Author(s): Alessio Radice; Chau K. Tran

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Keywords: Bridge pier; local scour; pier–abutment comparison; sediment kinematics

Abstract: This research presents results for the sediment kinematics in a clear-water scour experiment with a circular pier. Various process phases were considered, until the scour depth equalled almost twice the pier diameter. The results are consistent with typical literature descriptions of the flow field and with the findings of few previous works where the sediment motion at a local scour was investigated. The relationship between the time-averaged concentration and velocity of sediments in the scour hole was found to be almost space- and time-invariant. In addition, the link was analogous to those found in an earlier work on abutments, providing for the first time evidence that the transport mechanics are identical for the two obstacle types. It is therefore suggested that the present results support the phenomenological description and modelling of various local scour processes.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2011.641764

Year: 2012