LABORATORY OBSERVATIONS OF SCOUR AT BRIDGE ABUTMENTS

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ABLE TO ACCURATELY PREDICT THE MAGNITUDE OF SCOUR AT BRIDGE ABUTMENTS AND PIERS CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. BRIDGE DESIGN DEMANDS A KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCOUR PHENOMENON IN ORDER TO INSURE A SAFE, ECONOMIC STRUCTURE. IN THE PAST, BRIDGE DESIGNERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RELY UPON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, JUDGMENT, AND SIMILAR DESIGNS IN DETERMINING THE DEPTH OF THE BRIDGE FOUNDATIONS. CONSEQUENTLY, DUE TO THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON SCOUR AVAILABLE TO THE DESIGNER, BRIDGES ARE DESTROYED DUE TO FOUNDATION FAILURES EACH YEAR DURING PEAK RUNOFF PERIODS. BOTH LABORATORY AND FIELD STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE FOR DETERMINING THE SCOUR DEPTH. THIS REPORT IS BASED UPON A LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF SCOUR AT ABUTMENTS, CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN IN THE HYDRAULICS LABORATORY OF THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY. THE PROJECT IS SPONSORED BY THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. /AUTHOR/

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • No 242, pp 69-77, 7 FIG, 24 REF 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:
    • Liu, H K
    • Skinner, M M
  • Publication Date: 1960

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Pagination: 9p
  • Monograph Title: Bridges: bearing pads, foundations, scour and waterways
  • Serial:

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00204176
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Sep 16 1994 12:00AM