LOCAL SCOUR ESTIMATION AT BRIDGE SITE: MODIFICATION AND APPLICATION OF LACEY FORMULA

Md. Munsur RAHMAN1 and M. Anisul HAQUE2

ABSTRACT In the recent years, it has been established that b/h or h/b (b = length of the structure in the lateral direction and h = approach flow depth) is the dominant factor for the estimation of local scour depth around abutments and piers. One of the major limitations of the Lacey formula is that it predicts only one value of the scour depth for a specific river because of the absence of important parameters b and h. Therefore, its application is quite uncertain for variable b and h. Considering its limitations and experimental facts of flow concentration and shear stress amplification close to above structures, the original Lacey formula is modified introducing the parameters b and h. The applicability of the original as well as modified Lacey formula is tested to the data collected from major rivers in Bangladesh. Key Words: Local scour depth, Piers and abutments, Lacey formula, Bangladesh

1 INTRODUCTION Piers and abutments are the integral part of bridge structures that obstruct the natural river flow resulting from scouring around them. One of the main causes of bridge failure is the excessive local scouring around piers and abutments during floods. Also, the failure of groins, spur-dikes, guide banks frequently occurs during the flood season due to severe scouring. The structures extended from river banks towards the lateral direction are called hereafter as abutment-like structures. It is very important to estimate the maximum scour depth precisely around these structures for safety. Local scour depth estimation around bridge piers and abutment-like structures attracted considerable research interest and a number of prediction methods are available at present (Lacey, 1930; Liu, 1961; Laursen, 1963; Melville 1997; Lim, 1997; Rahman and Muramoto, 1999; Rahman and Haque, 2002 and many others). Most of the formulae are empirical or semi-empirical (with some exceptions) and applicable to the limited range of hydraulic and geometric condition. On the other hand, variability of natural rivers often exceeds the limitations of these formulae and estimation of local scour depth becomes a big challenge to the practicing engineers. In above situations, over-estimations are usual practice in order to avoid uncertainties and possible failure. For any engineering works, designers should concern both safety and economy. Due to economical reason, over design is not desirable, specially, for abutments or piers where major portion of the cost is involved in the under water construction that is directly related to the design scour depth. Therefore, it is important to estimate the local scour depth precisely around these structures. Recently, Rahman and Muramoto model (1999) that is applicable for any range of sloped-wall spur-dikes is modified considering these issues for the prediction of the maximum local scour depth in an alluvial braided river (Rahman et al., 2003). It was found that the limiting value of b/h beyond which the maximum local scour depth remains constant differs in alluvial braided river from those obtained by Melville (1992) using simplified laboratory data in rectangular flumes.

Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, E-mail: mmrahman@iwfm.buet.ac.bd; at present: Post Doctoral Research fellow, Ujigawa Open Laboratory, Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Shimomisu, Yoko-Oji, Fushimi-Ku, Kyoto 612-8235, Japan, E-mail: rahman@uh31.dpri.kyoto-u.ac.jp 2Associate Professor, Institute of Water and Flood Management (IWFM), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh. Note: The original manuscript of this paper was received in Oct. 2002. The revised version was received in Oct. 2003. Discussion open until Dec. 2004. International Journal of Sediment Research, Vol. 18, No. 4, 2003, pp. 333-339 - 333 -

1Assistant

Lacey regime formula (1930) was developed on the basis of limited field data from irrigation canals in Punjab Province (Stevens and Nordin, 1987) having discharge ranges from 0.70 to 173 m3/s. Laceys regime formula then modified for the estimation of local scour at bridge site using some amplification factors. Even after 70 years of its development, the hydraulic engineers in the Indian Sub Continents still use it for the estimation of design scour depth around various hydraulic structures such as piers, groins, spur-dikes, abutments, guide banks etc. The limitation of the Laceys formula for the prediction of local scour depth against a particular structure is that the maximum predicted scour does not depend on the dimension of the structure. The same scour depth is predicted against a specific kind of structure in a Particular River with constant geometric and hydraulic factors, whatever the size of the structure is. But in practice, the structural dimension, specially, the length of the structure along the lateral direction is the dominant factor for the estimation of the maximum scour depth (Liu, 1961; Laursen, 1963; Melville, 1992; Lim, 1997; Rahman and Muramoto, 1999; Rahman and Haque, 2002 etc.). The Lacey equation is very popular in the Indian Sub Continent and the hydraulic designers in Bangladesh are using the formula for the estimation of regime depth as well as the local scour depth. In the present study, Lacey equation is modified introducing the lateral dimension of piers and abutment-like structures so that it can estimate the scour depth against the structures with variable sizes. The modified formula is then compared with the original one and the field data. 2 LACEY FORMULA Lacey (1930) introduced the formula for the prediction of the maximum scour depth around piers and abutment-like structures (after Rahman et al. (2001)):
Q ds (1) = 0.47 k fh 3 1 h where ds = scour depth measured from the initial bed level, h = approach flow depth, Q = regime
1/ 3

discharge, f = silt factor = 1.76 d 50 , k = amplification factor for local scour depth and d50 = mean diameter of bed sediment in mm. Equation (1) is developed within the following ranges of hydraulic condition: 0.70 Q 1.73 , 0.5 h 3.0 , 0.14 Fr 0.21 , 0.00013 I .00050 ; where, Fr and I are the Frouds number and longitudinal energy gradient, respectively. It is used in Bangladesh for the prediction of the local scour depth for different structures using the suggested values of k as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 Suggested values of k Type of structures Steeply sloping head piers: 1.5:1 Long sloping head piers: 1:20 Scour at nose of large radius guide banks Maximum scour at rounded bridge pier Scour at spurs along river bank k values 3.80 2.25 2.75 2.00 1.70

In a river, the regime discharge Q can be assumed as constant. Therefore, for a specific type of structure, the maximum scour will be same. But in practice, the structural dimension, specially, the length of the structure along the lateral direction is dominant factor for the estimation of the maximum scour depth (Liu, 1961; Laursen, 1963; Melville, 1992; Lim, 1997; Rahman and Muramoto, 1999). 3 MODIFICATION OF LACEY FORMULA The Lacey equation is very popular in the Indian Sub Continent and in Bangladesh. Designers are using the formula for the estimation of regime depth as well as the local scour depth using a constant factor (k). To overcome the constraint (scour depth does not depend on the dimension of the structure), Lacey equation is modified for the prediction of the maximum local scour depth using the concept of flow concentration (Rahman and Muramoto, 1999) around the structure.
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For Q = Bhu, here B = channel width and u = approach flow velocity. as:

Equation (1) can be expressed

ds Bu = 0.47k 0.5 2 h 1.76d 50 h

1/ 3

B 1 = 0.47 1.76d 0.5 h 2 50

1/ 3

ku*

1/ 3

(2)

where, u = u * , u* = approach bed shear velocity, and

h 8.5 + 5.75 log k s

for turbulent flow, ks

can be taken as grain roughness = 2.5d50. As the approach flow comes close to the structure, the shear stress amplification will occur. Then, approach shear velocity (u*) need to be replaced by amplified shear velocity (u*m). Assuming 1/ 3 k = (u*m / u* ) , equation (2) can be written as: u*m1 / 3 1 (3) The concept of velocity amplification or flow concentration close to the structure adopted by Lim (1997) is very important. But the idea of flow concentration within the entire width of the scour hole region is not appropriate (Tsuchiya and Ishizaki, 1966; Kawn and Melville, 1994). Therefore, Rahman and Muramoto (1999), considered the flow concentration in to the restricted region of the scour hole. It was observed (Rahman and Haque, 2002) that the discharge flux becomes highly concentrated close to the structure. For the present analysis, idealized flow concentration into the restricted region is considered in the flat bed condition (Fig. 1). ds B = 0.47 1.76d 0.5 h 2 h 50
1/ 3

Fig. 1 Flow concentration into the restricted region close to the abutment-like structures

From flow continuity (inflow = outflow):

hu (ba + bs ) = bs hu m

(4)

where um = amplified velocity, bs = region within which flow velocity is amplified. Equation (4) can be expressed as: u m ba (5) = 1 + b u s Introducing, u = u * both for the approach and amplified flow, equation (5) can be expressed as:
u*m ba (6) = 1 + u* bs From the experimental evidences (Fig. 2a) in the flat bed condition, it was found that bs can be taken as a function of approach flow depth, i.e., h = abs , where a is a constant to be determined from experimental results. u *m b = (7) 1 + a a u* h
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From (3) and (7): For abutments:

ba ds = 0.47 M 1 / 3 1 + a h h
1/ 3

(8)

For Piers: Non-dimensional pier scour depths are generally expressed by ds/bp as a function of h/bp where bp is the pier diameter. From the experimental evidences (Fig. 2b) of pier in the flat bed condition, it was found that bs can also be taken as a function of approach flow depth, i.e., h = p bs , where p is a constant to be determined from experimental results of piers. Therefore, (8) can be written for pier scour as: 1/ 3 h bp ds = 0.47 M 1 / 3 + 1 1 p bp h b p

(9)

Fig. 2 Concentration of discharge fluxes close (bs) to abutment and pier

From the experimental results of Rajaratnum and Nwachuwn (1983), a = 1.5 (Fig. 3a) for abutments and of Ahmed and Rajaratnum (1998) p = 4.5 for piers (Fig. 3b).

Fig. 3 Amplification of shear velocity close to abutment (Rajaratnum and Nwachuwn, 1983) and pier (Ahmed and Rajaratnum, 1998)

where M =

Bu*c
1.76d 50 h 2
0.5

= constant for a specific river.

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For Laceys non-scouring and non-silting regime condition, u* = u*c and equations (8) and (9) can be written for the critical condition of approach flow. For abutments:
ds b = 0.47 M 1 / 3 1 + 1.5 a h h
1/ 3

(10)

For piers:
bp ds 1 + 4.5 = 0.47 M 1 / 3 bp h
1/ 3

h 1 b p

(11)

4 APPLICATION Abutments: The observed scour depth data around different abutment-like structures along the Jamuna river are compared (Fig. 4) with the predicted values by Laceys original formula as well as with the modified Laceys formula (M = 30). Data are around the structures having 1V:3H to 1V:4.5H sloped-wall. It can be seen that the original form of the Laceys equation predicts constant scour depth for a specific type of structure in a particular river. But the modified Laceys formula predicts the scour depth as function of the lateral length of the structure and becomes closely comparable with the recent models (Melville, 1992; Rahman and Muramoto, 1999 etc.) where scour depth varies with the lateral length. There is a debate on the applicability of Laceys formula as it always over-predicts the scour depth around abutment-like structures in alluvial rivers (Kabir, et al., 2000). Comparing the original Lacey formula and modified Lacey formula, it can be seen that original formula over-predict the modified one for ba/h < 10 and under-predicts for ba/h > 10. However, the modified Lacey predicts the observed values reasonably well within ba/h < 10 and beyond this value, it over-predict the observed values. The maximum observed scour depths were recorded at the Sirajgonj hard point and near the Kalitala Groyne during the monsoon flood of 1998 and 2001, respectively. It is important to note that the recorded values of the scour depth can be closely predicted by the modified Lacey formula, but over-predict by the Laceys original formula. Apparently, it indicates the limitation of the modified Lacey formula where it is applicable. But other data appeared in the figure were collected during the middle of October and November which is the recession period for the Jamuna river when scour depths are generally filled up by the sediment deposition. Therefore, the observed data are less than the predicted values.

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Fig. 4 Comparison of Lacey formula with field data (JMB: Jamuna multi-purpose bridge; EGB: East guide bank; WGB: West guide bank).

Piers: The observed scour depth data around different pier-like structures along the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Meghna river are compared (Fig. 5) with the predicted values by Laceys original formula, modified Laceys formula, Laursen formula and Melville formula (see Rahman et al., 2001 for reference). The suggested M-values for the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Meghna are 30, 25 and 15, respectively. It can be seen that the original form of the Laceys equation predicts constant scour depth for a specific type of structure in a particular river. But the modified Laceys formula predicts the scour depth as function of the pier width where scour depth varies with the pier width and closely comparable with Laursen formula and Melville formula within h/bp<1.50. Beyond this value of h/bp, Melville formula predicts constant value of ds/bp (= 2.4). Therefore, modified Lacey predicts the local scour depth around piers reasonably well at least within this limiting value of h/bp. Beyond this limiting range, scour depth are always less than the predicted values by both the original Lacey and modified Lacey. There is a debate on the applicability of original Laceys formula as it always over-predict the scour depth around pier-like structures in alluvial rivers (Kabir, Faisal and Khatun, 2000). The reason can be partially explained from the features of modified Lacey formula.

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Fig. 5

Comparison of Lacey, modified Lacey, Laursen and Melville formula with field data of the Jamuna, the Ganges and the Meghna River

5 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS Laceys original formula is compared against the observed maximum scour depth around abutment-like and pier-like structures along the major rivers in Bangladesh. It was found that the predicted values usually over-predict the observed values. Another issue is important to note that for a river system having constant hydraulic and geometric parameters, the predicted maximum scour depth is constant and independent on the lateral length of the structure. In spite of such limitations, Laceys formula is used for the prediction of local scour in Bangladesh. It is surprising to see the success of Laceys formula in large alluvial rivers that are quite different from small irrigation canals, the basis of Lacey formula. However, the general applicability of the formula is not out of question. On the other hand, the modified Lacey formula can predict the scour depth for the structure with variable size and the predicted scour depth is closely comparable with the observed values and other available formulae. Therefore, it is better to use the modified Lacey formula instead of the original one. One of the limitations of the Laceys modified formula is that it cannot cope with variable sloped-wall abutment-like structures. This is the remaining problem of the modified Lacey formula that need to be solved during future researches. To be more specific the following points can be concluded from the above study: (1) Modified Lacey formula is applicable for abutment-like-structures adopted in the major rivers of Bangladesh within ba/h < 10. However, the results obtained by this method would be questionable to use when the variation of the side slope of the structures is significant. (2) Modified Lacey formula is applicable for pier-like-structures adopted in the large scale rivers in Bangladesh within h/bp < 1.50. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The financial support to the first author by Japan Society of promotion of Science (JSPS) during revising the manuscript is gratefully acknowledged.
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Research Center, Colorado State University, CER 60, KHL 22. Melville, B.W. 1992, Local scour at bridge abutments. J. Hydraulic Division, ASCE, Vol. 118, No. 4, pp. 615-631. Rahman, M.M. and Haque, A. 2002, Flow field and the maximum local scour depth around piers and abutments. Journal of Indian Water Resources Society, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 117-124. Rahman, M.M, Haque, M.A., Hoque, M.M, Sarker, M.F.H and Mamun, S.A. 2001, Local Scouring at Bridge Site in Natural River. Proceedings of the 2nd International symposium on River, Coastal and Esturine Morphodynamics, pp. 255-264, Obihiro, Japan, pp. 10-14. Rahman, M.M. and Muramoto, Y. 1999, Prediction of maximum scour depth around spur-dike-like structures. Annual J. of Hydraulic Engineering, JSCE, Vol. 43. Rajaratnam, N. and Nwachukwu, B.A. 1983, Flow near groin-like structures. J. of Hydraulic Division, ASCE,Vol. 109, No. 3, pp. 463~480. Stevens, M.A. and Nordin, C.F. 1987, Critique of the regime theory for alluvial channels. J. of Hydraulic Division, ASCE, Vol. 113, No. 11, pp. 1359-1380. Tsuchiya, A. and Ishizaki, K. 1966, Scouring around spur-dikes. Proc. of the 10th Conference on Hydraulic Engineering, JSCE, pp. 65-70 (in Japanese).

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