Author(s): Gonzalo Simarro; Sofia Civeira; António H. Cardoso

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Abutment; clear-water scour; experimentation; protection; riprap; scour

Abstract: This technical note focuses on the plan geometry of riprap mattresses to protect spill-through abutments against local scour through edge failure. Two non-standard riprap apron geometries are experimentally studied. The performance of the new geometries is evaluated by comparing it with that of the standard design in terms of apron width and total riprap volume needed to guarantee stability. For comparatively short abutments, it is demonstrated that one of the new proposed geometries allows reductions between 15% and 25% in the total riprap volume without any increase in both design complexity and building difficulty.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2011.650422

Year: 2012