Fhwa Hydraulic Toolbox

Lessons and Exercises covering FHWA Hydraulic Toolbox

What you'll learn

Navigate the FHWA Hydraulic Toolbox interface and understand the purpose of its key modules.

Perform hydraulic computations for culverts, weirs, orifices, and storm drains.

Apply channel capacity and energy dissipation methods to real-world design scenarios.

Evaluate bridge hydraulics, scour depths, and riprap sizing for erosion protection.

Interpret tables, charts, and plots to extract meaningful engineering insights.

Combine multiple tools to complete full design and analysis workflows.

Troubleshoot common modeling issues and apply sound engineering judgment.

Deliver practical design solutions that balance hydraulic performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

This course is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of hydrology and hydraulics. Prior experience with water modeling software would be helpful, but no prior experience is necessary.

Description

** All videos are downloadable ** Learn how to apply the FHWA Hydraulic Toolbox to real-world water resources engineering problems. This practical course walks you step by step through the key hydraulic analysis tools included in the software, blending focused lessons with hands-on exercises that mirror real project workflows. Instead of simply reviewing features in isolation, you’ll learn how to combine multiple calculators to evaluate and design hydraulic structures with confidence.You’ll begin with an overview of the Toolbox interface and navigation, followed by lessons on commonly used modules such as weir and orifice flow, culvert hydraulics, energy dissipators, channel capacity, and scour calculations. From there, you’ll explore more specialized tools, including bridge hydraulics, riprap sizing, and storm drain design. Each lesson demonstrates not only how to input data but also how to interpret results and understand the assumptions behind each method.In the exercise portion of the course, you’ll apply what you’ve learned to complete full design and analysis scenarios. These case studies include designing a roadside ditch, sizing riprap for pier protection, and checking scour depth at a bridge crossing. You’ll also work through problem-solving strategies for common engineering challenges, such as balancing channel conveyance with erosion protection or verifying culvert performance under extreme flow conditions.Throughout the course, the emphasis is on developing both technical skills and engineering judgment. By practicing with real-world examples, you’ll see how to weigh hydraulic performance, safety, and regulatory requirements when selecting and applying the appropriate tool.By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently navigate the Hydraulic Toolbox, run analyses across multiple modules, and apply the results to practical design and evaluation projects in transportation, flood control, and river engineering. No prior experience with the Toolbox is required, though a working knowledge of hydraulics will help you get the most out of the material.

Overview

Section 1: Lessons

Lecture 1 Download and Install

Lecture 2 Introduction and User Interface

Lecture 3 Channel Calculator

Lecture 4 Plot Properties

Lecture 5 Channel Lining Design Calculator

Lecture 6 Weir Calculator

Lecture 7 Curb and Gutter Calculator

Lecture 8 Rational Method Calculator

Lecture 9 Detention Basin Calculator

Lecture 10 Riprap Calculator - Intro, Revetment, and Overtopping

Lecture 11 Riprap Calculator - Piers and Abutments

Lecture 12 Riprap Calculator - Culverts and Spurs

Lecture 13 Riprap Filter Design

Lecture 14 Design Wave Calculator

Lecture 15 Rock-Sediment Gradation Calculator

Lecture 16 Median-Ditch Drop-Inlet Calculator

Lecture 17 Culvert Assessment Calculator

Lecture 18 Horizontal Grade Inlet Calculator

Lecture 19 Bridge Scour Calculator - Introduction

Lecture 20 Bridge Scour Calculator - Preparing a Geometry in HEC-RAS

Lecture 21 Bridge Scour Calculator - Long-Term Degradation

Lecture 22 Bridge Scour Calculator - Contraction Scour

Lecture 23 Bridge Scour Calculator - Pier Scour

Lecture 24 Bridge Scour Calculator - Abutment Scour

Section 2: Exercises

Lecture 25 Critical Slope in a Circular Channel

Lecture 26 Waterslide Hydraulics

Lecture 27 Safe River Conditions

Lecture 28 Trapezoidal Channel with Rock Lining

Lecture 29 Flow Rate and Riprap Size

Lecture 30 Rolled Erosion Control Products and Stable Slopes

Lecture 31 Composite Manning's Roughness Coefficient

Lecture 32 Inlet Efficiency

Lecture 33 Comparing Inlet Grate Efficiencies

Lecture 34 Sag Inlets and Clogging

Lecture 35 Minimum Inlet Grate Length

Lecture 36 Median Ditch Inlet

Lecture 37 Parking Lot Runoff

Lecture 38 Minimum Inlet Spacing Analysis

Lecture 39 Peak Flowrate Calculation

Lecture 40 Watershed Time of Concentration

Lecture 41 Minimum Channel Diameter

Lecture 42 Storm Drain Sizing

Lecture 43 Peak Runoff, Sheet Flow and Shallow Flow

Lecture 44 Detention Basis Analysis

Lecture 45 How the Timestep Affects Detention Basins Results

Lecture 46 Detention Basin Design

Lecture 47 Field Gradation Measurements

Lecture 48 Riprap Sizing at Different Channel Locations

Lecture 49 How Riprap Requirements Change With River Radius

Lecture 50 Riprap and Bridge Piers

Lecture 51 Culvert Outlet Protection

Lecture 52 Bridge Abutment Protection

Lecture 53 Granular Filter Design for Pier Riprap

Lecture 54 Long-Term Degredation of Bridge Scour by Armoring

Lecture 55 Pier Bridge Scour at Different Flow Rates

This course is ideal for beginners new to hydraulics and hydrology, professionals looking to expand their skills using the toolbox, and experienced users seeking a practical refresher on both basic and advanced topics.