Pier Scour Estimation for Tsunami at Bridges

This TechBrief presents results of a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) study that uses a laboratory-validated, hybrid numerical scheme that combines computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with sediment transport analysis to provide a practical method for evaluating tsunami-related scour depths at bridge foundations. The primary result of this FHWA study is an estimated scour time reduction factor that can be applied to pier scour estimates to account for the short duration of a tsunami. The results of this study suggest the potential for achieving further refinement of the tsunami scour estimate by considering more conditions and variabilities of site conditions. For example, past (non-FHWA) experiments showed that tsunami scour is a highly dynamic process in which the maximum scour depth during a tsunami runup and drawdown may reach five times that of the final observed depth. The authors of this TechBrief hypothesize that the scour estimate that results from the method developed in this study would likely be greater than scour depths observed in the field because the sediment supply from far downstream and upstream was not considered when developing the method.

• Record URL:
  https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/21073/21073.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/infrastructure/structures/bridge/21073/index.cfm
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57961
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sinha, Nityanand
  • 0000-0002-8897-6707
  • Sitek, Marta A
  • Lottes, Steven A
  • Zhang, Nasi
  • 0000-0002-1175-6909
• Publication Date: 2021-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: 6p
• Serial:
  • TechBrief
  • Publisher: Federal Highway Administration
• Publication flags:

  Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge piers; Estimating; Scour; Tsunamis
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01782486
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HRT-21-073
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 22 2021 12:04PM