TESTS OF SCOUR FOR BRIDGE PIERS

If flood velocities concentrated by the area constriction at bridges remove material from under the bridge pier foundations, the pier may settle or collapse. The maximum depth of scour occuring during the passage of a flood peak is difficult to ascertain or to estimate by empirical formulas or model tests. To explore further the method of limiting the depth of scour by surrounding the pier with protective material, model tests were made covering a range of constriction percentages, depths of flow, and Froude numbers, using both round and elongated piers. After determination of the extent of the scour hole formed during the passage of a simulated flood, the protection afforded by a layer of protective material was tested with a simulation of the same flood. If the material of the layer was large enough to resist being moved and had a grain-size distribution capable of preventing leaching, no scour hole formed. A special test showed protection remaining intact despite stream bed degradation. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Chesley, C J
• Publication Date: 1974-12

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 1773-83
• Serial:
  • Journal of the Hydraulics Division
  • Volume: 1000
  • Issue Number: HY12
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Erosion; Hydraulics; Piers; Structural piers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bridge structures
• Old TRIS Terms: Erosion damage
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Marine Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084509
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 1 1975 12:00AM