Case study: Comparing performance of pier scour equations using field data for the Gediz bridge, Manisa, Turkey

Abstract

All over the world, many studies have been carried out on river bridge scour, but most of the findings have been based on laboratory data. Here, field data were used to understand the performance of several pier scour equations. The most commonly predictive equations were used to predict the type of scour that would be expected to be found on the Gediz Bridge in Turkey. Then, theoretical pier scour was calculated using several equations and the results were compared with field data on real scour observed at the Gediz bridge. From the results of the study, the relative performances of various prediction algorithms were compared and recommendations for their applications were provided.