SCOUR AT BRIDGE STRUCTURES AND CHANNEL AGGRADATION AND DEGRADATION FIELD MEASUREMENTS. STATE OF THE ART. FINAL REPORT

A study on bridge scour and bridge related channel instability field measurements was conducted for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). The objectives of the research were to review and evaluate procedures and field techniques for measuring scour at bridge structures and for monitoring channel aggradation, degradation, and lateral migration; and to recommend a program to initiate data collection in Arizona. The ultimate goal of this research is to provide data and procedures to identify bridges that may be susceptible to scour and channel instability problems so that adequate countermeasures can be undertaken to avoid and mitigate bridge scour incidents and to collect data on scour and channel instability processes in Arizona so that appropriate design and construction procedures can be developed and used in Arizona. Pilot programs for bridge scour have been recommended. These include the use of ground penetrating radar, buried miniature transmitters, post-flood reconstitutions, and mobile teams. A phased monitoring program for channel aggradation, degradation, and lateral migration has been recommended. Level 1 monitoring uses readily available data from the bridge inspection program to identify bridges that may be experiencing these longer term channel changes. Subsequent, more rigorous, levels of monitoring are to be used if the Level 1 monitoring indicates the need. Bridge data files are recommended for the compilation and analysis of data and general information. A general implementation plan has been recommended that includes ADOT, USGS, engineering consultants, and university research groups. A technical advisory team should be established, and a special consultant should be retained to assist in defining future scopes-of-work, setting priorities, organizing and implementing the programs, and reviewing program progress.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Nebraska, Omaha

  Department of Civil Engineering, 6001 Dodge Street
  Omaha, NE  United States  68182-0178

  Arizona Department of Transportation

  206 South 17th Avenue
  Phoenix, AZ  United States  85007

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sabol, G V
  • Nordin Jr, C F
  • Richardson, E V
• Publication Date: 1990-5

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridges; Channels (Waterways); Data analysis; Data collection; Equilibrium (Mechanics); Field tests; Ground penetrating radar; Inspection; Mathematical analysis; Monitoring; Radio transmitters; Scour
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aggradation; Bridge inspection; Degradation; Field measurements
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; I26: Water Run-off - Freeze-thaw;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496596
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-AZ90-814
• Contract Numbers: PL-1(31) Item 814
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM