CHS® is cost effective and easy to install. If you want to know more about Contech CHS®, click here.