Experimental and numerical investigation into the local scour of bridge cofferdam with anti-scour ribs

Pengxin Ran, Kai Wei, Bike Zhang, Lu Wang, Ruihua Nie, Yongle Li

Advances in Bridge Engineering ›› 2024, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (1) : 0. DOI: 10.1186/s43251-024-00124-6
Original Innovation

Experimental and numerical investigation into the local scour of bridge cofferdam with anti-scour ribs

Author information +
History +

Abstract

Cofferdam is widely employed in the construction of underwater bridge foundations. Its crucial attribute lies in providing a dedicated platform for construction activities and enhancing the water resistance dimensions in structural design, consequently amplifying local scour. However, previous research on local scour has seldom investigated the effect of construction facilities on the life cycle development of local scour on foundations. This gap has led to a misunderstanding of protective strategies against local scour throughout the construction period. In this paper, a scour experiment platform was implemented with a unidirectional flume. Physical model experiments were conducted to scrutinize the protective impact of anti-scour rib structures against local scour. The experimentally determined scour depth was compared to assess the performance of the anti-scour rib protection system. Oblique photogrammetry was subsequently used to capture the morphology of the equilibrium scour pit in the experiments. The associated topographical data were imported into Fluent commercial fluid software for in-depth flow field analysis. A numerical flume model was established to examine the hydraulic characteristics under two distinct topographical conditions: a smooth riverbed during the initial stage of scour and a scoured riverbed at the equilibrium stage of scour. To further determine the protective mechanism of anti-scour rib protection, the influence of anti-scour rib protection on shear stress was investigated numerically. Analyses revealed that incorporating scour protection ribs during cofferdam construction alters the flow field characteristics, hindering the downward movement of subsurface flow beneath the structure, reducing bed shear stress, and consequently mitigating scour effects. The instantaneous protective effect of scour protection ribs strengthens as the scour topography develops. The protective effectiveness of scour protection ribs was mainly influenced by rib length, spacing, and shape.

Keywords

Local scour / Experiment / Anti-scour ribs / Numerical simulation / Cofferdam construction

Cite this article

Download citation ▾
Pengxin Ran, Kai Wei, Bike Zhang, Lu Wang, Ruihua Nie, Yongle Li. Experimental and numerical investigation into the local scour of bridge cofferdam with anti-scour ribs. Advances in Bridge Engineering, 2024, 5(1): 0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s43251-024-00124-6

References

[]
Abbas FM, Naeem UA, Ghani U, Khan A, Ahmad TF. Experimental study of inclined bridge pier scouring. Mehran Univ Res J Eng Technol, 2020, 39(4): 859-870,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Abdelmoaty MS, Zayed M. Using side flow jets as a scour countermeasure downstream of a sluice gate. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci, 2021, 10(1): 88,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Administration FH (2012) Evaluating Scour at Bridges (Fifth Edition). Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18. Publication No. Fhwa-Hif-12-003 (Evaluating Scour at Bridges (Fifth edition). Hydraulic Engineering Circular No. 18. Publication No. FHWA-HIF-12-003)
[]
Ahamed A (1995) Visualization and Image Processing of Juncture Vortex System. Proceeding of Isfv
[]
Chiew Yee-Meng. Scour protection at bridge piers. J Hydraulic Eng, 1992, 118(9): 1260-1269,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Chiew YM (1997) Mechanics of Riprap Failure at Bridge Piers. J Hydraul Eng 121(9):635–643
[]
Dargahi B. The turbulent flow field around a circular cylinder. Exp Fluids, 1989, 8(1): 1-12,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Dargahi B. Controlling Mechanism of Local Scouring. J Hydraulic Eng, 1990, 116(10): 1197-1214,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Smith DW (1977) Why Do Bridges Fail. Civ Eng 47(11):58–62.
[]
Guan D, Wang L, Ma L, Melville BW. Fluctuating frequency of live bed scour depth around submerged weirs at equilibrium stages. J Hydraulic Eng, 2022, 148(4): 06022001,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Khaledi V, Amini A, Bahrami J (2020) Physical simulation of scour width and length variation around complex piers under clear water condition. Marine Georesour Geotechnol 39(9):1107–1114.
[]
Kumar V, Raju KGR, Vittal N. Reduction of Local Scour around Bridge Piers Using Slots and Collars. J Hydraul Eng, 1999, 125(12): 1302-1305,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Kw An RTF, Melville BW. Local scour and flow measurements at bridge abutments. J Hydraulic Res, 1994, 32(5): 661-673,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Lauchlan CS, Melville BW (2001) Riprap protection at bridge piers. J Hydrol Eng 127(5):412–418
[]
Lu X, Wei K, Deng K, Xu L. Lifetime seismic resilience assessment of a sea-crossing cable-stayed bridge exposed to long-term scour and corrosion. Ocean Eng, 2024, 295: 116990,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Luo K, Si Y, Lu S, Liang B, Qi H. Characteristics of reducing local scour around cylindrical pier using a horn-shaped collar. J Eng Appl Sci, 2022, 69(1): 105,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Melville BW, Hadfield AC. Use of Sacrificial Piles as Pier Scour Countermeasures. J Hydraul Eng, 1999, 125(11): 1221-1224,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Melville BW (1975) Local scour at bridge sites. Dissertation, University of Auckland New Zealand
[]
Moncada-M AT, Aguirre-Pe J, Bolívar JC, Flores EJ (2009) Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars and slots. J Hydraul Res 47(1):119–126
[]
Parola AC, Mahavadi SK, Brown BM, El Khoury A. Effects of rectangular foundation geometry on local pier scoUR. J Hydraul Eng, 1996, 122(1): 35-40,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Qiu F, Wei K, Xiang Q, Jiang Z. Effects of local scour and caisson geometry on the drag force of bridge foundations under steady flow. Appl Ocean Res, 2023, 133: 103506,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Raudkivi AJ, Ettema R. Clear-water scour at cylindrical piers. J Hydraul Eng, 1983, 109(3): 338-350,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Roulund A, Sumer BM, Fredsoe J, Michelsen J (2005) Numerical and experimental investigation of flow and scour around a circular pile. J Fluid Mechan 534:351–401
[]
Soulsby R (1997) Dynamics of marine sands.
[]
Unger J, Hager WH. Down-flow and horseshoe vortex characteristics of sediment embedded bridge piers. Exp Fluids, 2007, 42(1): 1-19,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Wang C, Yu X, Liang F. A review of bridge scour: mechanism, estimation, monitoring and countermeasures. Nat Hazards, 2017, 87(3): 1-26,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Wang S, Wei K, Shen Z, Xiang Q. Experimental investigation of local scour protection for cylindrical bridge piers using anti-scour collars. Water, 2019, 11(7): 1515,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Wei K, Zhong X, Cai H, Li X, Xiao H. Dynamic response of a sea-crossing cable-stayed suspension bridge under simultaneous wind and wave loadings induced by a landfall typhoon. Ocean Eng, 2024, 293: 116659,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Wei K, Qiu F, Qin S (2022) Experimental and numerical investigation into effect of skirted caisson on local scour around the large-scale bridge foundation. Ocean Eng 250:111052
[]
Xiang Q, Wei K, Li Y, Zhang M, Qin S. Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Local Scour for Suspended Square Caisson under Steady Flow. KSCE J Civ Eng, 2020, 24(9): 2682-2693,
CrossRef Google scholar
[]
Zarrati AR, Gholami H, Mashahir MB. Application of collar to control scouring around rectangular bridge piers. J Hydraulic Res, 2004, 42(1): 97-103,
CrossRef Google scholar
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China(52222804)

Accesses

Citations

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/