Upper Bound of Pier Scour in Laboratory and Field Data

Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, conducted several field investigations of pier scour in South Carolina and used the data to develop envelope curves defining the upper bound of pier scour. To expand on this previous work, an additional cooperative investigation was initiated to combine the South Carolina data with pier scour data from other sources and to evaluate upper-bound relations with this larger data set. To facilitate this analysis, 569 laboratory and 1,858 field measurements of pier scour were compiled to form the 2014 USGS Pier Scour Database. This extensive database was used to develop an envelope curve for the potential maximum pier scour depth encompassing the laboratory and field data. The envelope curve provides a simple but useful tool for assessing the potential maximum pier scour depth for effective pier widths of about 30 ft or less.