Effects of Permeable and Non permeable Protection Works against Bridge Pier Scour and Their Influence on Local Flow Structure

Abstract

The effects of the protection works against the scour around bridge pier were studied experimentally, taking notice of their permeability. The scour around the pier is sufficiently diminished by the flush surface protection works. There are significant differences between the permeable and non permeable protection works in the scoured bed configuration and the flow structure behind the pier. The scour depth is smaller in the permeable case than the non permeable case. This is attributed to the reduction of the longitudinal vortices behind the pier by permeating flow.