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Estimation of Maximum Local Scour Depths at Multiple Piles of Sea/Bay-crossing Bridges

  • Hydraulic Engineering
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Abstract

Estimation methods of local scour depths under complex marine environment have not been well understood for bridge design and constructions. This study focuses on estimating the maximum local scour depth at multiple piles of sea/bay-crossing bridges by developing a new formula using compiled 58 laboratory data and 21 field data. Scale model experiments of three practical bridges in China (Jiashao Bridge, Hangzhou Bay Bridge, and Jintang Bridge) were first conducted, and the results were used to calibrate the proposed universal formula. This formula was developed by using dimensional analysis and considering pile dimension, pile format and type, incoming wave flow condition, wave flow characteristics (acceleration of gravity, density, and dynamic viscosity), and sediment grain size. After the parameters were calibrated, two sets of field measurement data and two independent sets of laboratory testing data of maximum local scour depth were utilized to verify the formula. The results show a relatively good match between the calculated values from the formula and the measured data from the experiment and the field. The new formula is promising to be used to predict the maximum local scour depth at piles for the design of practical sea/bay-crossing bridges in the marine environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Haiqian Han & Zhilin Sun

  2. Zhejiang Institute of Hydraulics and Estuary, Hangzhou, 310020, China

    Haiqian Han & Yifan Chen

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  1. Haiqian Han
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  2. Yifan Chen
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  3. Zhilin Sun
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Correspondence to Yifan Chen.

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Han, H., Chen, Y. & Sun, Z. Estimation of Maximum Local Scour Depths at Multiple Piles of Sea/Bay-crossing Bridges. KSCE J Civ Eng 23, 567–575 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-018-0769-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-018-0769-0

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