Pressure flow effects on scour at bridges
Date
2000
Authors
Robeson, Michael D., author
Thornton, Christopher I., advisor
Abt, Steven R., committee member
Arneson, Larry A., committee member
Doe, William W., committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Scour caused by the occurrence of pressure flow requires a comprehensive understanding. Pressure flow can be defined as flow in which the low chord of a bridge becomes inundated and the flow through the bridge opening transitions from free surface flow to a pressurized condition, leading to a submerged or partially submerged bridge deck condition. A pressure flow condition often occurs at a bridge during a flood, potentially leading to bridge failure. Scour of bridge foundations (piers and abutments) represents the largest single cause of bridge failure in the United States (ASCE, 1999). Methodical scour research began in 1949 with the research of E.M. Laursen. Unfortunately, the application of scour research to the design of bridges did not occur until several bridges failed due to local scour. Over the years, bridge scour research has focused on the study of free surface flow. During the past decade, research related to pressure flow scour has become increasingly important. A testing program was developed and performed at the Hydraulics Laboratory of Colorado State University to examine pressure flow effects on scour at and around bridges. Flume experiments were conducted incorporating a physical model of a generic bridge with supporting abutments constructed at an approximate scale of 8:1. In an effort to simulate varying magnitudes of a pressure flow condition, the model was constructed in a manner that permitted the bridge deck to be lowered into the flow. By lowering the bridge deck and holding the level of the approach flow constant, multiple levels of deck submergence could be examined. Six vertical bridge positions, three discharges, two abutment widths and two sediment sizes were incorporated into a matrix comprising 69 tests. Data collected included hydraulic parameters and topographic surveys. Analysis of data collected during the study resulted in the formulation of a set of multivariate linear regression equations enabling the user to estimate abutment, local and deck scour depths during a pressure flow condition. Results of a dimensional analysis indicate that the dominant variables in predicting scour depths for a pressure flow condition include; the critical velocity of a given sediment size, the average velocity under the bridge deck, the height of the bridge deck above the initial and final bed surface, the depth of flow upstream of the bridge and the Froude number of the approach flow. Coefficients of determination for the developed equations ranged from 0.82 to 0.95.
Description
Department Head: Marvin E. Criswell.