Flood Characteristics of Alluvial Streams Important to Pipeline Crossings

Abstract

In a paper entitled, "Pipeline Stream Crossings" (1)*, presented to this association in 1940, the author discussed briefly some of the chief characteristics of streams and covered in more detail the hydrodynamic forces and resulting pipeline stresses pertinent to pipeline crossing design. The object of this paper is to offer an additional discussion of the major characteristics of alluvial streams in the hope that it will assist those interested in pipeline construction to understand better the problems that they will encounter so that they may avoid difficulties arising from inadequate design. However, before proceeding with such a discussion, the author would like to make a few remarks on the principle of balanced pipeline design since he feels that such a principle should be used much more widely that it appear to be, as a guide to correct decisions concerning the degree of protection that is required in each specific instance of potential flood damage.

Additional details