Experimental study on the conditions of arch formation at bridge piers

Abstract

A model study of the formation of ice arching at the upstream faces of rounded bridge piers was conducted in a hydraulic flume. Polypropylene plastic was used to simulate square ice floes (10mm in thickness and 100mm in width). It was found that the conditions of ice arch formation at bridge piers were determined by ice covered ratio, ratio of span length and size of ice floes, and V²/gh (V: surface velocity, h: ice thickness).