Pipe networks
Pipe networks model stormwater and sewer systems: pipes and structures that know their sizes, slopes and inverts, and appear in plan and profile together.
In this lesson you will
- Set up a parts list
- Lay out a gravity network with pipes and structures
- Show the network in profile and edit inverts
- Check cover, slope and clashes
Parts lists
A parts list defines which pipes (materials, diameters) and structures (manholes, pits, headwalls) a network can use, with rules such as minimum slope and cover. Set up separate lists for stormwater and sewer in your template, matching your authority's standards.
Creating a network
- 1Home › Pipe Network › Pipe Network Creation Tools.
- 2Name the network, choose parts list, reference surface (proposed) and alignment.
- 3Choose a structure and pipe size, then click to place pits along the route; pipes connect them.
- 4Rules set initial inverts and depths from cover and slope settings.
Profile and editing
Draw Parts in Profile View shows pipes and structures along the alignment's profile. Edit inverts by grips in profile or in the Pipe Network Vistas table; change sizes by swapping parts. Labels show pipe size, slope and length, and structure inverts.
Checks
Check minimum cover (depth over the pipe), minimum and maximum grades, velocity from your hydraulic calculations (Civil 3D's network is geometry; hydraulic design uses analysis tools or separate software), and clashes between networks — Interference Check finds crossings where pipes collide.
Quick reference
| Command / tool | How to start it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe Network Creation Tools | Home › Pipe Network | Lays out networks |
| Parts List | Settings › Pipe Network | Allowed pipes and structures |
| Draw Parts in Profile | Network tools | Shows network in profile |
| Interference Check | Analyze tab | Finds clashes between networks |
Common mistakes
Pipes too shallow under the road.
Check the reference surface is the proposed surface and cover rules are set.
Stormwater and sewer pipes collide.
Run an Interference Check and adjust inverts or routes.
Exercise
A stormwater line
- Create a parts list with 375 and 450 mm pipes and a standard pit.
- Lay a five-pit stormwater line along your road.
- Draw it in the road profile and set a minimum 0.5% grade.
- Check cover under the pavement and label pipes and pits.
You should end up with: A stormwater network in plan and profile.
Checklist
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Lesson quiz
What does a parts list define?
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