Effects on Scour for Different Foundation Geometry of Compound Circular Bridge Piers

Abstract

This experimental study examines the variation of scour depth with time of Clearwater scour condition around compound circular bridge piers for steady flow conditions. Most of the circular bridge piers are resting on the bigger diameter caissons known as the compound circular bridge piers and are widely used in India for construction of road and railways bridge across the rivers. In past studies, it has been observed that most bridge failure occurs because of scouring due to flowing water around a bridge pier across a river. Most of the past studies were done on the uniform bridge pier and a very few studies have been done so far on scouring around non-uniform bridge piers. Estimation of scour depth is required for the economical and a sound design of bridge pier foundation. In present study, an experimental investigation has been done in a tilting flume for computation of rate of change of depth of scour with time at two different models of compound circular bridge piers by varying the foundation top position with respect to level of bed, i.e., 1. The foundation top at the level of bed, and 2. The foundation top below the level of bed (viz. 10mm, 20mm, 30mm and 40mm) for uniform sediments.