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FHWA Hydraulic Toolbox
Lessons and Exercises covering FHWA Hydraulic Toolbox
Created byTim Nelson
Last updated 9/2025
English
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.
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Course content
2 sections • 55 lectures • 13h 27m total length
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.
Who this course is for:
- 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.