EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE SCOUR EFFECT ON BRIDGE PIERS BY COMPARING SPEEDS AND PRESSURES IN CIRCULAR AND ELLIPTICAL SECTIONS USING AUTODESK CFD

Abstract

This research aims to assess the phenomenon of local scour in bridge piers, which is one of the main causes of structural failure, by determining whether there are significant differences in the distribution of hydrodynamic forces and if some bridge pier geometries are more susceptible to scour than others. The research involves the creation of 3D models of a flow table, a circular profile, and an elliptical profile, using Autodesk Inventor Professional software, followed by a simulation that combined numerical calculations and graphical analysis using Autodesk CFD software. In the experimental study, scaled models of circular and elliptical piers were used in a flow table to analyze the drag effect on different profiles. Velocity and pressure measurements were taken to identify critical points prone to scour. The simulation results indicate that the elliptical profile in a 0° orientation shows a significant improvement in reducing both drag and scour in turbulent flows. This study demonstrates the importance of accurately evaluating and controlling the profile orientation, as this can have a substantial impact on the results. This knowledge will enable more informed decisions in the design and the planning of pillars and bridges, as well as the implementation of appropriate protection measures.