Effect of Pier Spacing on Scour Depth

Abstract

One of the main cause of the bridge failure is scour around its piers and abutments. Requirement of new bridge in the close vicinity of existing one is increasing day by day due to rapid urbanization and increased traffic volume. The structure of the flow is significantly altered due to the presence of an obstruction, for example a pier in the flow. This situation becomes even more complex when a new bridge is constructed in the close vicinity of existing one. The proposed new bridge interfere the flow geometry and hence it alter the flow structure around the existing one and for itself also. This interference depends upon the stream wise spacing between the bridges. The main objective of the present work is to find the optimum distance between the two bridges so that new bridge constructed in the vicinity of old bridge or vice versa by studying the mechanism of scour and scour depth at bridge piers. Keeping the objective in mind, present work is carried out through the set of laboratory experiments conducted in the hydraulic laboratory of Civil Engineering Department JUIT Waknaghat. The present investigation will be an add to design the new bridge in the proximity of old one. III