In the following sections, two equations are presented for use in estimating scour depths as a

guide in designing abutment foundations. The methods can be used for either clear-water or
live-bed scour.

7.7 LIVE-BED SCOUR AT ABUTMENTS

As a check on the potential depth of scour to aid in the design of the foundation and
placement of rock riprap and/or guide banks, Froehlich's(70) live-bed scour equation or the
HIRE equation in HDS 6(22) can be used.

7.7.1 Froehlich's Live-Bed Abutment Scour Equation

Froehlich(71) analyzed 170 live-bed scour measurements in laboratory flumes by regression

analysis to obtain the following equation:

12 8
20 1
0.43
ys  L′ ‚
= 2.27 K 1 K 2  „ Fr 0.61 + 1 (7.1)

il C-
ya € ya ƒ

pr E
where: -A yH
K1 = Coefficient for abutment shape (Table 7.1)
K2 = Coefficient for angle of embankment to flow
on b

K2 = (θ/90)0.13 (see Figure 7.4 for definition of θ

θ))
iti ed

θ<90° if embankment points downstream

θ>90° if embankment points upstream
ed ed

L´ = Length of active flow obstructed by the embankment, m (ft)

Ae = Flow area of the approach cross section obstructed by the embankment,
m2 (ft2)
h rs

Fr = Froude Number of approach flow upstream of the abutment = Ve/(gya)1/2

5t pe

Ve = Qe/Ae, m/s (ft/s)

Qe = Flow obstructed by the abutment and approach embankment, m3/s (ft3/s)
ya = Average depth of flow on the floodplain (Ae/L), m (ft)
Su

L = Length of embankment projected normal to the flow, m (ft)

ys = Scour depth, m (ft)

It should be noted that Equation 7.1 is not consistent with the fact that as L´ tends to 0, ys
also tends to 0. The 1 was added to the equation so as to envelope 98 percent of the data.
See Section 7.2.2 and Figure 7.4 for guidance on estimating L.

7.7.2 HIRE Live-Bed Abutment Scour Equation

An equation based on field data of scour at the end of spurs in the Mississippi River
(obtained by the USACE) can also be used for estimating abutment scour.(22) This field
situation closely resembles the laboratory experiments for abutment scour in that the
discharge intercepted by the spurs was a function of the spur length. The modified equation,
referred to herein as the HIRE equation, is applicable when the ratio of projected abutment
length (L) to the flow depth (y1) is greater than 25. This equation can be used to estimate

7.8
scour depth (ys) at an abutment where conditions are similar to the field conditions from
which the equation was derived:

ys K (7.2)
= 4 Fr 0.33 1 K 2
y1 0.55

where:

ys = Scour depth, m (ft)

y1 = Depth of flow at the abutment on the overbank or in the main channel, m (ft)
Fr = Froude Number based on the velocity and depth adjacent to and upstream
of the abutment
K1 = Abutment shape coefficient (from Table 7.1)
K2 = Coefficient for skew angle of abutment to flow calculated as for Froehlich's
equation (Section 7.7.1)

12 8
20 1
7.8 CLEAR-WATER SCOUR AT AN ABUTMENT

il C-
Equations 7.1 and 7.2 are recommended for both live-bed and clear-water abutment scour

pr E
conditions. If a method other than Froehlich's equation is used, it is suggested that scour for
-A yH
both the clear water and live bed condition be computed (see Appendix E and Appendix F).
Engineering judgment should then be used to select the most appropriate scour depth.
on b

7.9 ABUTMENT SCOUR EXAMPLE PROBLEMS (SI)

iti ed
ed ed

7.9.1 Example Problem 1 (SI)

h rs

Determine abutment scour depth for the following conditions to aid in scour evaluation and
design of countermeasures. The right abutment is at the bankline with 3.00 m of overbank
5t pe

flow width. The left abutment projects into the channel 61.96 m. Each of these lengths
represents the full length of obstruction of active flow. The projection on the left side is the
Su

result of stream erosion and widening. The right channel bank is 0.61 m high and the
embankment extends back 3.00 m to a 3 m high bank. The bridge and approach are
oriented at a 10 angle upstream to the flow from the right side.

Given:

Upstream channel depth = 2.62 m

Discharge = 773.05 m3/s
Bridge is vertical wall with wingwalls

Original (unscoured) depth of flow at bridge is estimated as 2.16 m

7.9
Right Abutment

L = L ′ = 3 Cos 10  = 2.95 m

y a = 2.62 − 0.61 = 2.01 m

L 2.95
= = 147
. < 25 (Use Froehlich Equation)
y a 2.01
0.43
ys  L′ ‚
= 2.27 K 1 K 2  „ Fr 0.61 + 1
ya € ya ƒ

K 1 = 0.82

12 8
.13 0.13

20 1
 θ ‚  100 ‚
K2 =  „ = „ = 101
. ( Abutment angles 10° upstream)
upstream)

il C-
€ 90 ƒ € 90 ƒ

pr E
A e = 2.01x 2.95 = 5.93 m 2 -A yH
Q e = 17.8 m 3 / s; Ve = 3.00 m / s (Qe and Ve are obtained from HEC-RAS)
on b

Ve 3.00
iti ed

Fr = = = 0.68
gy a (9.81x2.01)1/ 2
ed ed

.43
ys  2.95 ‚
. )
= 2.27 (0.82) (101 „ ( 0.68) 0.61 + 1 = 2.75
2.01 € 2.01ƒ
h rs
5t pe

y s = 2.75 x 2.01 = 5.53 m

Su

Left Abutment

L = 6196
. Cos 10° = 6102
. m

y1 = 2.16 m

L 6102 .
= = 28.25 > 25 (Use HIRE Equation)
y1 2.16

ys K
= 4 Fr 0.33 1 K 2
y1 0.55

v1 = 3.72 m / s (From HEC-RAS stream tube next to abutment)

7.10
 v1 3.72
Fr = = = 0.81
gy1 (9.81x 2.16)1/ 2

K 1 = 0.82

.13
 80 ‚
K2 =  „ = 0.98
€ 90 ƒ

ys 0.82
y1
= 4(0.81) 0.33
0.55
(0.98) = 5.45

y s = 5.45 x 2.16 = 118

. m

12 8
20 1
il C-
7.10 ABUTMENT SCOUR EXAMPLE PROBLEMS (English)

pr E
on b al
-A yH
7.10.1 Example Problem 1 (English)
iti ed iv
ed ed ch

Determine abutment scour depth for the following conditions to aid in scour evaluation and
design of countermeasures. The right abutment is at the bankline with 9.8 ft of overbank flow
h rs Ar

width. The left abutment projects into the channel 200 ft. Each of these lengths represents
the full length of obstruction of active flow. The projection on the left side is the result of
stream erosion and widening. The right channel bank is 2 ft high and the embankment
extends back 9.8 ft to a 9.8 ft high bank. The bridge and approach are oriented at a 10 10
angle upstream to the flow from the right side.

Given:
5t pe

Upstream channel depth = 8.6 ft

Su

Discharge is 27,300 cfs

Bridge is vertical wall with wingwalls

Original (unscoured) depth of flow at bridge is estimated as 7.1 ft

Right Abutment

L = L ′ = 9.8 Cos 10° = 9.7 ft

y a = 8.6 − 2.0 = 6.6 ft

L 9.7
= = 147
. < 25 (Use Froehlich Equation)
y a 6.6

7.11
 0.43
ys  L′ ‚
= 2.27 K 1 K 2  „ Fr 0.61 + 1
ya € ya ƒ

K 1 = 0.82

.13 0.13
 θ ‚  100 ‚
K2 =  „ = „ = 101
. ( Abutment angles 10° upstream)
€ 90 ƒ € 90 ƒ

A e = 6.6 x 9.7 = 64.0 ft 2

Q e = 629 cfs; Ve = 9.8 ft / s (Qe and Ve are obtained from HEC-RAS)

12 8
Ve 9.8
Fr = = = 0.67

20 1
gy a (32.2 x 6.6 )1/ 2

il C-
.43
ys  9.7 ‚
. )
= 2.27 (0.82)(101 „ ( 0.67) 0.61 + 1 = 2.74

pr E
€ 6.6 ƒ
on b al
6.6 -A yH
iti ed iv

y s = 2.74 x 6.6 = 18.1ft

ed ed ch

Left Abutment
h rs Ar

L = 200 Cos 10° = 197.0 ft

y1 = 7.1ft
5t pe

L 197.0
= = 27.7 > 25 (Use HIRE Equation)
y1 7.1
Su

ys K
= 4 Fr 0.33 1 K 2
y1 0.55

v1 = 12.2 ft / s (From HEC-RAS stream tube next to abutment)

v1 12.2
Fr = = = 0.81
gy1 ( 32.2 x 7.1)1/ 2

K 1 = 0.82

7.12
 .13
 80 ‚
K2 =  „ = 0.98
€ 90 ƒ

ys 0.82
y1
= 4(0.81) 0.33
0.55
(0.98) = 5.45

y s = 5.45 x 7.1 = 38.7 ft

12 8
20 1
il C-
pr E
on b al
-A yH
iti ed iv
ed ed ch
h rs Ar
5t pe
Su

7.13