Experimental Study of Scour Hole Depth around Bridge Pile Using Efficient Cross-Section

Extensive numerical and analytical studies exist that focus on the scours around bridge piers with different cross-sections. However, studies addressing the scour around bridge piles are rather limited and not conclusive. Therefore, the most efficient cross-section reducing the local scour around a pile group is experimentally examined herein. Accordingly, comparative scouring of three different shapes, namely, circular, rectangular and lenticular, is investigated by installing a cohesion-less bedding material around scaled bridge piles immersed in clear water. It is also shown that the available pier scour predictive models grossly underestimate the depth of pile scour holes. For example, the pier predictive models underestimate the pile scours hole by more than 50% in the case of square and circular cross-sections. It also transpires from the experimental investigation that the scour hole depth around the square shape pile is significant, around the circular pile is moderate and around the lenticular pile is minimal.