Countermeasure of river bend scour using a combination of submerged vanes and riprap

Abstract

A series of laboratory flume experiments were done in a large-scale 180° bend with non- cohesive sediment to find optimal or effective protection works at a bend. Detailed study of the scour and flow field dynamics with and without protection works was done. Spatially dense, high frequency velocity data were collected and analyzed to describe the pattern and magnitude of three-dimensional (3D) velocity throughout the bend. Characterizing the role of flow field dynamics on the pattern of deposition and erosion through experimental measurements provided valuable data about how such flow features contribute to scour and about the performance of the protection works. From the experimental results, it is revealed that for a perennial river it is not possible to protect from scour either with riprap or with submerged vanes alone. Protection from scour at a bend can be achieved with proper combination of these two works. First, submerged vanes can protect the toe, and, second, riprap can protect the upper part of the slope if it is not damaged through toe erosion. The experiments convincingly demonstrate the efficiency of this bank protection technique.