Scour Rate of Cohesive Soils

Project Description

The scour depth created by a river around a bridge pier is currently calculated using the HEC-18 equation. This equation was developed for piers founded in sand, a cohesionless soil. In the case of cohesive soils, the scour rate can be thousands of times slower. The purpose of this study was to develop a method for predicting the scour rate of bridge piers founded in cohesive soils such as clays and silts.

The SRICOS (Scour Rate In COhesive Soils) method was developed on the basis of flume tests, numerical simulations, and erosion testing of the soil. A new apparatus called the EFA (Erosion Function Apparatus) was developed for this study. It was designed and built to measure the erosion rate of different types of soil, ranging from soft soils to soft rocks.

Project Publications

SRICOS: Prediction of Scour Rate at Bridge Piers 7-2937-S

SRICOS: Prediction of Scour Rate at Bridge Piers 7-2937-1

Texas Transportation Researcher Articles

TTI research combats bridge scour and saves money - Volume 37, Number 1

Bridges over troubled water...and soil - Volume 34, Number 2

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