EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO OBSERVE SCOUR

AROUND A BRIDGE PIER

MAJOR PROJECT
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF
B.TECH
IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
BY

A GROUP OF FINAL YEAR STUDENTS

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

DR. N.K.TIWARI

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
KURUKSHETRA-136119
MAY 2013

CONTENTS
i. CERTIFICATE
ii. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
iii. ABSTRACT
CHAPTERS
1. INTRODUCTION
Areas affected by Scour.
Causes of Scouring.
2. REVIEW AND LITERATURE
Factors affecting scouring
Effect of Velocity of approach.
Effect of depth of flow.
Effect of sediment size.
Effect of sediment grading.
Effect of pier shape.
Effect of pier size.
Theoretical Scouring.
Mechanism of Scouring.
3. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES
4. CONCLUSION

CERTIFICATE
Certified that the major project entitled EXPERIMENTAL STUDY TO OBSERVE
SCOUR AROUND A BRIDGE PIER which is being submitted in partial fulfilment
of the requirement of the degree of bachelor of technology in civil engineering
of National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra is a record of the work carried
out by a group of 12 students:
1. Ajay Dev
2. Abhimanyu Rana
3. Anshul Sheokand
4. Himanshu Grover
5. Varun Bhagi
6. Puneet Mehta
7. Shubham Singhal
8. Anurag Malik
9. Akhilesh Dahiya
10.Balvindra Singh
11.Rahul Sharma
12. Arushi Jain

109102
109136
109383
109509
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DR. N.K. TIWARI

ASTT. PROFESSOR
CIVIL ENGG. DEPTT.
NIT KURUKSHETRA

Acknowledgement
We express our sincere gratitude and indebtedness to our respected
guide Dr. N.K. Tiwari, Astt. Professor, Civil Engineering Department,
NIT Kurukshetra for providing constant inspiration, co-operation and
encouragement throughout the study.
We are also thankful to the staff of fluid mechanics lab and Mr. Kewal
Singh of soil mechanics lab of NIT Kurukshetra for their co-operation
and help during the experiment.

ABSTRACT
The most common cause of bridge failures is floods with the scouring of
bridge foundations being the most common cause of flood damage to
bridges.
The present study attempts to study the scour around a bridge pier
which is seated in soil containing a particular percentage of clay, and
produce an equation to determine the relationship between the velocity
of flow and the scour depth. As clay has adhesive and cohesive
properties, it is quite logical to expect clay to produce greater forces of
attraction between the particles of silt and decrease the extent of
scouring around a bridge pier.

1. INTRODUCTION
Bridge scour is the removal of sediment such as sand and rocks from
around bridge abutments or piers. Scour, caused by swiftly moving
water, can scoop out scour holes, compromising the integrity of a
structure.
Bridge scour is one of the three main causes of bridge failure (the others
being collision and overloading). It has been estimated that 60% of all
bridge failures result from scour and other hydraulic-related causes.
Areas affected by Scour:
Water normally flows faster around piers and abutments making them
susceptible to local scour. At bridge openings, contraction scour can
occur when water accelerates as it flows through an opening that is
narrower than the channel upstream from the bridge. Degradation scour
occurs both upstream and downstream from a bridge over large areas.
Over long periods of time, this can result in lowering of the stream bed.
Causes:
Stream channel instability resulting in river erosion and changing anglesof-attack can contribute to bridge scour. Debris can also have a
substantial impact on bridge scour in several ways. A build-up of
material can reduce the size of the waterway under a bridge
causing contraction scour in the channel. A build-up of debris on the
abutment can increase the obstruction area and increase local scour.
Debris can deflect the water flow, changing the angle of attack,
increasing local scour. Debris might also shift the entire channel around
the bridge causing increased water flow and scour in another location.
During flooding, although the foundations of a bridge might not suffer
damage, the fill behind abutments may scour. This type of damage
typically occurs with single-span bridges with vertical wall abutments.
An important consideration in designing the pier is to predict the
maximum depth of scour hole so that the foundation of the structure can
be sited deep enough to avoid the possibility of undermining.

2. REVIEW AND LITERATURE

FACTORS AFFECTING THE SCOUR DEPTH
a) Effect of velocity of approach:
Undisturbed approach flow velocity U, definitely influences the local
scour depth around bridge piers. As approach velocity increases, there
is a linear increase in the scour depth till clear water flow condition
exists. Maximum scour depth is attained at the critical velocity. Chabert
and Engeldinger (1956) and Laursen (1963) inferred that local live bed
scour depth is 10% less than the clear water scour depth irrespective of
the approach velocity of flow. However recent studies have shown that
when the approach velocity exceeds the threshold velocity. The scour
depth first decreases and then increases again (Melville, 1988).

b) Effect of depth of flow:

For shallow depth of flow local scour depth increases with increases in
depth of flow. But further increase in depth of flow for a deep flow, the
scour depth becomes independent of depth of flow. Many researchers
such as Laursen (1963), Breusers (1977), Ettema (1980) and Chiew
(1982) have observed the same trend in their experiments. Due to
obstruction caused by pier, two rollers having opposite direction of
rotation are created. One is surface roller created around pier near the
water surface and the other is horse shoe vortex roller created around
pier near alluvial bed of the channel. As per Melville (1988);
In principle, as so long (two rollers) do not interfere with each other, the
local scour depth is independent of floor depth.
However following the regime theory, some researchers such as
Laursen (1963) etc. suggested that depth of local scour increases.

c) Effect of sediment size:

Relatively recent studies have shown that sediment size has a definite
influence on the local scour, (Nicollet, 1971; Ettema, 1980) Ettema
(1980) inferred from the laboratory data in clear water, non ripple
forming sediments that local scour is independent of sediment size so
long as size of obstruction is greater than or equal to 50 times the size of
the sediments (D/d5050). Breuseres et al. (1977) argue that effect of
grain size, d50 is limited to a single particle size sediment.

d) Effect of sediment grading:

Ettema (1980) and Grade (1989) observed that increase in the standard
deviation of the particle size distribution of sediments; causing formation
of armour layer at the base of scour whole decreases both, rate of scour
and the equilibrium scour depth.

e) Effect of pier shape:

Most of the researchers agree on the influence of pier shape on local
scour depth. It is accepted that blunter the pier facing, the area facing
the flow increases, thereby reversing the flow direction and creating
more turbulence than a streamlined shape. Melville suggested a shape
factor to account for the effect of pier shape.

f) Effect of pier size:

Interferences made by the researchers regarding the influences of pier
size on the equilibrium scour depth are not quite debatable. It is directly
concluded that larger is the size of pier, more is the equilibrium scour
depth. For all other factors being constant the scour depth varies as D
where D is width or dia of pier & Toch(1956) design curve corresponds
to =0.7
(Hsm=1.35D0.7
h0.3), Larras(1963) suggests =0.75
(Hsm=1.05D0.75).

 Theoretical Scouring:
On the basis of laboratory and some field data, a number of equations
have been developed. In India, Lacey-Inglis method to estimate scour
depth DSE is related to Laceys depth as:
DL = 0.47(Q/f)1/3
DSE = 2DL
Here Q is designed flood discharge in cm3/sec, f is Laceys Silt Factor, a
constant of proportionality was obtained from the analysis of scour data
on 17 bridges in indo- gangetic plains and its value varied from 1.76 to
2.59 with an average of 2.09 in its basic form with slight variation lacey.
Inglis method is recommended for D SE by Indian railways and Indian
road congress . This method is purely empirical in nature and gives
combined scour caused due to flow modifications by introduction of pier,
flow construction due to guide bunds and flow concentration due to non
uniform distribution of flow.

Mechanism of Scouring
A bridge pier is spur like obstruction which causes flow acceleration and
separation at the upstream face of the pier. As the flow moves pass the
obstacle creating a vortex trial that moves downstream in a direction
approximately perpendicular to the structure. This results in scouring of
the bed around the structure locally, Lim(1998). Once a scour hole is
formed, the scouring mechanism is dominated by the vortex system and
an associate downfall cause by the stagnation pressure gradient, which
developed ahead of the structure. The downfall acts like a vertical jet
impinging and eroding sediment from the bed. The vortex system and
the down flow, along with cone around the trip of the structure. Melville
(1992) reported that out of 108 bridges failures recorded in Newzealand
between the years,1960-1984,29 attributed to fail scour.

According to Liu et al (1957) at an pier the approach flow is considered

to consists of an upper hand lower layer which separates into an upflow
and downfall on hitting the pier.
The flow from a surface roller, while the down flow rolls up to form the
bottom vortex called the principle vortex . On approaching the pier upper
layer tends to divide ,part of the flow accelerates along the upstream
corner of the pier and the remaining flow slowly circulates in the near
segment pool .

3. EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES

Properties of Soil Used in the Experimental

Studies

Sieve size in
micron
4750
2360
1180
600
300
150
75
Retained on
pan
Total

Mass of
particles
retained
0
20
15
20
545
317.5
57.5
25
1000

Mass of
particles finer

Percentage
finer

1000
980
965
945
400
82.5
25
1000

100
98
96.5
94.5
40
8.25
2.5

Sieve Analysis
100
94.5

100

98

96.5

90
80
70

% Retained

60
50
40

40

30
20
10
8.25
2.5
0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5
SIZE(mm)

3.5

4.5

 SEDIMENTS SOURCE AND PROPERTIES

The sediment was collected from Samani village, Karnal from a lake bed
to be used in the flume having the following properties.
Type of sediment

Fine sand

Medium size of sediments, d50 =

0.45 mm

D84

0.51mm

D60

0.42mm

D10

0.18mm

D30

0.28mm

Co-efficient of uniformity

d60/d10= 2.33 < 3

Co-efficient of Curvature

(d30)2/d10.d60 =1.034 <6

Geometric standard deviation

d84/d50 =1.33

So sand is Uniformly Graded

 Properties of Clay Used:

Flow Curve
40.5
40
39.5

Water content (W%)

39
38.5
38
37.5
37
36.5
36
35.5
3.688

3.583

3.258
No. of blows (N)

2.944

S.No.

Weight of
empty
container
(gm)
W1

Wt. of
container +
wet soil
(gm)
W2

Wt. of
container
+dry soil
(gm)
W3

Water content
(%)
(W2 -W3)*100/
(W3W1)

No. of
blows

1.

26.79

52.63

45.64

37.08

40

2.

25.36

43.78

38.72

37.87

36

3.

26.26

57.52

48.76

38.9

26

4.

27.23

55.88

47.76

40.14

19

Liquid Limit (L.L.) =

Ip
Plastic Limit

39%

= 0.73( L.L. -20)

=

Specific Gravity =

So, clay is Medium plastic clay.

L.L. - Ip
1.658

14%

25%

Experimental Setup
Flume:

A flume is man-made channel for water, in the form of an

open inclined gravity chute whose walls are raised above the
surrounding
terrain,
in
contrast
to
a trench or ditch. Flumes
lead water from a diversion dam or weir to their desired location.
The experiment was conducted in a 12m long, 40cm wide and 60cm
deep tilting bed flume in a fluid mechanics laboratory of NIT kurukshetra.
There were 2 panels of glass for visual observation and rest of panels
were made of steel plates on both sides. It was supported on a steel
truss with a jack for the adjustment of bed slope. The water pumped
from a sump channel with the help of 15 hp centrifugal pump which is
discharging into a stilling tank upstream of the flume. The pump was
drawing water from the sump 2.75 x 1.75 m in a plane and 1.75 m deep
and delivering water at the upstream channel. Channel bed was levelled.
Further, a tailgate was provided at the flume to control the flow of water
after passing through the flume goes to a rectangular tank. The outlet
channel from the concrete tank passes the flow over the sharp crested
weir of height 40 cm provided in a 60 cm wide channel to measure the
discharge downstream before entering to the sump channel. The pier is
a placed at a distance of 3 m diameter and is fitted in a prepared bed of
soil length 40 cm consisting of 30% clay and 70% sand by weight the
detail of experimental setup is given in the diagram.

 Model setup and Experimental procedure

The pier models are used in experiments in circular pier of a diameter 4
cm and length 100 cm. A uniform flow of a certain known velocity is set
in the flume. Care is taken to ensure the height of water flow is atleast
2.15 times the diameter of the pier and also there is no disturbance in
the soil bed profile .The flow goes on for 3 hours and then the maximum
scour depth around the pier is noted down by using a bent point gauge
so that the scour depth can be taken more accurately and efficiently.

The height of water over the rectangular sharp crested weir installed at
the end of the flume is also noted down .And the discharge of water is
calculated in the flume using the following formulae:

1. Rehbocks formula is used to calculate the coefficient of discharge

of the sharp crested weir

Cd= 0.611 + 0.08 Hw / P

Where, Hw= head over weir
P = height of weir

2. Discharge is calculated using the following equation

Q = 2/3 Cd 2 g X L X Hw 3/2
Where, Q = discharge
L= Width of channel where weir is provided
Velocity of flow V = Q/(H X W)

 FLOW CONDITIONS
Uniform Flow Conditions
Studies on sediment bed were conducted under conditions of uniform
flow. Turbulence is diminished using honeycombing at the head of the
jet.

Velocity of Flow
After a few initial trails by regulating tail control gate & regulating valve
and varying the velocities varying from 10cm/sec to 21cm/sec, a critical
velocity equal to 19.32cm/sec was established just below the incipient
motion of the sediment where the particle just started moving under the
influence of flow without formation of bed features. This is the velocity
just below the incipient motion of the sediment and which was
maintained throughout for most of the experiment. Discharge was
measured with the help of an already calibrated orifice meter fitted in the
delivery outlet

Depth of Flow
In order to minimize the effect of flow depth on the flume was kept equal
to or greater than 2.5 x diameter of the pier. Scour depth becomes
almost independent of flow depth.

Duration of Test Run

Duration of test run was taken as 3 hours.

 Scour Measurements
Initially the sediment bed mixed with 30% of clay and labelled across
and along the flow direction. The pier model was fixed with the glass
panel section of the flume. The critical velocity of the Uc was determined
to be 19.32cm/sec .
The flow was started and water was allowed to accumulate in the
channel by closing the gate. Then water head maintained to avoid the
movement of particles with water by adjusting the gate. Then the
particular required head is maintained in the manometer for the
experiment. This is done by varying the discharge in the jet by the help
of valve. Then the required water depth of upstream of the pier has
maintained by varying the tailgate opening. After this, labelling in the
channel around the pier model was done. This instant marked
commencement of the test run.
Reading for the scour depth was taken at the upstream of the outer edge
of the pier and also at the locations where the scour depth could be
maximum. Scour depth measurement were taken with the help of
improvised Z shaped point gauge . After 3 hours stopping the flow the
static scour profile of the sediment was recorded by taking scour depth
of the pier. critical velocity was calculated by taking the observations of
the sediments at the various discharge .
Scour depth for various velocities and flow depths were observed .

Criteria For Analysis

The maximum scour depth at a point the periphery of the pier observed
is used for the particular experiment at the end of experiment was taken
as the criteria for the analysis of the study.

 OBSERVATIONS

S. No.

1.

2.

3.

Hw Cd
(cm)

5.0

5.0

5.0

0.621

0.621

0.621

Q(cm3/s) H
(cm)

12300

12300

12300

22.20

18.30

15.60

Velocity Time
of flow (hours)
(cm/s)

14.0266

17.0159

19.9610

EXPERIMENTAL DATA

Scour
depth (cm)

0.800

1.175

1.325

0.950

1.550

1.900

1.125

1.800

2.250

2.5

Scour depth(cm)

1.5

0.5

0
14.0266

17.0159

19.961

Velocity(cm/s)

As it can be observed, the results point closely to the equation

SD = 0.1558V-0.8613
Where SD = Scour Depth (cm)
V= Velocity of Flow (cm/s)

CONCLUSIONS

1. Local scouring phenomenon was studied for a

circular pier resting in a prepared bed consisting
of 30% clay & 70% sand.
2. Relationship was established between velocity of
flow and scour depth