The Numerical Simulation of Flow Field around Bridge Piers

Nowadays, the study on flow field model around piers is rare. Mostly, about the pier issues, the bridge piers are usually generalized by the numerical simulation. In this paper, a numerical model which could be applied to most piers is established. This model is based on triangle meshes, finite volume method and explicit difference solving governing equations for the sea while highlighting the advantages of triangle meshes that fit complex border. Meanwhile, the denser grid method is adopted to fit pier shape, to reduce computational time and improve calculation accuracy. The result of experiment shows that the model can basically simulate the flow field change around the piers, and have some value in guiding the appraisal of navigation safety on river-spanning/sea-spanning bridges.