Performance of Existing Methods for Estimation and Mitigation of Local Scour around Bridges: Case Studies
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 33, Issue 6
Abstract
Bridge scour is a phenomenon that describes the loss of riverbed sediments around bridge supports because of flow, and it has been identified as one of the leading causes of bridge failures. The aim of this study is to investigate the performance of existing methods for estimation and mitigation of local scour using calculated and measured results. The present comparison between design methods in the United States and China show their own characteristics and deficiencies. The influence of pier width and sediment parameters on scour development was first analyzed. The predictive equation widely used in the United States and the design standards used in China were compared. In total, 796 data records collected from field projects were used to evaluate the accuracy and behavior of scour estimation models. The performance of these scour estimation methods are discussed regarding different ranges of parameters separately. Existing models used in design standards in the United States and China are found to perform unsatisfactorily, especially for large piers or piers with a small or large ratio of pier width to particle size. Under such conditions, the equations by these standards tend to significantly overestimate the scour depth. However, an appropriately designed countermeasure can provide reliable protection. Both scour estimation and mitigation are important to avoid bridge failures in practice. Case studies on Sutong Bridge and Houfeng Bridge in China have been carried out to highlight these key strategies for bridge design, construction, and long-term service.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The work reported herein was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFC0800200), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41172246), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China. This financial support is gratefully acknowledged.
References
Amini, A., B. W. Melville, T. M. Ali, and A. H. Ghazali. 2012. “Clear-water local scour around pile groups in shallow-water flow.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 138 (2): 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000488.
Arneson, L. A., L. W. Zevenbergen, P. F. Lagasse, and P. E. Clopper. 2012. Evaluating scour at bridges. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.
Ataie-Ashtiani, B., and A. A. Beheshti. 2006. “Experimental investigation of clear-water local scour at pile groups.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 132 (10): 1100–1104. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2006)132:10(1100).
Briaud, J. L. 2014. “Scour depth at bridges: Method including soil properties. I: Maximum scour depth prediction.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng. 141 (2): 04014104. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001222.
Ettema, R., G. Constaninescu, and B. W. Melville. 2011. Evaluation of bridge scour research: Pier scour processes and predictions. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Fischenich, C., and M. Landers. 2000. Computing scour. Vicksburg, MS: US Army Engineer Research and Development Center.
Froelich, D. C. 1988. “Analysis of onsite measurement of scour at piers.” In Proc., 1988 National Conf. on Hydraulic Engineering, 534–539. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Gao, D., G. L. Posada, and C. F. Nordin. 1993. Pier scour equations used in the People’s Republic of China-Review and summary. Washington, DC: US Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Gaudio, R., C. Grimaldi, A. Tafarojnoruz, and F. Calomino. 2010. “Comparison of formulae for the prediction of scour depth at piers.” In Proc., 1st IAHR European Division Congress, 4–6. Edinburgh, Scotland.
Hong, J. H., Y. M. Chiew, J. Y. Lu, J. S. Lai, and Y. B. Lin. 2012. “Houfeng Bridge failure in Taiwan.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 138 (2): 186–198. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000430.
Johnson, P. A. 1995. “Comparison of pier-scour equations using field data.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 121 (8): 626–629. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1995)121:8(626).
JTG (Ministry of Communications of PRC). 2002. Hydrological specifications for survey and design of highway engineering. JTG C30. Shenzhen, China: JTG.
Kothyari, U. C., R. J. Grade, and K. G. Ranga Raju. 1992. “Temporal variation of scour around circular bridge piers.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 118 (8): 1091–1106. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1992)118:8(1091).
Lagasse, P. F., P. E. Clopper, L. W. Zevenbergen, and L. G. Girard. 2007. Countermeasures to protect bridge piers from scour. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Landers, M. N., and D. S. Mueller. 1999. “US Geological Survey field measurements of pier scour.” In Compendium of Papers on ASCE Water Resources Engineering Conf. 1991 to 1998, 585–607. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Lauchlan, C. S., and B. W. Melville. 2001. “Riprap protection at bridge piers.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 127 (5): 412–418. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2001)127:5(412).
Li, J., J. Tao, and Y. Liu. 2017. “DES modeling of erosional forces around streamlined piers and implications for scour countermeasures.” Int. J. Geomech. 17 (6): 04016139. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GM.1943-5622.0000839.
Liang, F., C. Wang, M. Huang, and Y. Wang. 2016. “Experimental observations and evaluations of formulae for local scour at pile groups in steady currents.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 35 (2): 245–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2016.1147510.
Liang, F., C. Wang, Y. Wang, and M. Huang. 2015a. “Analysis on flume test of local scour around pile groups embedded in sandy-cohesive soil.” [In Chinese.] Supplement, Shuili Xuebao/J. Hydraul. Eng. 46 (S1): 79–83.
Liang, F., H. Zhang, and M. Huang. 2015b. “Extreme scour effects on the buckling of bridge piles considering the stress history of soft clay.” Nat. Hazard. 77 (2): 1143–1159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1647-4.
Lim, F. H., and Y. M. Chiew. 2001. “Parametric study of riprap failure around bridge piers.” J. Hydraul. Res. 39 (1): 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221680109499803.
Lin, C., C. Bennett, J. Han, and R. L. Parsons. 2010. “Scour effects on the response of laterally loaded piles considering stress history of sand.” Comput. Geotech. 37 (7): 1008–1014. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2010.08.009.
Lin, C., J. Han, C. Bennett, and R. L. Parsons. 2016. “Analysis of laterally loaded piles in soft clay considering scour-hole dimensions.” Ocean Eng. 111: 461–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2015.11.029.
Lin, M., and Z. Chen. 2017. “Experimental analysis of scour protection of deep water group pile foundation of Su Tong Bridge.” [In Chinese.] J. Hebei Univ. Eng. (Nat. Sci. Ed.) 34 (2): 50–55.
Lu, Z., Z. Gao, and J. Huang. 2009. “Experimental study on local scour protection of large-scale pile platform pier foundation of Sutong Bridge.” [In Chinese.] China Harbour Eng. 159 (1): 3–8.
Melville, B. W., and S. E. Coleman. 2000. Bridge scour. Highlands Ranch, CO: Water Resources Publications.
Melville, B. W., and A. J. Sutherland. 1988. “Design method for local scour at bridge piers.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 114 (10): 1210–1226. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1988)114:10(1210).
Mueller, D. S., and C. R. Wagner. 2005. Field observations and evaluations of streambed scour at bridges. McLean, VA: Office of Engineering Research and Development, Federal Highway Administration.
Oliveto, G., and W. H. Hager. 2002. “Temporal evolution of clearwater pier and abutment scour.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 128 (9): 811–820. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2002)128:9(811).
Park, C. W., H. I. Park, and Y. K. Cho. 2017. “Evaluation of the applicability of pier local scour formulae using laboratory and field data.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 35 (1): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2014.954658.
Qi, M., J. Li, and Q. Chen. 2016. “Comparison of existing equations for local scour at bridge piers: Parameter influence and validation.” Nat. Hazard. 82 (3): 2089–2105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2287-z.
Richardson, E. V. 1987. FHWA technical advisory-Scour at bridges. Washington, DC: US Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.
Richardson, E. V., and S. R. Davis. 2001. Evaluating scour at bridges. Washington, DC: Federal Highway Administration.
Sheppard, D. M., H. Demir, and B. W. Melville. 2011. Vol. 682 of Scour at wide piers and long skewed piers. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
Sheppard, D. M., B. W. Melville, and H. Demir. 2014. “Evaluation of existing equations for local scour at bridge piers.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 140 (1): 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000800.
Shwiyhat, N., and M. Xiao. 2010. “Effect of suffusion on mechanical characteristics of sand.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Scour and Erosion (ICSE-5), 378–386. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Sumer, B. M., and J. Fredsøe. 1998. “Wave scour around group of vertical piles.” J. Waterw. Port Coastal Ocean Eng. 124 (5): 248–256. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-950X(1998)124:5(248).
Sumer, B. M., and J. Fredsøe. 2001. “Wave scour around a large vertical circular cylinder.” J. Waterway, Port, Coastal, Ocean Eng. 127 (3): 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-950X(2001)127:3(125).
Tao, J., S. Zhao, and C. Xu. 2009. “Research on scour depth of Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge.” [In Chinese.] Supplement, World Bridges S1: 73–77.
USGS. 2000. “Pier scour data table.” Accessed June 13, 2000. https://water.usgs.gov/osw/techniques/bs/BSDMS/Data_Tables/PierScourTable.htm.
Wang, C., X. Yu, and F. Liang. 2017a. “A review of bridge scour: Mechanism, estimation, monitoring and countermeasures.” Nat. Hazard. 87 (3): 1881–1906. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-017-2842-2.
Wang, C., X. Yu, and F. Liang. 2017b. “Comparison and estimation of the local scour depth around pile groups and wide piers.” In Proc., Geotechnical Frontiers 2017, 11–19. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Yeo, U. G., and J. G. Gang. 1999. “Field investigation of bridge scours in small and medium streams (2).” J. Korea Water Resour. Assoc. 32 (1): 49–59.
Zhang, Z. 1996. “Research on bed materials with small particles in the Yangtze River estuary.” [In Chinese.] J. Sediment Res. 3: 67–73.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 33 • Issue 6 • December 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 11, 2018
Accepted: Mar 12, 2019
Published online: Aug 20, 2019
Published in print: Dec 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Jan 20, 2020
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.