Formation, Growth, and Failure of Debris Jams at Bridge Piers

Vulnerability Reduction for Bridge Piers

Debris Accumulation at Bridge Crossings: Laboratory and Field Studies

Extensive accumulation of large woody debris at bridge piers poses a chronic and sometimes quite severe problem at several bridge crossings in Indiana. This study, involving both laboratory and field components, examines the factors contributing to the initiation and development of such debris piles. The laboratory study, performed in a rectangular channel with a single model pier (and in some ...

Undular tidal bores: effect of channel constriction and bridge piers

A tidal bore may occur in a macro-tidal estuary when the tidal range exceeds 4.5–6 m and the estuary bathymetry amplifies the tidal wave. Its upstream propagation induces a strong mixing of the estuarine waters. The propagation of undular tidal bores was investigated herein to study the effect of bridge piers on the bore propagation and characteristics. Both the tidal bore profile and the turbu...

Evaluation of the Extent of Backwater Effects of Bridge Piers

Introduction... The construction or renovation of bridges may require placement of bridge piers in the channel or floodplain of natural waterways. These piers will obstruct the flow and cause an increase in water levels upstream of the bridge for subcritical flows. The increase in the water level is called the backwater. The amount of backwater caused by piers depends mainly on their geometric ...

Prediction of scour depth around bridge piers using Gaussian process

A reliable prognostics framework is essential to prevent catastrophic failure of bridges due to scour. In the U.S., scour accounts for almost 60% of bridge failures. Currently available techniques in the literature for predicting scour are mostly based on empirical equations and deterministic regression models, like Neural Networks and Support Vector Machines, and do not predict the evolution o...