Author(s): I. Andres-Domenech; F. J. Valles Moran; G. Palau-Salvador; Hans Bihs
Linked Author(s): Ignacio Andrés Doménech, Hans Bihs
Keywords: Bridge pier; Erosion; Scour depth; Channel; CFD modelling
Abstract: Scour around bridge piers is an important problem during floods. Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations are carried out to understand scour hole evolution around piers and then, how to mitigate this process. Experiments are conducted with a 0.065 m wide and 2.1 m long channel. The numerical code SSIIM, developed in Trondheim University, is used to solve the unsteady NavierStokes equations with a diffusion-convection equation to model erosion processes. Cylindrical piers are tested with a flat sand-bed channel. Steady flow conditions are established from different initial depth conditions: from dry channel to depths around 10 cm. Thus, steady velocities were around 0.15 m/s. A single pier as well as a group of piers are analysed to describe scour evolutions and factors involved in the process. Numerical results achieved a good accuracy when compared against experiments, showing, moreover, the importance of the horse-shoe vortex in the scour process.
Year: 2011