An Experimental Study of Local Scour Around Circular Bridge Piers in Cohesive Soils

Abstract

\n \t\t\tAn experimental investigation of local scour around circular bridge piers in soils of cohesive/noncohesive mixtures is presented. Synthetic soils of different clay content, prepared by mixing Kaoline with sand at optimum moisture content to achieve maximum dry density, were tested. Pier Reynolds Number and clay content were found to have a significant effect on the development of the scour hole. An empirical equation was developed to predict the equilibrium scour depth. A comparison between the predicted equilibrium scour depth and existing equations reveals that these equations underestimate the equilibrium scour depth in cohesive soils at higher flow velocities. The side slope of the scour hole was also found to increase with the increase of clay content.\n