Experimental study of Scour around a complex pier with elliptical pile-cap

Gautam, P. and Eldho, T. and Behera, M. (2016) Experimental study of Scour around a complex pier with elliptical pile-cap. In: ICSE 2016 (8th International Conference on Scour and Erosion), 12-15 September 2016, Oxford, UK.

PDF PA_5_17-Gautam-P.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

A complex bridge pier is an assembly of a column and foundation such as pile foundation with a pile-cap, partially or completely exposed to the flow. Considering the interaction of various factors around the pier, the pile-cap elevation in relation to the sand bed is expected to differ with time. Therefore, it is necessary to assess scouring over various potential pile-cap elevations. In this paper, laboratory experiments were carried out to analyze scour and mean velocity profiles around complex pier under the effect of low Reynolds numbers. Three pile-cap elevation cases were studied here, viz, the sand bed depth taken above the pile-cap level; the sand bed depth taken below the pile-cap top; and the sand bed depth taken at the level of pile-cap bottom. The results showed different scour patterns in the three cases considered. It was also noted that the least scour-depth occurred in the second case and maximum in the first one.

Actions (for site administrators only - login required)

View Item