Author(s): R. De Aragao; A. Kadota; K. Suzuki; Y. Fujimori
Linked Author(s): Koichi Suzuki
Keywords: Local scour; Piled bricks; Underwater video robot; Grain size distribution
Abstract: A local scour process around the piers of the Shimanto River Bridge, located in Nakamura City (Kochi prefecture, Japan) has been investigated. Preliminary results showed that the riverbed around the foundations of the bridge piers have been progressively scoured. In addition, a constriction created by two of the existent piers has caused a hole of 10 m in depth at downstream side of the bridge, becoming a main concern about the bridge stability. This problem is analyzed through the records on past floods and their relationship with the problem at hand and also through the data collected during a recent field investigation at the site. To determine the evolution of the scour process and the depth of equilibrium, a practical method was attempted by piling some bricks around the piers under the ground to be removed during a flood event. The reliability of this method was verified through two actual floods occurred in 2001 and in 2002, which removed some bricks from the piles.
Year: 2003