Pier shape and alignment effects on local scour

Fael, Cristina; Lança, Rui; Cardoso, António

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9039

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
2014_fael_et_al_2014_pier_shape_and_alignment_effects_on_local_scour.pdf		168.59 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Fael, Cristina

Lança, Rui

Cardoso, António

Abstract(s)

Bridge piers may have several horizontal shapes and be built with different alignment angles towards the flow direction. The effects of pier shape and alignment have been studied by only a few researchers, the most well-known being Laursen and Toch [1956]. In the present study, 55 long-duration laboratory tests were run under steady, clearwater flow close to the threshold for initiation of sediment motion, to address the effect of shape and skew-angle on the equilibrium scour depth. Five different pier shapes were considered: circular, rectangular square-nose, rectangular round-nose, oblong and piles group; the tested skew-angles were 0, 30, 45, 60, and 90°. Relevant contributions were achieved on the effect of shape at skewed piers and performance of the equation suggested by Richardson and Davis [2001] to account for the pier alignment factor.