Rationality in pier geometry of Kintaikyo Bridge from viewpoint of river engineering

Abstract The Kintaikyo Bridge, with its elegant wooden arches, has a unique pier shape and continues to be loved by residents visitors alike. Although this bridge is an active footbridge important landscape element along the Nishikigawa River river beach, rationality or irrationality of piers remains unknown. This paper intended clarify engineering characteristics for first time conducting 1/129 scale hydraulic model experiments. shapes tested were perfect spindle (which been adopted as common theory many years) reconstructed current based on shape, comparison, oval non-regular hexagon same width area. suppressed water level rise around more than others. As riverbed fluctuation, slightly increased scour others, but it also maximized sedimentation scoured part. In other words, potential facilitate procurement sediment post-flood restoration. addition, overwhelmingly reduced statistical dispersion associated experiment, suggesting that stabilizes trend fluctuation even during actual floods. Based results, future conservation Bridge was discussed.