Scouring around bridge pier: A comprehensive analysis of scour depth predictive equations for clear-water and live-bed scouring conditions

Abstract

The failure of bridges, attributed to bridge pier scouring, poses a significant challenge in ensuring safe and cost-effective design. Numerous laboratory and field experiments have been conducted to comprehend the mechanisms and predict the maximum equilibrium scour depth around bridge piers. Over the last eight decades, various empirical methods have been developed, with different authors incorporating diverse influencing parameters that significantly impact the estimation of equilibrium scour depth around bridge piers. This paper aims to consolidate: (1) available experimental and field data sets on different types of bridge pier scouring, (2) the influence of flow and roughness parameters on both clear water scouring (CWS) and live bed scouring (LBS), and (3) existing empirical equations suitable for computing equilibrium scour depth around a bridge pier under CWS and LBS conditions. The presented research encompasses over 80 experimental/field data sets and more than 60 scour-predicting equations developed for CWS and LBS conditions in the past eight decades. Based on the performance of different empirical models in predicting scour depth ratio, suitable models are recommended for CWS and LBS conditions. HIGHLIGHTS To focus on the available experimental and field data sets on different types of bridge pier scouring such as clear water scouring and live bed scouring.; To study the effect of flow and roughness parameters on clear water and live bed scouring.; To select the suitable existing empirical equations to compute scour depth around a bridge pier for clear water and live bed scouring.;

Keywords

• bridge pier
• clear water scour
• empirical equation
• live bed scour
• scour depth prediction