TIDC Webinar Series – December 11th, 2024
3D Printed Culvert
Diffuser Technology
Held Virtually on December 11th, 2024
In this TIDC Webinar, learn about an additive manufacturing technique for roadway culvert rehabilitation that was investigated and implemented by TIDC researchers at UMaine and their DOT partners.
The 3D Printed Culvert Diffuser is a roadway anti-flooding design that increases flows through existing culverts while dispersing velocity at the outlet to mitigate erosion and habitat disruption. The 3D printing of the design allows for the capability to tailor the diffuser inlet to match the dimensions of the often deteriorating existing outlet and print the complex tailored circular inlet transition to oval shape outlet in a single day, where conventional molding technologies would require hundreds of work hours over many days.
The first prototype project was a 42-inch diameter 3D printed Diffuser that was 15 ft long and was installed in collaboration with the New Hampshire DOT (NHDOT) under NH Route 85 in Exeter, NH. This Diffuser was successfully installed without disruption to traffic and has performed as designed, even in the 100 year storms that hit immediately following installation.
Join Presenter, Dr Sunil Bhandari of the University of Maine as he presents this technology, its installation under a heavily used roadway in Exeter, New Hampshire, and the next steps for this project. Following his presentations, he will be joined by a guest presenter for an Audience Q&A session.
Webinar Participants
Dr. Sunil Bhandari
Assistant Research Professor
the University of Maine
Tim Mallette, P.E.
Specialty Section Group Leader
NHDOT
