a model for evaluating the hydraulic performance in complex culverts

complex culverts have a change of section (transition) at one or more positions along their lengths. the hydraulic performance cannot be estimated using simple culvert methods because the transition may change the control point. by modeling the flow through a transition as free flow, sluice flow, pipe flow and treating a complex culvert, as a series of simple culverts with the appropriate hydraulic linking it is possible to reconstruct the performance curves for complex culverts. this paper describes the methodology and criteria used to evaluate these procedures. the model has pled using data obtained from a hydraulic model.