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The authors are involved in a study entitled “Countermeasures to
Protect Bridge Abutments from Scour” sponsored by the National Academy
of Sciences, Transportation Research Board, National Cooperative Highway
Research Program. The project has a duration of 3 years and has various
research tasks to be completed as listed below:
Task 1 Literature Review
Task 2 Screening Approach
Task 3 Research Alternatives
Task 4 Interim Report to Oversight Panel
Task 5 Execution of Work Plans
Task 6 Selection Criteria and Guidelines
Task 7 Final Report
As part of Task 1 (literature review) the authors are soliciting information
on experiences with bridge abutment scour. Of interest are examples of:
· Abutments where countermeasures were not successful
· Abutments where countermeasures were successful
· Design methods for any scour countermeasures
· Environmental concerns related to abutment scour or countermeasures
· Feasibility
· Effectiveness
· Constructability
· Durability
· Maintainability
· Cost
Survey forms are being prepared that will be sent to all state Department
of Transportation offices in the US for their feedback as well, but perhaps
international consultants, government agencies, and/or academicians have
experiences as well that would be helpful to us.
The information will be used to decide which conditions are suitable
for each countermeasure and to develop design guidelines for countermeasures.
Possible countermeasures include (but are not limited to):
· Riprap
· Rack and wire gabion mattress
· Any kind of bed armor
· Grout-filled bags
· Cable-tied blocks
· Tatrapods or similar interlocking devices
· Extended footings
· Tile mats
· High density particles
· Anchors
· Vanes attached to either the abutment or river bed
· Sacrificial piles
· Slots
· Flow direction plates
· Modified abutment texture
· Guide banks
· Spur dikes or similar structure
· Other
The end product of the research will be a user-friendly design manual
for abutment scour countermeasures. The manual will include a countermeasure
matrix that will aid in selection of a particular countermeasure and then
its design. This manual will be available widely to the engineering community.
Please send all information to:
Brian Barkdoll
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Mississippi
University, MS 38677
Or email to:
cvbark@olemiss.edu
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