AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF LOCAL SCOUR AROUND

CIRCULAR BRIDGE PIERS IN COHESIVE SOILS

KAI TZE KHO, ERIC VALENTINE AND STEPHANIE GLENDINNING
School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE1 7RU U!
An experimental investiati!n !" l!#al s#!$r ar!$n% #ir#$lar &ri%e piers in s!ils !" #!'esive(n!n)
#!'esive mixt$res is presente%* S+nt'eti# s!ils !" %i""erent #la+ #!ntent, prepare% &+ mixin Ka!line
,it' san% at !ptim$m m!ist$re #!ntent t! a#'ieve maxim$m %r+ %ensit+, ,ere teste%* Pier Re+n!l%s
N$m&er an% #la+ #!ntent ,ere "!$n% t! 'ave a sini"i#ant e""e#t !n t'e %evel!pment !" t'e s#!$r '!le*
An empiri#al e-$ati!n ,as %evel!pe% t! pre%i#t t'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept'* A #!mparis!n &et,een t'e
pre%i#te% e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' an% existin e-$ati!ns reveals t'at t'ese e-$ati!ns $n%erestimate t'e
e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' in #!'esive s!ils at 'i'er "l!, vel!#ities* T'e si%e sl!pe !" t'e s#!$r '!le ,as
als! "!$n% t! in#rease ,it' t'e in#rease !" #la+ #!ntent*
1 Introduction
Pier s#!$r is t'e reatest sinle #a$se !" &ri%e "ail$res* .it' t'e pr!spe#t !" m!re
severe an% m!re "re-$ent "l!!%s %$e t! #limate #'ane, re%$#in t'e ris/ !" &ri%e
"ail$re is &e#!min in#reasinl+ imp!rtant*
0ri%e pier s#!$r in san% an% ravel river &e%s is relativel+ ,ell $n%erst!!%*
H!,ever, ver+ "e, st$%ies 'ave &een #arrie% !$t !n t'e s#!$rin !" #!'esive s!il* T'e
s#!$r !" #!'esive materials is "$n%amentall+ %i""erent "r!m t'at !" n!n)#!'esive
materials* T'e er!si!n !" n!n)#!'esive se%iments %epen%s !n "a#t!rs s$#' as t'e rain
si1e %istri&$ti!n, t'e s'ape an% t'e %ensit+ !" in%ivi%$al rains* T'e resistan#e !"
#!'esive se%iments t! er!si!n is relate% t! ele#tr!#'emi#al &!n%in &et,een in%ivi%$al
parti#les* Nat$ral se%iments rarel+ #!nsist !" !nl+ san% !r m$%* 2an+ all$vial #'annels
are ma%e $p !" a mixt$re !" #!'esive an% n!n)#!'esive s!ils* Sin#e man+ str$#t$res are
"!$n%e% !n #!'esive materials, t'ere is a nee% t! impr!ve !$r $n%erstan%in !" t'eir
&e'avi!$r*
In !r%er t! #lari"+ t'e e""e#t !" #!'esive material !n l!#al s#!$r, a series !"
experiments ,as #arrie% !$t !n #ir#$lar piers in s+nt'eti# s!ils ,it' vari!$s pr!p!rti!ns
!" #la+ #!ntent, C, in ,'i#' t'e %ept' !" s#!$r, %s, ,as m!nit!re% as t'e s#!$r '!le
%evel!pe%* T'e %imensi!ns !" t'e s#!$r '!le, t'at is si%e sl!pe, Z, an% ,i%t', ., ,ere
meas$re% at t'e en% !" t'e test* It t!!/ several %a+s "!r t'ese tests t! rea#' t'eir
e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept', %se* T'ere"!re, a '+per&!li# "$n#ti!n s'ape m!%el, as explaine%
&+ G$%avalli 345567, ,as $se% t! extrap!late t'e meas$rements t! pre%i#t t'e
e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept'* T'is pre%i#te% e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' ,as $se% in t'is st$%+*
4
8
E!"#ri$#nt%& S#t U" And Proc#dur#
T'e experiments ,ere #arrie% !$t in a re#ir#$latin metal "l$me l!#ate% in t'e 9l$i%
D+nami#s La&!rat!r+ !" t'e s#'!!l !" Civil Enineerin an% Ge!s#ien#es, :niversit+ !"
Ne,#astle $p!n T+ne* T'is "l$me is ;m l!n, <*;m ,i%e an% <*=>m %eep* A
"alse &!tt!m ma%e !" pl+,!!% ,as installe% <*4>m a&!ve t'e !riinal "l$me &e% t!
#reate a re#ess "!r t'e s!il &e%* T'e sl!pe !" t'e "alse &e% ,as <*<<4m(m*
S!il samples ,it' #la+ #!ntent <, >, 4<, 4>, 8<, ?<, =< @ ><A &+ %r+ ,ei't ,ere
mixe% ,it' san% an% tap ,ater* T'e silt #!ntent !" t'e material is e-$al t! t'e #la+
#!ntent in t'is pr!Be#t, e** ?<A #la+ #!ntent s!il ,!$l% 'ave ?<A silt si1e material an%
=<A san%* 0!t' #la+ an% silt are #!'esive material* T'ere"!re, &+ testin #la+ samples in
t'e rane !" <)><A #la+ #!ntent, t'is #!vere% s!ils "r!m <A 3san%7 t! 4<<A #!'esive
material 3><A #la+ an% ><A silt7* T'e experiments ,ere #!n%$#te% &+ $sin t'ree t+pes
!" s!ilsC s+nt'eti# S$preme Ka!line, Gra%e E Ka!line an% san%* Ka!line ,as $se% t!
ens$re t'at t'e s!il parameters ,ere ,ell #!ntr!lle%* S$preme Ka!line is m!stl+ ma%e
$p !" #la+ si1e parti#les 3D<*<<8mm7 an% Gra%e E Ka!line is m!stl+ ma%e $p !" silt si1e
parti#les 3<*<<8mmD%D<*<;mm7* T'e ver+ "ine sili#a san% 3n!n)#!'esive #!mp!nent7
$se% in t'is series !" experiments 'a% a mean %iameter, %><, !" <*4=mm* T'e s!il
pr!perties !" ea#' mixt$re, i*e* plasti# in%ex, !ptim$m m!ist$re #!ntent, s'ear strent'
an% permea&ilit+ ,ere investiate%*
S!il samples ,ere prepare% t! t'e !ptim$m m!ist$re #!ntent an% #!mpa#te% t! t'e
maxim$m %r+ %ensit+ in t'e "l$me* Cir#$lar piers !" 8>mm an% ><mm %iameter, &, ,ere
pla#e% in t'e s!ils* S!il %ensit+ an% strent' ,ere !&taine% &e"!re ea#' test* Vari!$s
"l!, vel!#ities, :, in t'e rane !" <*8; m(s t! <*>8 m(s ,ere esta&lis'e% in t'e "l$me*
9l!, vel!#ities 'i'er t'an <*;m(s ,ere "!$n% t! &e $nrealisti#all+ er!sive* .ater "l!,
%ept', +!, ,as set t! 4><mm in m!st experiments s! t'at t'e in"l$en#e !" ,ater %ept' !n
s#!$rin ma+ &e nele#te%* 2elville an% S$t'erlan% 345EE7, Ettema 345E<7, C'ie, @
2elville 345E67 an% S'eppar% 345557 'ave s'!,n t'at ,ater %ept' 'as a nelii&le
e""e#t !n s#!$r ,'en +!(& rea#'es 8*>)?*<*
All experiments 'a% live &e% s#!$r #!n%iti!ns* T'e minim$m "l!, vel!#it+ ,as
'i'er t'an t'e #riti#al m!&ilit+ vel!#it+ !" t'e san% 3<*88m(s "r!m Neill 345;E77* T'e
er!%e% #la+ material ,as in s$spensi!n* O,in t! t'e %i""erent #la+ #!ntents an% "l!,
vel!#ities inv!lve% in ea#' r$n, t'e test %$rati!n, t, varie% "r!m a "e, '!$rs in san% t!
>5 '!$rs "!r t'e ><A #la+ #!ntent s!il &e%*
T'e experimental %ata are s'!,n in Ta&le 4* 0ase% !n t'e "l!, vel!#ities, t'e
experiments ,ere %ivi%e% int! "!$r SeriesC A, 0, C an% D*
' An%&()i) O* E!"#ri$#nt%& D%t%
T'e initial s#!$r !##$rre% in eit'er t'e ,a/e, !r at t'e si%es !" t'e pier an% t'en
mirate% t! t'e $pstream e%e !" t'e pier* .it' l!,er #la+ #!ntent s#!$rin starte% ver+
-$i#/l+, ,'ereas it t!!/ m$#' l!ner "!r t'is t! initiate ,it' 'i'l+ #!'esive material*
?
Ta&le 4* Experimental Data
Exp n!*
C
3A7
&
3mm7
+s
3mm7
F
3l(s7
:
3m(s7
t
3'!$r7
%s
3mm7
%se
3mm7
A4 >< >< 4>< 84 <*8; >5 < )
A8 =< >< 4>< 84 <*8; ?E*> < )
A? ?< >< 4>< 84 <*8; 8< < )
A= 8< >< 4>< 84 <*8; >< < )
A> 8< >< 4>< 84 <*8; 8? < )
A; 4> >< 4>< 84 <*8; 8< < )
A6 4< >< 4>< 84 <*8; =; 6> 6E
AE > >< 4>< 84 <*8; 8? 6; 66
A5 < >< 4>< 84 <*8; 44 6? 6>
A4< < >< 4>< 84 <*8; 5 6? 6;
A44 < 8> 4>< 84 <*8; ; ?= ?=
04 8< >< 4>< ?4 <*?= =? E; E5
08 4> >< 4>< ?4 <*?= 44 E> E6
0? 4< >< 4>< ?4 <*?= 4; 5; 55
0= > >< 4>< ?4 <*?= 48 5= 5=
0> < >< 4>< ?4 <*?= >*> E4 E?
0; 4< 8> 4>< ?4 <*?= ;*? >4 >8
C4 >< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 ?6 44? 4?8
C8 =< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 86*> 44E 486
C? ?< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 ?< 444 44?
C= 8< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 6*6 5; 55
C> 4> >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 ; 58 5=
C; 4< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 48 4<; 4<E
C6 > >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 ; 5E 4<<
CE ?< >< 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 88 448 44=
C5 ?< 8> 4;4 ?5*> <*=4 4= >4 >>
D4 >< >< 8<> ;6*E <*>8 ?*> 4?< 4E>
D8 =< >< 8<> ;6*E <*>8 ? 44> 4>5
D? ?< >< 8<> ;6*E <*>8 ?*> 4?4 4>4
T'e maxim$m s#!$r %ept' ,as "!$n% $pstream !" t'e pier in all experiments at t'e
en% !" t'e test* H!,ever, in s!ils ,it' #la+ #!ntent at !r a&!ve 8<A, t'e s#!$r %ept' !n
&!t' si%es an% in t'e ,a/e !" t'e pier ,as "!$n% t! &e a&!$t t'e same as t'e maxim$m
s#!$r %ept'* T'e s#!$re% san% in t'e s!il mixt$res %ep!site% %!,nstream an% "!rme% a
&ar, ,'ile t'e #la+ parti#les ,ere s$spen%e% %$rin t'e s#!$rin pr!#ess*
9i* 4 s'!,s t'at t'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept', %se, #!rrelates ver+ ,ell ,it' Pier
Re+n!l%s N$m&er, Rep* T'is "in%in arees ,it' G$va%alli 345567* A reressi!n
relati!ns'ip &et,een %se an% Rep ,as %evel!pe%C
%seG<*<<==Rep
4*<8?=
347
As m!st !" t'e s!il pr!perties 3plasti# in%ex, !ptim$m m!ist$re #!ntent, s'ear strent'
an% permea&ilit+7 %epen% !n t'e pr!p!rti!n !" #la+, t'e #la+ #!ntent ,as #'!sen as t'e
=
9i$re 4* T'e reressi!n &et,een %se an% Rep
9i$re 8* S#!$r rati! vs #la+ #!ntent
>
m!st representative parameter in t'is pr!Be#t* S#!$r rati!, %se(&, an% #la+ #!ntent
#!rrelate ,ell 3see 9i*87* T'e s#!$r rati! in#reases ,it' in#reasin -$antities !" #la+ in
t'e s!il* T'e s#!$r %ept' is reater in s!ils ,it' 'i'er #la+ #!ntent &e#a$se t'e latti#e
str$#t$re !" t'e #la+ expan%s an% t'e &!n%s &et,een t'e #la+ parti#les &rea/ %!,n ,it'
time in t'e presen#e !" ,ater, #a$sin %ispersi!n* Hen#e t'e #la+ material ten%s t! &e
er!%e% m!re easil+ &+ even ver+ l!, vel!#ities* T'e linear reressi!n e-$ati!n "r!m
9i*8 isC
%se(&G<*<?4=CH4*>8;> 387
0+ #!m&inin &!t' t'e e""e#t !" Pier Re+n!l%s N$m&er an% #la+ #!ntent, an
empiri#al e-$ati!n ,as %evel!pe% t! pre%i#t t'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' in
#!'esive(n!n)#!'esive mixt$resC
%seG<*<<==Rep
4*<8?=
34HC(4<<7
<*>
3?7
9i*? s'!,s t'e relati!ns'ip &et,een t'e %se #al#$late% &+ E-* 3?7 an% t'e '+per&!li#
m!%el pre%i#te% val$e* T'e #!mparis!n is satis"a#t!r+* E-* ? $n%erestimates t'e
e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' &+ a maxim$m !" EA*
T'e e-$ati!n %evel!pe% in t'is pr!Be#t is #!mpare% t! t'!se %evel!pe% &+ G$%avalli
345567, H!sn+ 3455>7, S'en 345;57 an% Ri#'ar%s!n an% Davis 3CS:7 3455>7* T'e
#!mparis!ns 39i*=7 s'!, t'e same tren% "!r t'e G$%avalli, S'en an% CS: e-$ati!ns*
H!,ever, t'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' !&taine% &+ E-* ? is smaller at l!, vel!#ities an%
larer at 'i' vel!#ities ,'en #!mpare% t! t'ese e-$ati!ns* T'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept'
"r!m E-* ? is %ramati#all+ %i""erent "r!m t'e H!sn+ pre%i#ti!n*
T'e G$%avalli e-$ati!n ,as %evel!pe% mainl+ "r!m #la+ material* H!,ever, it %!es
n!t ta/e int! a##!$nt t'e s!il pr!perties* Onl+ Pier Re+n!l%s N$m&er is #!nsi%ere%* It is
impra#ti#al t! nele#t t'e s!il pr!perties in s#!$r pre%i#ti!n in #!'esive material as
s#!$rin !" #!'esive se%iments inv!lves t'e #'emi#al an% p'+si#al &!n%s !" t'e
in%ivi%$al parti#les*
T'e S'en an% CS: e-$ati!ns s'!, ver+ similar res$lts, even alt'!$' t'e S'en
e-$ati!n is a "$n#ti!n !" Re+n!l%s N$m&er an% t'e CS: e-$ati!n is a "$n#ti!n !"
9r!$%e N$m&er* It is n!te% t'at &!t' e-$ati!ns are %evel!pe% "r!m n!n)#!'esive s!ils
an% 9i*= s$ests t'at it is n!t s$ita&le "!r s#!$r %ept' pre%i#ti!n !" #!'esive material,
espe#iall+ at 'i' vel!#ities* T'e val$es !" s#!$r %ept' pre%i#te% &+ t'e S'en an% CS:
e-$ati!ns are smaller t'an t'!se pre%i#te% &+ E-* ? at 'i' vel!#ities* T'is is pr!&a&l+
%$e t! t'e re"illin !" t'e s#!$r '!le &+ san% %$rin t'e live &e% s#!$rin* S!me n!n)
#!'esive s#!$r %ept' pre%i#ti!n e-$ati!ns s$est t'at t'e maxim$m s#!$r %ept' is !nl+
e-$al t! 8*=& 3Ra$%/ivi an% Ettema 345E?7, 2a+ an% .ill!$'&+ 3455<77*
H!sn+ als! investiate% t'e s#!$r in t'e s!il !" #!'esive an% n!n)#!'esive mixt$res*
H!,ever, 'is e-$ati!n s'!,s ver+ %i""erent res$lts "r!m E-* ?* A reas!n ma+ &e t'at t'e
%e"initi!n !" #la+ #!ntent is %i""erent "r!m t'is pr!Be#t* H!sn+ %e"ine% t'e #la+ #!ntent as
t'e am!$nt !" #!'esive s!il &+ %r+ ,ei't in t'e s!il mixt$res* T'e #!'esive s!il $se%
,as ma%e $p !" 8=A san%, ==A silt an% !nl+ ?8A !" #la+* H!,ever, t'e #la+ #!ntent
%e"ine% in t'is st$%+ is t'e am!$nt !" #la+ si1e material &+ %r+ ,ei't in t'e s!il
mixt$res* T'e maxim$m #la+ #!ntent t'at H!sn+ investiate% ,as =<A 3!nl+ 48*EA
#la+ #!ntent &+ t'e %e"initi!n !" t'is pr!Be#t7* H!sn+ #!n#l$%e% t'at s#!$r %ept'
;
%e#reases ,it' t'e in#rease !" #la+ #!ntent, ,'i#' is #!ntrar+ t! t'e "in%ins !" t'is
pr!Be#t*
9i$re ?* C!mparis!n !" %se &+ e-$ati!n ? an% %se &+ '+per&!li# m!%el
9i$re =* C!mparis!n !" e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept'
6
A"ter t'e test, t'e si%e sl!pe, Z, an% .i%t', ., !" t'e s#!$r '!le $pstream !" t'e pier
,ere meas$re%* T'is sl!pe is pl!tte% aainst #la+ #!ntent in 9i* >* T'e pl!t s$ests
t'at t'e sl!pe anle in#reases ,it' t'e in#reasin -$antit+ !" #la+ #!ntent* T'e res$lt is
#!nsistent ,it' t'e "in%in !" H!sn+ 3455>7* A reressi!n line 3R
8
G<*5>7 ,as "itte% t!
t'e %ata an% t'e reressi!n e-$ati!n !&taine% isC
ZG<*?8<>CH?<*E= 3=7
T'e ,i%t' !" t'e s#!$r '!le, . meas$re% "r!m t'e e%e !" t'e pier t! t'e e%e !"
t'e s#!$r '!le #an &e estimate% &+C
.G%s(tan3Z7 3>7
As t'e sl!pe is steeper in s!il ,it' 'i'er #la+ #!ntent, t'e ,i%t' !" t'e s#!$r '!le is
smaller* It ,as als! !&serve% t'at t'e v!l$me !" s#!$r '!le $pstream !" t'e pier
%e#rease% ,it' t'e in#rease in #la+ #!ntent* T'ere"!re t'e "l!, vel!#it+ in t'e s#!$r '!le
!" s!il ,it' 'i'er #la+ #!ntent is expe#te% t! &e 'i'er as t'e "l!, is m!re #!ntaine%
an% a %eeper s#!$r '!le is #reate%*
9i$re >* Sl!pe v #la+ #!ntent
+ Conc&u)ion)
4* T'e ,a/e v!rtex ,as "!$n% t! 'ave a m!re sini"i#ant e""e#t in initiatin s#!$r
in #!'esive materials*
E
8* 2axim$m s#!$r %ept' ,as !&serve% t! !##$r at t'e $pstream !" t'e pier in all
experiments* H!,ever, in s!ils ,it' #la+ #!ntent at !r reater t'an 8<A, t'e
s#!$r %ept' !n &!t' si%es an% even in t'e ,a/e !" t'e pier ,as "!$n% t! &e
a&!$t t'e same as t'e maxim$m s#!$r %ept'*
?* L!#al s#!$r in s!ils !" #!'esive(n!n)#!'esive mixt$res is a "$n#ti!n !" Pier
Re+n!l%s N$m&er an% #la+ #!ntent* T'e e-$ili&ri$m s#!$r %ept' in#reases ,it'
an in#rease in &!t' parameters*
=* Val$es !" s#!$r %ept' pre%i#te% &+ n!n)#!'esive s#!$r %ept' pre%i#ti!n
e-$ati!ns are smaller t'an t'!se pre%i#te% &+ t'e e-$ati!n %evel!pe% in t'is
pr!Be#t "!r s!ils !" #!'esive(n!n)#!'esive mixt$res at 'i' vel!#ities* T'is is
pr!&a&l+ %$e t! t'e re"illin !" t'e s#!$r '!le &+ san% %$rin t'e 'i' "l!, live
&e% s#!$r*
>* T'e si%e sl!pe !" t'e s#!$r '!le in#reases ,it' t'e in#reasin #la+ #!ntent*
H!,ever, t'e ,i%t' an% v!l$me !" s#!$r '!le $pstream !" t'e pier are inversel+
pr!p!rti!nal t! t'e #la+ #!ntent*
R#*#r#nc#)
C'ie,, I*2* @ 2elville, 0*.* 345E67, J"ocal Scour #round $ridge %iersK, L!$rnal !"
H+%ra$li#s Resear#' , IAHR, V!l*8>, Lan$ar+, 4>)8;*
Ettema, R* 345E<7, Scour at $ridge %iers, P'*D Dissertati!n, Civil Enineerin Department,
:niversit+ !" A$#/lan%, Ne, Zealan%*
G$%avalli, S*R* 345567, %rediction &odel for Scour Rate #round $ridge %iers in Cohesive Soil
on the $asis of 'lu(e Tests, P'*D Dissertati!n , Civil En* Department, Texas A @ 2 :niversit+*
H!sn+, 2*2* 3455>7, E)peri(ental Study of "ocal Scour #round Circular $ridge %iers in
Cohesive Soil, P'*D Dissertati!n , Civil Enineerin Department, C!l!ra%! state :niversit+*
2a+, R*.*P* @ .ill!$'&+, I*R* 3455<7, "ocal Scour #round "arge *+structions, HR
.allin"!r%, Rep!rt SR 8=<*
2elville, 0*.* @ S$t'erlan%, A*L* 345EE7, J,esign &ethod for "ocal Scour at $ridge %iers-,
L!$rnal !" H+%ra$li# Enineerin, ASCE, V!l*44=, O#t!&er, 484<)488;*
Neill, C*R* 345;E7, JNote on .nitial &ove(ent of Coarse Unifor( $ed &aterial K, L!$rnal !"
H+%ra$li#s Resear#', IAHR, V!l*46, 9e&r$ar+, 8=6)8=5*
Ra$%/ivi, A*L* @ Ettema, R* 345E?7, JClear /ater Scour at Cylindrical %iers-, L!$rnal !"
H+%ra$li# Enineerin, ASCE, V!l*4<5, 2ar#', ??E)?><*
Ri#'ar%s!n, E*V, @ Davis, S*R* 3455>7, Evaluation Scour at $ridges, 0
rd
edition, 12EC3145,
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