HYDROTECHNICAL STUDIES IN THE DESIGN OF BRIDGES

I. Introduction

Water plays a central role in irrigation, hydroelectric power production,

water supply, navigation, flood control, erosion control, fisheries, drainage and
land transport of pollutants. The utilization and management of water resources must be
accomplished efficiently and economically, yet with assurance that there will be no
detriment to the long-term potential of the resource itself or to the general well being and
environmental quality of the surrounding region. Meeting these objectives requires great
care in assessment, planning, design and management of water resources development.
This, in turn, demands an understanding of many areas: the availability, distribution and
quality of water, at rest and in motion, as it relates to the analysis and design of hydraulic
components and structures; natural processes such as erosion, sedimentation, river
mechanics, and coastal processes; and methods for planning and operating the resource
system in an optimal way.

Hydrotechnical engineers are concerned with the analysis of water and other
fluids, with flow characteristics, and with the design of machines and structures for fluid
containment, control and distribution. Some examples of the projects that
hydrotechnical engineers would participate in are: water distribution
systems, sedimentation lagoons, ports and harbours, dams, and irrigation and canal
systems.

II. Body

Hydrotechnical studies is a thorough understanding of the river and river regime.

The variability in river's discharge throughout the course of a year in response to
precipitation, temperature, evapo-transpiration, and drainage basin characteristics or, in
simple words, the pattern of seasonal flow of water in a river is known as River Regime.

Hydrotechnical studies is crucial in planning bridges over a river. It

should include:
 Topographic Survey 2 kilometers upstream and 2 kilometers downstream for
small rivers including longitudinal section and cross sections.
 For big rivers, 5 kilometers upstream and 2 kilometers downstream should be
surveyed.
 Scale of the Topographic Map (1:2000 for small rivers, 1:5000 for large rivers)
 The High Flood Levels and the Observed Flood Level should be indicated in the
map with sufficient number of cross sections
 River Bed surveying would require soundings
 Catchment Area Map
 Scale recommended – 1:50,000 or 1:25,000
 Map can be made using GT Sheets
 All Reservoirs, Rain Gauges Stations, River Gauge Stations, should be marked on
map
HYDROTECHNICAL STUDIES IN THE DESIGN OF BRIDGES

Hydrological data, be it precipitation measurements, water-level recordings,

discharge gaugings, groundwater monitoring and water quality sampling, is to provide a
set of sufficient good quality data that can be used in decision-making in all aspects of
water resources management, in the wide range of operational applications as well as in
research. Without accurate measurements, there can be no understanding of the routes
taken within the water cycle. Extrapolating from local measurements to get a regional
picture is indispensable for the water resources research enterprise of a nation. Without it,
there is no basis for predictive modelling and thus risk management.

Following Hydrological Data should be collected:

 Rainfall Data from Rain Gauge Stations in the Catchment Area
 Isohyetal Map of the Catchment Area showing contours of Annual Rainfall
 Hydrographs of Floods at River Gauge Stations
 Flow Velocities
 Sediment Load in River Flow during floods

Design Flood Level shall mean the peak discharge, volume if appropriate, stage or
wave crest elevation of the flood associated with the probability of exceedance selected
for the design of a highway encroachment. By definition, the highway will not be
inundated from the stage of the design flood.

Flood peak discharge at stream or river location depends upon the Catchment
Area Characteristics (Size and shape, Nature of catchment soil and vegetation, Elevation
differences in catchment and between catchment and bridge size location), Rainfall
Climatic Characteristics, Stream/River Characteristics such as slope, baseline flow and
river regulations facilities.

AASHTO gives the following guidelines for estimating design flood levels:
 For assessing flood hazards and meeting floorplain management requirements -
the 100-year flood;
 For assessing risks to highway users and damage to bridge and its roadway
approached-the overtopping flood and/or the design flood for the bridge scour

III. Conclusion
A bridge should be designed and built for the near-term needs but with a vision
for the future. Due consideration should be given to future variations in alignment or
width of the waterway, highway, or railway to be spanned by the bridge. Prospects of
future addition of mass-transit facilities or bridge widening should be considered where
appropriate.
Where a highway bridge is to span a waterway, it would be necessary to make
complete hydraulic and hydrologic investigations and assessments of bridge sites as a
part of preliminary plan development to ensure that sufficient waterway and overhead
clearance are provided. The guidelines given by AASHTO requires mandatory evaluation
of bridge design alternatives involving considerations of stream stability, backwater, flow
stabilization, stream velocities, scour potential, flood hazards tidal dynamics where
appropriate, and consistency with established criteria.