Method for Estimating Clear-Water Local Scour Rate at Complex Piers
Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 10
Abstract
When estimating design local scour depths at structures where the design flows have short durations, equilibrium scour depths can be too conservative. Attempts to develop methods to accurately estimate scour rates and times to reach near equilibrium scour depths have only been moderately successful. The objective of the work reported here was to develop an improved, but still conservative, mathematical model for estimating local scour depth as a function of time for a known flow event. This model also estimates scour rates and the time required for the scour to reach near equilibrium (80%–90%) depths. When used in conjunction with the recently published equilibrium local scour depth model, Sheppard et al., it can be applied to both simple and complex bridge pier structures. When using the scour rate equations presented here, changes in sediment properties with sediment depth can be included in the analysis. Due to the lack of local scour rate data at large structures subjected to live-bed flow conditions, the proposed methodology is currently limited to clear-water scour conditions.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 149 • Issue 10 • October 2023
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 25, 2023
Accepted: Jun 13, 2023
Published online: Jul 27, 2023
Published in print: Oct 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Dec 27, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Design (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Equilibrium
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Flow duration
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydraulic structures
- Hydraulics
- Hydrologic engineering
- Mathematical models
- Mathematics
- Models (by type)
- Piers
- Ports and harbors
- River engineering
- Scour
- Sediment
- Statics (mechanics)
- Structural design
- Water and water resources
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