Observations on Flow around Bridge Abutment
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 126, Issue 1
Abstract
Results are presented from an experimental investigation into the skewed three-dimensional flow around a bridge abutment. Velocity profiles on the plane of symmetry matched the standard log-law only near the bed and revealed a rather uniform flow in the upper layer. The bed shear stress was found to amplify nearly 3.63 times near the nose of the abutment. The flow was deflected least at the midwater depth, exceeded slightly by the upper flow and substantially by the lower flow. The flow was also analyzed using the theories of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers. None of the crossflow models matched the data. The performance of near-wall similarity models was also poor. However, strong evidence of near-wall similarity was found very near to the bed. Compared to the bridge pier flow, greater skewing was found in abutment flow, especially in the downstream region, showing the limitations of treating the abutment as a half-pier.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Ahmed, F. ( 1995). “Flow and erosion around bridge piers,” PhD thesis, Dept. of Civ. Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alta., Canada.
2.
Ahmed, F., and Rajaratnam, N. (1997a). “Three-dimensional boundary layers: A review.”J. Hydr. Res., 35, 81–98.
3.
Ahmed, F., and Rajaratnam, N. (1997b). “The three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer flow around bridge piers.”J. Hydr. Res., 35, 209–224.
4.
Breusers, H. N. C., and Raudkivi, A. J., eds. ( 1991). “Chapter 4: Scour around spur dikes and abutments.” Scouring: IAHR hydraulic structures design manual 2, Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 51–59.
5.
Chandrashekhar, N., and Swamy, N. V. C. (1976). “Wall shear stress inference for three-dimensional turbulent boundary-layer velocity profiles.” J. Appl. Mech., 43, 20–27.
6.
Coles, D. (1956). “The law of the wake in the turbulent boundary layer.” J. Fluid Mech., 1, 191–226.
7.
Hornung, H. G., and Joubert, P. N. (1963). “The mean velocity profile in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.” J. Fluid Mech., 15, 368–384.
8.
Johnston, J. P. (1960). “On the three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer generated by secondary flow.” J. Basic Engrg., 233–248.
9.
Johnston, J. P., and Flack, K. A. (1996). “Review—advances in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers with emphasis on the wall-layer regions.” J. Fluids Engrg., 118, 219–232.
10.
Kline, S. J., and McClintock, F. A. (1953). “Describing uncertainties in single-sample experiments.” Mech. Engrg., 75, 3–8.
11.
Kwan, R. T. F. (1989). “A study of abutment scour.” Rep. No. 451, School of Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
12.
Ölçmen, M. S., and Simpson, R. C. (1992). “Perspective: On the near wall similarity of three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.” J. Fluids Engrg., 114, 487–495.
13.
Perry, A. E., and Joubert, P. N. (1965). “A three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer.” J. Fluid Mech., 22, 285–304.
14.
Pierce, F. J., McAllister, J. E., and Tennant, M. H. (1983a). “A review of near-wall similarity models in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.” J. Fluids Engrg., 105, 251–256.
15.
Pierce, F. J., McAllister, J. E., and Tennant, M. H. (1983b). “Near-wall similarity in a pressure-driven three-dimensional turbulent boundary layer.” J. Fluids Engrg., 105, 257–262.
16.
Pierce, F. J., and Krommenhoek, D. H. (1968). “Wall shear stress diagnostics in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.” Interim Technical Report No. 2 ARO-D Project 6858E, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
17.
Pompeo, L., Bettelini, M. S. G., and Thomann, H. (1993). “Laterally strained turbulent boundary layers near a plane of symmetry.” J. Fluid Mech., 257, 507–532.
18.
Prahlad, T. S. (1968). “Wall similarity in three-dimensional turbulent boundary layers.” AIAA J., 6, 1772–1774.
19.
Prandtl, L. (1946). “On boundary layers in three-dimensional flows.” Rep. and Trans. No. 64, British Ministry of Aircraft Production, London.
20.
Rajaratnam, N., and Muralidhar, D. ( 1967). “Yaw and pitch probes.” Hydraulic Instrumentation Series, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, Alta., Canada.
21.
Rajaratnam, N., and Muralidhar, D. (1968). “Yaw probe used as Preston tube.” J. of Royal Aerosp. Soc., 72, 1059–1060.
22.
Rajaratnam, N., and Nwachukwu, B. A. (1983). “Flow near Groyne-like structures.”J. Hydr. Engrg., ASCE, 109(3), 463–480.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
History
Received: Apr 15, 1999
Published online: Jan 1, 2000
Published in print: Jan 2000
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.