Chapter 08

Drainage Design

1
Introduction
The entire servicibility of a road depends greatly on the adequacy of it’s
drainage system. Water standing on the carriageway is not only a danger
to high speed traffic, but it can also lead to the disintegration of the
surfacing.
Water seeping into the pavement and sub-grade leads to the development of
soft spots which result in the breaking up of the surfacing.
Road drainage considerations can be divided into SURFACE water and SUB
SURFACE water.
Surface Drainage - is concerned with the measures taken to control the
movement of water over the ground, on and adjacent to the road, so that it is
directed to suitable disposal points without any detrimental effects to the
road.;
Bridging of rivers, streams and minor watercourses
Rain falling on the road
Sub-Surface Drainage - is concerned with the removal of water which may
infiltrate into the road structure (pavement).

2
Estimation of Peak Discharge
The procedure is based on the “Rational Formula”. For Rural catchments
a return frequency of 1:10 years is usually used. For Urban or Peri-Urban
areas a return frequency of 1:50 years is usually used.
Catchment Area
Outline the extent of the catchment under consideration on the largest
available topographical plan of the area, (usually 1:50 000, 1: 18 000
1:10 000 or 1:5 000) and measure its area (in hectares - or adjust equation)
using a planimeter or other suitable method.
Area “A” in hectares
Catchment Slope
If not given determine the average catchment slope using the following
formula;
S = (H1 - H2) x 100
L
Where;
S=slope expressed as a percentage
L=length of longest collector
H1=height of ground at furtherest point from the culvert (m)
3 H2=height of the ground at the culvert inlet
Mean Annual Rainfall/Precipitation
Determine the Mean Annual Rainfall/Precipitation (MART/P) in mm/annum
for the area concerned either from local rainfall records or from the
1:250 000 rainfall maps which are generally available in most design or
structural offices.
MAR/P = mm/annum

Runoff Coefficient
Estimate the Runoff Coefficient C for the area, using the runoff coefficient
tables (see page 7 & 8) as a guide. Note that the Department of Transport
Bridge Design Criteria No 14 requires a Runoff Coefficient of C = 0,75 to be
used in Peri-Urban or Urban areas.
C = (Cs + Cp + Cv) x Ft
Where;
Cs=slope coefficient
Cp=permeability coefficient
Cv=soil cover coefficient
Ft=Return Period Factor

4
5
Selection of Culvert
The type of culvert used is influenced by both site and economic
considerations. Factors which should be considered in selecting the type
and number of culverts to be used at a particular location are;
*construction cost
*ease of construction
*height of fill cover available
*potential for clogging by debris
*allowable headwater depth
*aggressive or corrosive sail or water conditions
*culvert abrasion by transported material
The types of culverts which are normally used are;
*concrete pipes
*corrugated metal pipes
*corrugated metal pipe arches
*precast concrete box culverts (portals)
*cast in-situ concrete box culverts

6
Allowable Headwater Depth
All minor culverts in rural areas should be designed to a maximum Headwater
Depth (H1) not greater than 1,2D. Where D is the height or diameter of the
culvert.
In Urban or Peri-Urban areas a maximum Headwater Depth not greater than
1,0D should be used.
The maximum Headwater Depth should provide for a maximum freeboard
of 0,50m below the finished road level at the culvert site. If possible the
designer should try to allow for 1,0m of freeboard.
Procedure for the determination of Peak Flow (q)
Step One
Determine the time of concentration (Tc) for either overland or watercourse
flow conditions using the appropriate formula given below;
Tc (overland) = 0,604 x [(rL)/(1000 x √S)]0,467 hrs
Where;
r=roughness coefficient (see table on page 6 of notes)
L=hydraulic length of cathchment (km)
Sav= H
1000xL

9 delta H
H=height of most remote point of catchment above culvert inlet (m) - ie
 In a defined watercourse, channel flow occurs. The recommended empirical
formula for calculating the time of concentration in natural channels is the
one develoiped by the US Soil Conservation Service;
Tc (watercourse) = [(0,87xL2)/(1000 x Sav)]0,385 hrs
Where;
Tc and L are as previously defined
Sav=average watercourse slope - expressed as a decimal

It should be noted that unless specific details are given about the
watercourse, then it is to be assumed that overland flow conditions apply.
Step Two
Now determine the rainfall intensity (i) from the depth-duration-
return period nomograph (page 29 of notes) using the time of
concentration (remember that you worked it out in hours) and the MAR/P
for the area concerned. Sometimes the intensity is given for a particular
return period, and by reading the nomograph in reverse the intensity can
be determined for an alternative return period.

10
Recommended Values for r
Refer to table in notes

▪ Clean compacted soil, no stones: r = 0,10

▪ Paved areas: r = 0,02
▪ Sparse grass over fairly rough surface: r = 0,30
▪ Medium grass cover: r = 0,40
▪ Thick grass cover: r = 0,80
 95mm in 30
minutes

11
 Step Three
Determine the runoff coefficient (if not given).
Step Four
Adjust the runoff coefficient for the appropriate return period by
multiplying it by Ft.
Step Five
Determine the peak flow using the standard equation;
q = CxIxA m3/s
3,6
Where;
C=runoff coefficient (dimensionless)
I=rainfall intensity (mm/hr)
A=catchment area (km2)

Step Six
A quick way to size the structure required is by dividing the
peak flow by three (the normally accepted flow velocity of water).
Any pipe or box culvert that satisfies this area will be suitable for the
given peak flow. If however the inlet or outlet flow conditions are to
be considered then the remaining steps should be followed.
12
Drainage Design Tutorial

Determine the peak discharge (Overland) given the following

information:

Culvert design return period = 10 years

Catchment area = 2,8km2
Catchment length = 1,5km
Catchment height variation = 500m
General slope of catchment area = 15,5%
Grass cover = medium, grassland
Mean annual precipitation = 1500mm
Rainfall intensity, I = 75,50mm/hr

Permeability = Semi permeable

(8)
Slope, S = (H1-H2)/L
= (500/1500)
= 0,333 √

Tc (overland) = 0,604x[(rL)/(S0,5)]0,467 hrs

= 0,604x[(0,4x1,5)/(0,3330,5)]0,467 √
= 0,615hrs
= 36,9minutes √

C, runoff coeff. = Cs + Cp + Cv
= 0,20 + 0,2 + 0,25 √
= 0,65 √
Apply adjustment factor, Ft to runoff
coefficient

C = 0,65x0,85
= 0,553 √

Peak flow, Q = CIA/3,6

= (0,553x75,50x2,8)/3,6 √
= 32,473m3/sec √
 Subsurface Drains
Purpose: Remove water which may infiltrate into the road structure
Number of ways in which water may reach the road formation:
▪ By the seepage of water into the subgrade from
higher ground adjacent to the road
▪ By changes in the ground water level
▪ By the percolation of water through the road surface
▪ By the transfer of moisture from the underlying soil
(capillary rise)
Refer to notes on:
■ Road Prism Drainage

▪ Subsurface drainage and road drainage

▪ Subgrade drainage
▪ Cut slope drainage
Major Control Test: 07 January 2021 @ 14h00

Venue: Geotech and Btech Lab

2hr closed book exam
Cover the syllabus
As a guide: 80% calculation/20% theory (+- 5%)

NB.
Show all calculations (Design Considerations, Geometric
Design, Drainage Design)
Setting out data: Circular/Transition Curve, Superelevation,
Vertical Curve

Good Luck!!