PREDICTION METHODS FOR LOCAL SCOUR AT INTERMEDIATE BRIDGE PIERS

The ability to establish foundation elevations for intermediate bridge piers that will provide a reasonable degree of assurance that the pier will not be undermined by the flowing stream and to rate existing intermediate bridge pier foundations relative to their risk of being undermined has become a matter of national concern. This paper will document the results of a study that presents and recommends formulae that can be used to predict the anticipated depth of local scour in both uniform-particle, cohesionless streambeds, and graded, armored streambeds. The study incorporated both a literature search and a field verification of the results of the literature search. The Laursen and Toch formula will be recommended to predict anticipated local scour depths at intermediate bridge piers in uniform-particle, cohesionless streambeds, and the University of Aukland formula will be recommended for consideration for graded, armored streambeds. This document will show that these scour prediction formulae, in conjunction with other engineering data, can be a valuable tool to aid the engineer in economically and safely establishing an intermediate bridge pier foundation elevation, or rating the safety of an existing foundation.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1201/1201-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=PREDICTION+METHODS+FOR+LOCAL+SCOUR+AT+INTERMEDIATE+BRIDGE+PIERS&author=H.+Copp&author=J.+Johnson&author=J.+McIntosh&publication_year=1988
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309047625
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1201, Arid Lands: Hydrology, Scour, and Water Quality. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Copp, Howard D
  • Johnson, Jeffrey P
  • McIntosh, Jack L
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 46-53
• Monograph Title: Arid lands: hydrology, scour and water quality
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1201
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge foundations; Bridge piers; Depth; Forecasting; Formulas; Ratings; Safety; Scour
• Old TRIS Terms: Cohesionless streambeds; Graded/armored streambeds; Intermediates; Pier foundation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Safety and Human Factors; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489705
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309047625
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM