Reduction of local scour around a bridge pier by using different shapes of pier slots and collars

Abstract Local scour around bridge piers is one of the main causes of bridge failure all over the world. Experimental and hydraulic models were carried out to investigate two types of scour reduction methods around a single cylindrical pier, namely the pier's slots and collars. The efficiency of various types of pier slots and circular collars around the pier's base in reducing scour were studied. A new shape of a conical collar was developed by the authors and examined along with other shapes. The results revealed that collars, in general, have more influence in reducing scour depth than slots made in the front and rear of bridge piers. The sigma-slot acts better than other tested slots, with a reduction in the scour depths of 59.3% and 52.8% at the upstream and downstream of the pier, respectively. On the other hand, the conical collar appeared to be the most effective collar shape in reducing the scour around the bridge pier, with a 61.1% reduction in the scour depth downstream of the pier. A three-dimensional laser scanner was used to capture the bed topography at the end of each experiment and contour maps of the deformed bed were produced. A one-dimensional Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System model was developed with a single bridge pier to predict the scour depth around the pier in an attempt to introduce new values for the pier nose shape factor, , which describes the tested piers.