From May 20 to 23, 2024, the 2nd IAHR International Workshop on Scour around Hydraulic and Coastal Structures successfully took place in Chengdu. The workshop was hosted by the IAHR Working Group on Scour Research, organized by the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering of Sichuan University, and co-organized by Hohai University, University of Auckland, Wuhan University, and the Journal River. The International Scientific Committee of the workshop was co-chaired by Prof. Xu Weilin, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Hydraulics and Mountain River Engineering and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Prof. Bruce Melville, Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

More than 120 scholars from 45 universities and research institutes across 10 countries and regions, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland, Singapore, and Turkey, participated in the conference.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Prof. Wang Lu, Executive Chair of the workshop and the Vice Chair of the IAHR Working Group on Scour Research. Prof. Liu Chao, Chair of the workshop and Vice President of Sichuan University, delivered a welcome speech. IAHR President, Prof. Philippe Gourbesville delivered an opening speech via video. 

In his remarks, Prof. Liu Chao emphasized the critical role of foundation scour as a key factor affecting the stability of hydraulic and coastal engineering structures. He noted that related research provides scientific and technical support for the safe design, construction, and operation of such structures. He expressed his hope that the workshop would strengthen international exchanges and collaboration in scour theory and engineering applications, promoting high-quality innovation and development in the global field of hydraulic and coastal engineering.

The conference featured keynote speeches by leading experts, including:

• Bruce Melville, Fellow of Royal Society of New Zealand, Professor of the University of Auckland

• Hu Yaan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chief Engineer of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, China

• B. Mutlu Sumer, BM SUMER Consultancy & Research

• Subhasish Dey, Fellow of Indian National Science Academy and Indian Academy of Sciences, and Professor of Indian Institute of Technology, India

• Yee-Meng Chiew, Professor of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

• Xia Junqiang, Professor of Wuhan University, China

• John Harris, Research Director at HR Wallingford, UK

• David Fuhrman, Professor of Technical University of Denmark

• Erik Bollaert, Director of AquaVision Engineering, Switzerland

• Guan Dawei, Professor of Hohai University, China

• Wang Lu, Professor of Sichuan University, China

The keynote speeches were chaired by:

• Zheng Jinhai, Vice President of Hohai University

• You Zaijin, Professor of Dalian Maritime University

• Cheng Liang, Fellow of Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and Professor at South China University of Technology

The workshop included three breakout sessions: “Scour around Hydraulic Structures”, “Scour around Coastal Structures” and “Scour Related Sediment Transport”. Twelve renowned scholars delivered invited lectures, while 36 scholars presented academic reports. The discussions focused on the current challenges and future research directions in scour theory and engineering design, fostering extensive and lively academic exchanges.

During the conference, IAHR Working Group on Scour Research held a meeting to discuss member responsibilities, work allocation, and future activities.

At the closing ceremony chaired by Wang Hang, Professor of Sichuan University. Prof. Bruce Melville presented certificates for the “Best Student Poster Award,” while Nie Ruihua, Executive Chair of the workshop’s International Scientific Committee and Vice Dean of Sichuan University’s College of Water Resource and Hydropower presented certificates for the “Best Presentation Award”. Prof. Guan Dawei, Chair of IAHR Working Group on Scour Research, summarized the workshop, praising the organizing committee’s efforts and the academic outcomes achieved.

On May 23, workshop participants conducted a technical field investigation at Shi-ting River, examining the severe scour and bed incision along the Shuangsheng reach of the river.