Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of water current impact and fluid-structure interaction on the bridge piers, the mechanism of water flow impact on the bridge pier is firstly studied. Then a finite element model of a bridge pier is established including the effects of water flow impact as well as the water circumferential motion around the pier. Comparative study is conducted between the results of water impact effect, fluid-structure coupling effect, theoretical analysis, and also the results derived using the formulas specified in the design codes home and abroad. The results show that the water flow force calculated using the formulas provided by the codes should be multiplied by an impact amplifier to account for the effect of flood impact on the bridge pier. When the flood flows around the pier, the fluid-structure coupling effect on the bridge pier can be neglected. The method specified in the China guidelines ofGeneral Code for Design of Highway Bridges and Culvertstends to provide a larger result of the water flow force.
Highlights
Over the last 30 years, a lot of bridges were damaged by the flood, such as the Schoharie Creek Bridge [1] in New York damaged in 1987, the Hatchie Bridge [2] in Tennessee damaged in April 1989, and the Hintze Ribeiro Bridge [3] in Portugal damaged in 2001
When the bridge pier is transiently impacted by the flood over a large range of heights, for example, a river bridge encountered by a catastrophic flood, or an inshore bridge struck by a large tidal current, or a bridge pier in the deep water attacked by big waves; it is necessary to investigate whether the impact effect and the fluid-structure coupling effect can be neglected
It is found that the fluid-structure coupling effect has a low influence on the analytical results and, can be neglected when static analysis is performed on the bridge pier
Summary
Over the last 30 years, a lot of bridges were damaged by the flood, such as the Schoharie Creek Bridge [1] in New York damaged in 1987, the Hatchie Bridge [2] in Tennessee damaged in April 1989, and the Hintze Ribeiro Bridge [3] in Portugal damaged in 2001. When the bridge pier is transiently impacted by the flood over a large range of heights, for example, a river bridge encountered by a catastrophic flood, or an inshore bridge struck by a large tidal current, or a bridge pier in the deep water attacked by big waves; it is necessary to investigate whether the impact effect and the fluid-structure coupling effect can be neglected. W. Li [12] experimentally investigated the wave current forces on oblique piles considering the effect of the super structures, and Lan et al [17] gave the experimental results for the effect of hydrodynamic forces on pile array and slab in wave current combinations. The paper is devoted to providing a reliable reference for further research and practical engineering
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