INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HYDRAULIC

AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

LECTURE NOTES ON

LOCAL SCOUR

BY
HN.C. BREUSERS

DELFT

1979
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HYDRAULIC
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

LECTURE NOTES ON

LOCAL SCOUR

BY
H.N.C. BREUSERS

DELFT

1979
LOCAL SCOUR

CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SCOUR AROUND BRIDGE PIERS

3. SCOUR DOWNSTREAM OF CONSTRUCTIONS

3.1 Re1ations for the equilibrium scour depth downstream of weirs
3.2 Re1ations for rivers with fine sand bed, based on regime theory
3.3 Time-dependent re1ations for scour in fine-sand estuaries

4. SCOUR AROUND ABUTMENTS AND SPUR DIKES

5. MODEL INVESTIGATIONS

6. PROTECTION AGAINST SCOUR

APPENDICES

1. Loca1 scour around cy1indrica1 piers

2. C10sure of estuarint channe1s 1.n tida1 regions
3. Three-dimensiona1 10ca1 scour in non-cohesive sediments.
 - 1 -

1. INTRODUCTION

Local scour is caused by local disturbances of the flow and sediment transport
field. Examples are: scour around (bridge)piers and abutments and scour down-
stream of dams. In all these cases alocal increase in mean velocity and/or
turbulence intensity gives an increase in local transport capacity. From the
equation of continuity:
ah as (h = depth, S = transport)
at ax
it follows that scour will occur. The scouring continues until the local depth
has incréased so much that the velocities are reduced sufficiently to bring
as to zero.
dX
Scan rema1n positive of course so that a dynamic equilibrium 1S obtained, for
example for a pile in a sediment transporting river.

There are too many examples of failure of constructions due to local scour to
neglect the phenomenon. The effects of local scour can be overcome by an increase
in construction depth (bridge piers) or diminished by a bot tom protection.

The following subjects will be discussed:

scour around (bridge) piers,
scour downstream of constructions (dams, weirs),
scour around abutments and spur dikes,
model investigations,
protection.
 - 2 -

2. SCOUR AROUND BRIDGE PIERS

Scour around bridge piers 1S due to a combination of three effects:

- local scour near the bridge pier caused by the disturbance of the flow
field around the p1er,
- a lowering of the river bed in the cross section of the bridge due to
the contract ion of the river profile at that section,
- a general lowering of the river bed in the river around the bridge
site due to degradation or non-uniform river bed changes during floods.

These last two aspects, togehter with practical experience for the situation
of a bridge in the flood plain, are discussed in an excellent way by
C.R. Neill [IJ.
The local scour near the bridge pier is discussed in detail in a review
article by Breusers, Nicollet and Shen [2], which 1S given as appendix 1.

An analysis of existing data shows that the scour depth could be expressed
as:

d
s
b

d
s
= scour depth (below origingal river bed)

b width of pier
U mean velocity
-
U critical mean velocity for beginning of motion
c
d water depth
o
Cl. angle of attack
length of pier

For most practical situations:Ü/Üc > 1.0 so that fl (Ü/Üc) 1.0 (see
Appendix 1).
f2(do/b) 1S g1ven as:

f2(do/b) 2.0 tanh (d /b)

0
1n which -x
x
e - e
tanh(x) =
x -x
e + e
 - 3 -

f3(shape) = 1.0 for circular and round-nosed piers

0.75 for stream-lined piers
1.3 for rectangular piers
For f (a, ~/b), see Figure 32 of Appendix 1.
y

If the river bed around the pier 1S protected with arevetment, then it
should be placed at or below thé lowest river bed level to avoid an extra
obstruction. The stone size should be designed for a velocity 2.0 times
the approach velocity ij (see fu~ther par. 6) to account for the increase 1n
velocities near the pier.
 - 4 -

REFERENCES

[1] C.R. NEILL (ed.). A guide to bridge hydraulics.

University of Toronto Press, 1973

[2] H.N.C. BREUSERS, G. NICOLLET, H.W. SHEN. Local scour around cylindrical
p~ers.
Journal of Hydraulic Research 15 (3), p. 211-252, 1977
 - 5 -

3. SCOUR DOWNSTREAM OF CONSTRUCTIONS

"
The construction of a dam or a weir in a river changes the transport conditions
and causes local scour. In literature several approaches can be found:

These relations were derived mainly for coarse material (d > 1 mm).
Examples are the relations given by Eggenberger and Müller [1]

overspill: T 22.SHO.5qO.6D90-0.4 "-

undershot: T = 10HO•5 0.6D -0.4 ~

q 50

Tand H in m, q in.m2/s, D90 in mm

T = sum of downstream waterdepth and scour depth.

or by Kotoulas [2]

1 9 -0.35HO.35 0.7D -0.4

T • g q 95

The starting point is the regime depth d for example the Lacey expression:
r

d = 0.473 (Q/f)1/3 (m or ft-units)

r,3
Q = total discharge

or if the flow is limited in width:

d 2 = 1.34 q2/3.f-l/3 (m-units)

r,
q = discharge per m'
f = siltfactor, sometimes g1ven as 1.76DO.S D in mm

The total scoured depth T (sum of original waterdepth and scoured depth)
is than taken as a multiple of the regime depth:
 - 6 -

for scour near bridge piers T 2 d

r
for scour at nose of spur dikes and guide banks T 2 to 2.75 d
r
for flow perpendicular to banks T = 2.25 d
r
downstream of barrages with hydraulic jump on
the stilling-basin floor T 1. 75 to 2.25 d
r

For several practical problems, the equilibrium scour depth is not of

interest because the situation in which scour occurs is only of a
temporary character. Examples are closure works in tidal channels in
which scour has to be considered only during the construction phases.

Interpretation of model tests requires in this case the knowledge of the

time scale of the scour~ng process. The Delft Hydraulics Laboratory developed
relations based on a large number of tests (see the articles by Breusers,
van der Meulen and Vinjê).(Appendices 2 and 3).

During the closing of an estuary situations will occur with a greatly re-
duced cross section whereas the tidal discharges rema~n very large. This
means that the mean velocity in the closing gap and the turbulence strongly
increase which gives an increase in scour depth. Especially methods in
which an estuary is closed from the sides (for example with caissons) will
have an enormous scouring potential (see for example Figure 5 on page 4
and Figure 4 on page 19 of Appendix 2). The scour depths can be reduced
by making bot tom protections on both sides of the closing gap but scour
will always occur.

The most general conclusion of the studies by the Delft Hydraulics Laboratory
on local scour was that for a given flow field, independent of the bed
material the scour could be expressed as a unique function of time:

h
max
-h-
o

h = scour depth (measured from the original bed level)

max
h original water depth
o
= time to reach h
max
= h
0
 - 7 -

For two-dimensional scour it was found that (see page 11 of Appendix 2)

h.
max
-h-
o

but for other (three-dimensional) situations other relations apply (see

for example Figure 3 of Appendix 3). This figure also shows that the
relationship is independent of bed material and waterdepth for a given
geometry.

Important is the time scale of the process, or the scale of tl. For all tests~
both two and three-dimensional~the following relation is valid:

n scale factor (prototype/model)

6 (ps - pw)/pw

h waterdepth
a factor, depending on flow field and turbulence. For uniform,
two-dimensional flow a = 1.5, whereas for very turbulent three-
dimensional flow situations a can be as high as 6 - 8 (see
Appendix 3).
-
U mean velocity at the end of the bed protection
-
U critical mean velocity for beginning of motion
cr

The time scale n for the scouring process 1S of course different from the
tl -1
hydraulic time scale nt = nL . nU .

All relations g1ven above were for cohesionless materiais. In fact only a
limited number of experiments have been performed for cohesive soils. The
scouring resistance of clay is of course larger than for sand. No general
relations can be given however. For an example see [4].
 - 8 -

REFERENCES

[IJ W. EGGENBERGER, R. MULLER. Experimente11e und theoretische Untersuchungen

über das Ko1kprob1em.
Mitt. Versuchsansta1t für Wasserbau. E.T.H. Zürich, no. 5, 1944.
[2J M. KOTOULAS. Das Kolkprob1em unter besonderen Berücksichtigung der
Faktoren Zeit und Geschiebemischung.
Diss. Braunschweig, 1967.
[3] T. BLENCH. Regime behaviour of canals and rivers.
Butterworths, London.
[4] A.A. KRUCHlNlNA. lnvestigation findings on scouring process in cohesive
soi1s.
Comm. All. Union Scient. Res. lnst. B.E. Vedeneev 88, p. 72/79, 1969
 - 9 -

4. SCOUR AROUND ABUTMENTS AND SPUR DIKES

For these types of constructions no general design ru1es may be given, except
the general re1ations of the regime theory. The actua1 scour depends too much
on the geometry of the construction and the flow field. Some references are
given below:

B.P. DAS. Bed scour at end-dump channe1 constructions.

Proc. ASCE 99 (HY12), 1973.

C.R. NEILL (ed.). Guide to bridge hydrau1ics.

Ontario, University of Toronto Press, 1973.

M.A. GILL. Erosion of sand beds around spur dikes.

Proc. ASCE 98 (HY9), p. 1587/1602, 1972.

L. VEIGA DA CUNHA. Erosoes 10ca1izadas funto de obstacu10s sa1ientes

de margens.
Diss. Lisboa, 1971.

5. MODEL INVESTIGATIONS

For model studies on the equilibrium scour depth the fo1lowing sca1e 1aws have
to be considered:
a. undistorted model NL = Nh

b. Froude law NU = N~ in view of the necessary reproduction of the free

surface.
c. N = N to obtain a correct reproduction of the equilibrium
u u
x xcr
conditions in the scour hole.
The third law reduces to the simp1e 1aw:
ND = NL
if the bed material in the prototype is so coarse that the model mater ia1 is
larger than 1 mmo If the model material becomes finer, deviations from this simple
relation occur due to the influence of viscosity (Shie1ds curve).
 ") ';
f 11'
I:; . <
 - 10 -

If the material in the prototype is already fine, one cannot fulfill all
scale relations using sand in the model, sothat materials with a lower
density have to be used. In that case also the time scale of local scour
can be of importance (see par. 3.3).

6. PROTECTION AGAINST SCOUR

Scour can be reduced by streamlining the construction (bridge piers), making

guide walls (abutments) or by stilling basins (spi11ways). If the resulting
scour is not acceptab1e a bottom protection has to be constructed. Except for
the circular bridg~ piers no general design ru1es can be given because the
necessary protection depends too much on the actual geometry, the composition
of the bed etc. A minimum requirement is of course that the upper part of
the protection is stable against the flow and that the filter construction is
sufficient to prevent leaking of sand through the protecti~n. Special care has
to be given to the end of the protection where undermining has to be avoided.

Both stability and filter construction are discussed in the lecture notes
on "Revetments" by A. Zanen. For uniform flow a stability criterion may be
derived by taking a Shields 1/J-valueof 0.03 :

Uxcr
2
LlgD -

with:
-
U 5 75 1 12h
U • og k
x s

This leads to:

- ~ 12h
Ucr 0.7VLgtiU log ~
s

For D the nominal diameter D can be taken defined by:

n

Volume = ~.D~

For k
s
D and h/D = 4 one finds:

ij = 1.2/2gLlD'
cr

which is the we1l-known Isbash formula for the stability of a stone in a bed.
 - 11 -

If the flow is turbulent due to a construction (spillway, stilling basin etc.)

one has to reduce the permissible value of U with a factor:
cr

Ücr (r) 1~45

------- = 1+3r
U
cr

where r 1S the relative turbulence intensity (r.m.s. value divided by mean

value). For uniform flow r is taken as 0.15. In very turbulent situations r
can reach values of 0.3 to 0.4. In actual situations model tests will be
necessary.
 LOCAL SCOUR AROUND CYLINDRICAL PIERS
EROSION LOCALE AUTOUR DES PILES CYLINDRIQUES

by/par

H. N. C. BREUSERS
Delft Hydraulics Laboratory, Delft, The Netherlands

G. NICOLLET
Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique, Chatou, France

H. W. SHEN
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, U.S.A.

(IAHR Task Force on Local Scour around Piers)

Summary A "state of the art" report on the subject of local scour around cylindrical piers is given here. After a
description of the scouring process, a critical review of literature on model and field data is presented,
and the empirical data are compared with theoretical considerations. The final result is a set of design
suggestions together with possibilities for proteetion against scour.

Sommaire Ce rapport donne Ie point des connaissances dans Ie domaine de l'érosion locale en autour des piles
cylindriques: analyse du processus d'érosion, étude critique des résultats expérimentaux modèle et
nature disponibles dans la littérature, confrontation des résultats aux schémas theoriques. En conclusion
est proposée une loi pour la prévision de la profondeur d'affouillement, ainsi que des dispositifs de
protection.

1 Introduction
At the request of the IAHR Section on Fluvial Hydraulics a task force was formed to prepare a
state of the art report on local scour near piers. The present Report is the result of individual
contributions but has been critically reviewed by all members.
The Report is principally restricted to the following conditions :
- cylindrical piers (all shapes),
- non-cohesive granular bed material, and
- one-way current (no tidal influence and waves).
The following aspects are presented:
- the description of the scouring process and an analysis of relevant parameters;
- a description of model and field data;
- a comparison of data with theoretical work and a discussion on the infiuence of various para-
meters; and
- the proteetion against scour and the development of suggestions for design relations.

Received June 28. 1977

Breusers, Nico//et and Shen / Loca/ scour around cylindrlcal piers 211
It will be cIear that, as in many other fields of sediment transport, upto now no entirely satis-
factory theoretical and experimental results have been obtained, because the processes involved
of water and sediment movement are too complicated and experimental data are incomplete and
sornetimes conflicting. It has seemed possible however, to give areasonabie description of the
scouring process and to make suggestions for design relations on local scour near piers.

2 Description of tbe flow field around a pier and tbe scour process
2.1 Flow field
The dominant feature of the flow near a pier is the large-scale eddy structure, or the system of
vortices which develop about the pier. These vortex systems are the basic mechanism of local
scour, which has long been recognized by investigators (see Trsox (1940), KEUTNER(1932),
POSEY(1949), LAURSENand TOCH(1956), NEILL(1964), BATA(1960), ROPER, SCHNEIDER and
SHEN(1967), Highway Research Board (1970) and MELVILLE (1975)).

It has been described by ROPER,SCHNEIDER and SHENthat, depending on the type of pier and free-
stream conditions, the eddy structure can be composed of any, all, or none of three basic systems:
the horseshoe-vortex system, the wake-vortex system, and/or the trailing-vortex system. The vor-
tex systems are an integral part of the flow structure and strongly affect the vertical component
of the velocity in the neighbourhood of the pier.
The vortex filaments, transverse to the flow in a two-dimensional undisturbed velocity field, are
concentrated by the presence of a blunt-nosed pier to form the horseshoe-vortex system, The
mechanism by which the eoncentratien is accomplished is the pressure field induced by the pier.
If the pressure field is sufficiently strong, it causes a three-dimensional separation of the boundary
layers which, in turn, rolls up ahead of the pier to form the horseshoe-vortex system.
A blunt-nosed pier is one which induces a sufficiently large pressure gradient to initiate the
process just described. All other piers are referred to as sharp nosed, and it is important to know
that, at least conceptually, no vorticity is created at the nose of such piers, although actually some
vortex systems always evolve around any bridge piers. The blunt-nosed pier serves as a focusing
or concentrating device for the vorticity already present in the undisturbed stream. For a three-
dimensional pier, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the vortex filaments, composing the horse-
shoe-vortex, stretch downstream toward infinity, increasing the rotational veloeities in the vortex
core in accordance with the kinematic laws of vortex behaviour. Clearly, the geometry of the pier

FL~
DEPTH
T
1

Fig. 1.

212 Joumal of Hydraulic Research I Joumal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

is important in determining the strength of the horseshoe-vortex, although this system is not
steady for all flow conditions studied. SCHWIND(1962) noted that for some Reynolds numbers
the horseshoe-vortex is shed periodically, while SHEN,SCHNEIDER and KARAKI(1969) and Ma-
VILLE(1975) noticed that the shedding is observable during scour as slugs of sediment being pulsed
around the pier.
Some pier shapes, such as wedge or lenticular, may be either blunt-nosed or sharp-nosed, de-
pending on the wedge angle and the angle of attack of the undisturbed flow. SHENand SCHNEIDER
(1970) found in the limited number of experiments they conducted that a wedge-shaped pier with
a wedge angle of 30° in a plane bed may be considered to he sharp-nosed. However, an asym-
metrical dune moving past this pier can change the local angle of attack so that the pier acts as a
blunt-nosed pier. In this case a large scour hole develops at the nose of the pier.

MELVILLE(1975) measured mean flow directions, mean flow magnitude, turbulent flow fluctua-
tions, turbulent power spectra and shear stresses around a circular pier (5.08 cm in diameter)
for flat-bed, intermediate and equilibrium scour holes, in a 45.6 cm wide laboratory flume. He
found that astrong vertically downward flow developed ahead of the cylinder as the scour hole
enlarged. The size and the circulation of the horseshoe-vortex increased rapidly, and the velocity
near the bottom ofthe hole decreased as the scour hole was enlarged. The magnitude ofthe down-
flow appeared to be directly associated with the rate of scour. The rate of increase of circulation
feil off as the scour hole developed and reached a constant value at the equilibrium stage. Spectra
of turbulent velocity fluctuations near the bed of the scour hole indicated a greater energy content
in the 1 to 10 Hz range than that of the approached flow and a corresponding lesser energy con-
tent at higher frequencies. The combination of temporal mean bed shear and turbulent agitation
at the bed tended to decrease as the scour hole enlarged until equilibrium was reached.

(a) upstream elevation view (b) top view

Fig. 2. Horse shoe-vortex after Taylor (1965).

The vorticity concentrated in the wake-vortex system is generated by the pier itself, contrary to
the case ofthe horseshoe-vortex. The wake-vortex system is formed by the rolling up ofthe unstable
shear layers generated at the surface of the pier, and which are detached from either side of the
pier at the separation Iine. At low Reynolds numbers (3 to 5 < R. < to 50), these vortices are
stabie and form a standing system downstream close to the pier. For Reynolds numbers of
practical interest, however, the system is unstable, and the vortices are shed alternately from the

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen I Local scour around cylindrical piers 213
pier and are convected downstream. The strength of the vortices in the wake system varies greatly
according to the pier shape and fluid velocity. A streamlined pier will create a relatively weak
wake, but a blunt body pro duces a very strong one. The regularity of shedding ranges from the
very. stable VONKÁRMÁNvortex state (80 to 90 < R < 150 to 300) to a practically chaotic state
in the transcritical range [3.5 x 106 < R), ROSHKO(1961)].

The wake-vortex system is related to the so-called upflow which has been observed by POSEY
(1949), MOOREand MASCH(1963), and others. Large scour holes may develop downstream from
piers when the horseshoe-vortex system does not form or is adequately controlled, as demonstrated
by the experiments of SHENand others (1966). The wake-vortex system acts somewhat like a
vacuum cleaner in removing the bed material which is then carried downstream by the eddies
shedding fr om the pier.

MELVILLE (1975) found that:

"Under equilibrium conditions for the scour hole, vortex shedding occurs at a value of the
Strouhal Number, based upon cylinder diameter and mean approach flow velocity varying from
0.229 tot 0.238, that is, an increase of about 15% from that for the two-dimensional case. The
vortex pattern generated is consistent with the occurrence of span-wise cells of constant shedding
frequency separated at the discontinuities by longitudinal vortices. The shedding frequency be-
tween successive cells decreases with depth. The lower limit for consistent shedding appears to be
at about the level of the undisturbed bed. Vortex convection speeds and separation distances
downstream from the cylinder decrease with depth. Individual vortices are convected downstream
at a speed initially less than that of the approach flow but becoming nearly constant and equal to
the approach flow velocity at 8 cylinder diameters downstream. The vortices which are initially
shed with their axes vertical are progressively bent by the mean flow as they are convected away
from the cylinder. The cast-off vortices aid the erosion process at the cylinder. Each of the con-
centrated vortices acts with its low pressure centre as a vacuum cleaner. During the initial period
of scour activity bursts of sediment transport away from the bed are evident with the generation of
each vortex. A ripple is formed on the downstream mound coinciding with the path followed by
the cast-off vortices. Based on observations of dye traces introduced into the flow, it is postulated
that the arms ofthe horseshoe-vortex, extending around the circumference ofthe cylinder, oscillate
laterally and vertically at the same frequency as the shedding of wake vortices. Consider the se-
quence involved in the shedding of two vortices, one from each side of the cylinder, that is, one
period of wake-vortex generation : the decreased pressure within an individual cast-off vortex
draws up fluid from the horeshoe vortex region, pulling the vortex arm with it. As this first wake-
vortex passes downstream, the arm of the horseshoe-vortex recedes back into the scour hole,
while the other arm of the vortex is similarly affected by the second wake vortex shed from the
other side of the cylinder".

The trailing-vortex system usually occurs only on completely submerged piers and is similar to
that which occurs at the tips offinite lifting surfaces in finite wing theory. It is composed of one or
more discrete vortices attached to the top of the pier and extending downstream. These vortices
form when finite pressure differences exist between two surfaces meeting at a corner, such as at
the top of the pier.

ROPER (1965 and 1967) gave a more detailed description of these vortex systems and many of the
remarks made in the few preceding paragraphs were bis.

214 Journalof Hydraulic Research/ Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

HUNG (I968) made detail velocity and pressure distribution measurements near a circular
cylinder in an open channel. The width of the channel was 1.2 m, the depth of flow was 0.195 m,
the cylinder was 4.3 cm in diameter, and the average flow velocity was 0.39 mis in the upstream
approach section.
The pressure coefficient Cp is defined as follows:

(1)

where p is the local measured pressure, Pr is the upstream undisturbed flow static pressure at y,
{! is the fluid density, Ur is the upstream undisturbed flow velocity at level y, and y is the reference
elevation above channel bottom.
The Cp measurements as a function of the elevation and relative cylinder location are shown
in Fig. 3.
PETRYK (1969) observed under the same flow conditions as HUNG (1968) that the secondary
flow along the front and back of the cylinder is downward, and at the back of the cylinder the
pressure is higher near the surface than near the bottom.
The downward secondary flow along the front of the cylinder is attributed to the non-uniform
approach velocity. The downward circulation pattern at the back of the cylinder disagrees with
previous investigations where a two-dimensional object was placed in a non-uniform flow field.

y.o.S Re.t.3gxt04
-- - - - - y.3.S" R•• t.~8xt04
y.s.su R•• t.7txto4
------- y.7.~~8" Rht.<f7xt04
Re IS THE LOeAL eYLINQERREYNOLOSNUMBER

Fig. 3. Pressure coefficient c.:

In shear flows it has generally been reported that the secondary flow in the near wake region of a
cylinder is in the direction of increasing velocity head. This phenomenon has been deduced from
the fact that generally as the approach velocity to the cylinder increases, the pressure at the back
of the cylinder decreases. Itfollows that the secondary flow should be in the direction of decreasing
pressure, or in the direction of increasing velocity head. All wind tunnel investigations report this
circulation pattern [see BAINES (1965) and ROPER (1967)]. DALTON and MASCH (1968) also found
that the secondary flow was in the direction of increasing velocity head. They placed a cylinder in

Breusers, Nieollet and Shen I Loeal seour around eylindrieal piers 215
a water tunnel with a linear velocity profile, and demonstrated that this secondary flow pattern
was applicable to flow without free surface effects.
MOOREand MAsCH (1963) and ROPER(1965) reported the same secondary flow pattern down-
stream of a cylinder in an open channel flow with a non-uniform velocity profile. The downward
circulation observed at the back of the cylinder under the flow conditions given in the beginning
of this Section have been explained by PETRYK(1969): (i) the free surface effect, and (ii) the vor-
tex shedding pattern at the back ofthe cylinder. The vortices are shed irregularly and their strength
is relatively low. The flow in the separated region circulates quiescently.

The pressure throughout the separated region is expected to be approximately hydrostatic be-
cause of the relatively low flow veloeities in that region. The re-entrainment velocity is expected
to be higher near the surface than near the bottom because of the higher approach velocity near
the surface. This higher re-entrainment velocity, impinging on the rear protion of the cylinder,
appears to be enough to cause a pressure gradient downward. It follows that, with a downward
pressure gradient, the secondary flow is also downward.

At lower veloeities the vortex shedding pattern changes and the secondary flow is directed upward.
The separated region swings from side to side as the strong vortices are shed alternately from the
cylinder, causing separation points on the cylinder and the rear.stagnation point to vibrate with
the vortex shedding frequency. A very good description of this separation phenomenon is given
by MAITINGLY(1962). A sketch showing astrong vort ex in the upper half ofthe separated region
is shown in Fig. 4. The upper vortex is shedded and then astrong vortex in the lower half is
formed, it is shed, and so on.
Under these latter flow conditions, the higher velocity near the surface forms stronger vortices
which are produced immediately behind the cylinder. Therefore it follows that the pressure behind
the cylinder will decrease with increasing distance from the floor in a fully-developed channel flow.
In this case, the free surface appears to have little effect and the secondary flow is upward.

SEPARATION POINT FLUCTUATES

BACK AND FORTH

FLUCTUATING REAR
STAI3NATION POINT

Fig. 4. Separation and oscillation behind cylinder (top view)(after Petryk, 1969).

VAUTIER(1972) measured flow characteristics around two-inch diameter vertical cylindrical piers
in two separate flumes (0.45 meter and 2.4 meters wide) with the same approached flow conditions
- flow depth 0.15 m, mean flow velocity range from 0.15 to 0.3 meter per second, and a fairly
uniform sand of 0.4 mm in size. After a scour hole had reached its maximum size, the entire bed
was stabilized, using PVA glue and shellac varnish. Ris measurements showed that (I) pier wake-
vortex shedding frequencies were between 0.75 to 1.09 cycles per second; (2) pier nose-vortex
shedding frequencies were in the range of 0.25 to 0.50 cycles per second; and (3) there was no
significant difIerence in both the autocorrelation function and the speetral density for flow
velocity measurements at correspondingly the same locations in the two flumes.

216 Joumal of Hydraulic Research I Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

HJORTH(1975) studied the flow field around cylinders with circular and square cross sections. The
theoretical part consisted of an analytica Iapproach, using potential flow disturbed by a simple
shear field, and the experimental part comprised measurements of wall shear stress and pressure
field around the cylinders. For a circular cylinder it was found that the maximum average wall
shear stress was 12 times that in the undisturbed approach flow. However, this is not in accordanee
with observations that scour near the pier starts at about 50% of the critical velocity for material
transport in the undisturbed part of the bed.

2.2 Scour process

The dominant feature of scour process around a blunt-nosed pier is the horseshoe-vortex system,
Sinee the horseshoe-vortex is being stretched the most at point A (about 70 degrees from the main
flow direction, see Fig. 1) of a circular pier and near the corners of a square pier, the rotational
velocity in the vortex core is the greatest in that neighbourhood. If the scouring potentlal created
by this velocity is strong enough to overcome the particles' resistance to motion, scour will be
initiated there. Sediment particles will be dislodged free along the front portion of the pier and
carried out of the scour hole either by the horseshoe-vortex system and/or by the wake-vortex
system like a vacuum cleaner.

Melville (1975) noted that:

"The horseshoe-vortex is initially small in cross-section and comparatively weak. With the
formation of the scour hole, however, the vortex rapidly grows in size and strength as .additional
fluid attains a downwards component and the strength of the down flow increases. The down flow
acts somewhat like a vertical jet in eroding the bed ... Contours of [measured] bed shear stress,
mean flow magnitudes and directions, and turbulent intensities on the bed of the scour hole re-
main remarkably similar throughout the development of the scour hole after its initial formation.
This is a direct consequence of the similarity of shape of the scour hole which is apparent during
its growth. As the scour hole enlarges, the circulation associated with the horseshoe-vortex in-
creases, due to its expanding cross-sectional area, but at a decreasing rate, with the rate of increase
being controlled by the quantity of fluid supplied to the vortex via the down flow ahead of the
cylinder. This in turn is determined by the discharge of the approach flow; or, for a particular
flow depth and width, by the magnitude of the velocity of the approach flow. The magnitude of
the down flow near the bottom of the scour hole decreases as the depth of the hole increases.
Hence the rate of erosion decreases. The armour coat, if present, helps to limit erosion. At a eer-
tain stage equilibrium is reached. The combination of the temporal mean bed shear and the tur-
bulent agitation near the bed becomes incapable of removing further bed material from the scour
area ahead of the cylinder and in the lower portion of the scour hole. Hence equilibrium is a con-
dition at which the depth of scour ahead of the cylinder is just sufficient so that the magnitude of
the vertically downwards flow ahead of the cylinder can no longer dislodge surface grains at the
bed. This suggests that the equilibrium depth of scour for a particular bed material and under
clear-water scour conditions should be a function of the magnitude of the downwards flow ahead
of the cylinder, which in turn is primarily a function of the diameter of the cylinder and the
magnitude of the approach flow velocity. Following this reasoning, the flow depth has only an
indirect effect on the magnitude of the down flow and henee on the depth of scour. Although
equilibrium is obtained for the depth of scour ahead of the cylinder, erosion continues in the
downstream dune region. The mound immediately bebind the cylinder is progressively flattened

Breusers, Nico/let and Shen I Local scour around cylindrical piers 217
and extended downstream by the flow out of the scour hole. This flow is directed up and out of the
scour hole parallel to the downstream bed, and curves slightly inwards behind the cylinder. At
equilibium the flow near the bed of the scour hole has a greater concentration of energy in the low
frequency range than the approach flow".

For a sharp nosed pier, in the absence of astrong horseshoe-vortex system large scour holes may
develop downstream from piers by the wake-vertex system, as was demonstrated by the experi-
ments of SHEN, SCHNEIDER and KARAKI (1966).

3 Analyses of scouring parameters

The magnitude which interests the designer for determining the pier foundation depth is the
maximum depth to be reached by the scouring process. For this reason, the quantitative study
will be limited to the maximum depth d, reached by the scour hole around the pier after sufficient
time has elapsed to reach the equilibrium. d, is measured below ambient bed level.
Limiting the study to the case of the isolated bridge pier in a river whose flow is assumed to be
steady and uniform, there are many parameters which may influence the scouring phenomenon:

Variables characterizing the fluid:

- 9 acceleration due to gravity,
- {}density of fluid, and
- v kinematic viscosity of fluid.

Variables characterizing the bed material :

- (}s density of the sediment,
- size distribution,
- grain form, and
- cohesion of material.

Variables characterizing the flow:

- do depth of approach flow,
- V mean velocity of undisturbed flow, and
- k the roughess of the approach flow.

fariables characterizing the bridge pier:

- its shape,
- its dimensions,
- its surface condition, and
- any proteetion systems.

The list of parameters is very long and some of them are, moreover, difficult to quantify, such as
the partiele size distribution, the grain form, or the cohesion of the bed materials.

For this reason, the analysis has been made mainly for the following restrictive conditions:

Bed material : the sediment is non-cohesive and has a uniform size D.

Flow: - channel sufficiently wide so that the bridge pier does not cause a significant contraction ;
- flat bed, without dunes or ripples, so that the roughness k depends only on the diameter

218 Journa/ of Hydraulic Research / Joumal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

 of the sediment D and the flow follows some resistance law relating mean velocity to
hydraulic gradient I; and
- only ultimate steady-state scour is considered.
Bridge pier: cylindrical, circular, perfectly smooth.

The parameters which re ma in are:

- for the fluid: (2 density, v kinematic viscosity, and g acceleration due to gravity;
- for the bed material : D diameter of sediment and (2. its density;
- for the flow: do the depth and U the mean velocity of the undisturbed flow; and
- for the pier: its diameter b.

Therefore the scouring depth d, depends on eight parameters:

d, =11«(2,v,g, D, (2., do, D, b) (2)

These parameters may be replaced by the following ones:

d. = li(2, v, g, D, Ll,do, U" b) (3)

with Ll= «(2.-(2)/(2, the relative submerged density and U. = (gdoI)t

It has been assumed therefore that only the relative density is of importance.
The theorem of Vaschy-Buckingham
, allows us to write:

d. =f
b 3
(U.Dv' LlgD'
U; Ll'b'do D)b (4)

1 2 3 4 5 6

The justification for the choice of the dimensionless groups is the following:
1 Experiments have clearly demonstrated that it was possible to relate the scour depth to the
diameter of the pier. This may be explained physically by the fact that scouring is due to the
horseshoe-vortex system whose dimension is a function of the diameter of the pier.
2 and 3 These are classical parameters in the study of bed load.
5 and 6 These ratios relate the size of the pier to that of the flow and of the sediment.

The Equation (4) can be considerably simplified by the following considerations:

- The experimental studies conducted by CHABERT and ENGELDINGER (1956) and by RAMETrE and
NICOLLET (1971) have shown that, for a pier with a given diameter band a sediment of a given
diameter D, the limiting scour depth d, goes through a maximum dam for flow conditions cor-
responding to incipient movement in the absence of obstacles ('r = 'rc). Above 'tc' the scouring
depth varies as a function of the inflow of particles and fluctuates owing to progression of bed
forms. It is, therefore, very difficult to define the limit depth d•. It is, however, possible to state
that d, is equal to or slightly lower than d.m (about 10% according to SHEN). This important
result has been confirmed by the study of HANCO (1971).
- The influence of the deformation of the free surface on the flow field is negligible if the Froude
number of the flow is sufficiently low.

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 219
- There is an empirical relation for initiation of motion, relating

- The term !l is constant by considering only natural sediments (pebbles, gravel or sand,
!l~1.65).

Under these assumptions Equation (4) may be simplified to:

ds
b
=1 (~ do!!_)
U./ b' b or
dsm
b
=1 (do
b' b
!!_) (5)

This means that the scour depth d, wil! depend mainly on the ratio of mean velocity to mean
critical velocity and the relative values of grain size, flow depth and pier diameter.

4 Description of model data

Numerous references on local scour experiments on piers can be found in literature. Few ofthem,
however, are of a general nature with independent and sufficient variation of parameters. In most
cases veloeities were below or at the critical velocity for initiation of motion. Increasing the pier
diameter was often done at constant water depth, thereby decreasing their ratio. Also scouring
time will not have been sufficient in many cases to obtain the eq uilibrium scour depth. Some of the
most interesting references are summarised below.

4.1 One of the fust references on local scour is the artiele by DURAND-CLAYE (1873) (see also
FLAMANT(1900) p. 281/282). He compared the scour for a square-nosed, a round-nosed and a
triangular-nosed rectangular pier. The first one gave a maximum scour depth, whereas the trian-
gular one gave the smallest scour depth.

4.2 TISON(1940 and summary in 1961). He has given much attention to the influence of shape,
velocity profile and other parameters. The curvature of the flow at the upstream side of the pier is
mentioned as the main cause of secondary vertical currents and local scour.
Most tests were done in a flume with a width of 0.7.m, a discharge of 0.03 m 3/S, a water depth of
0.105 m, a mean velocity of 0.41 m/s, and a medi~m-size sand, D = 0.48 mmo

snape b (cm) I (cm) ds(cm)

6 24 11.4
~==::::::I.(
) 6 24 8.17

';:< =': 6 24 7.0

c 5.2 21.5 6.2

6.0 24 5.45

3.4 24 3.3

220 Journal of Hydraulic Research / Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

In a special test the bed upstream of the pier was roughened with gravel with D = 1 to 2 cm,
thereby increasing the velocity gradient near the bed. The lenticular shape gave a maximum scour
depth of 7.1 cm instead of 5.45 cm, showing the influence of the velocity profile. A gradual in-
crease of the thickness of a lenticular pier from 5.3 cm at the water surface to 8.1 cm near the bed
gave a decrease in scour depth from 7.1 to 4.6 cm, whereas a fiared pier with a wide base gave very
little scour under the same conditions. With a round-nosed circular pier a positive rake decreased
the scour, whereas a negative rake increased the scour. The infiuence of the angle of attack was
studied with the lenticular pier (6 x 24 cm).

14S

d, = 5.45 cm 6.95 cm > 10.0 cm

Maximum scour depth occurred at the upstream nose for the rectangular pier and at the sides for
the streamlined shapes. The length of a rectangular pier was not important at zero angle of attack.
Tests with rectangular piers of 2.7 x 12 cm in a water depth of 6.0 cm at ij = 0.32 mis showed no
mutual infiuence on maximum scour depth for spacings equal to or larger than 11.6 cm (spacing/
width radio ?:4.3).

4.3 INGLIS(1948). Tests were performed on a rectangular round-nosed pier with 1= 19.2 m
end b = 11.3 m (l/b = 1.7) on lengths scales of 1: 40, 1: 65, 1: 105 and 1: 210 under zero angle of
attack. The results are difficult to interpret because both D and do were varied simultaneously.

SEJ/-C:g~tARM~~~TERS
AX/AL APPROACH
I> -kSCALE -

is SCALE
POONA NODELS
" tfg SCALE
C

~~ ~
I
"x x >k

-e:/'
(AX/AL APPROACH)

0
0
0
-_ o
.Q-
k SCALE
--_ _ 0
P
'_
Ü VARIABLE

o 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10
_<is..
b

Fig. 5. Scour at bridge piers (Thomas 1962).

Maximum values of ds/b were in the order of 1.3 (see Fig. 5, THOMAS1962). Tests were carried out
with sand with median grain sizes of 0.3 and 1.3 mm and were run until a zero net transport was
obtained (no sand-feeding). From the experimental data the following relation was derived:

d +d
~ = 1.7 ~
( t)0.78 (ft-units, coefficient = 2.32 for m-units) (6)

The relation has limited applicability for b-+O and for increasing D at constant do, as has been
shown by NEILL (1960, 1965). THOMAS(1967) stated that the formula should not be used outside
the experimental range: qt/b = 2 to 10. A major disadvantage of the relation is the combination
of undisturbed water depth and scour depth.

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 221
Several authors have converted the original relation thus:
BLENCH (1962):

d, + ds
d,
= 1.8 (_!!_)*
d,
d, = regime depth (7)

ARUNACHALAM (1965,1967) with the aid ofthe Kennedy-relation:

u = 0.84d~·34 (ft-units)
gave:
db = db [1.95 ( db) -t -1] in which d, = 0.9qt (ft-units) or d, = 1.334qt (m-units) (9)
or:
d,+ds = 1.95
ä,
(!!_)*
d, (10)

4.4 CHABERT and ENGELDINGER (1956) performed an extensive programme of measurements on

the various aspects of local scour around piers. The main variables were velocity, pier diameter
(2.5 to 30 cm), water depth (0.1 to 0.35 m), grain size (0.26, 0.52, 1.5 and 3.0 m) and pier shape.
Also many devices to reduce the scour were tested. The study on the intluence of tlow velocity
showed that two regimes should be distinguished: for veloeities at or below the threshold velocity
of move ment of the bed material scour depth approaches a limit asymptotically (see Fig. 6)
whereas for a larger velocity scour depth tluctuates due to the periodic dumping of material in the
scour hole by moving dunes (Fig. 7). Maximum scour depth was obtained at veloeities near the
threshold velocity, whereas scour started at about halfthe threshold velocity (see Fig. 8).

o 2 J 4 5 6 o 2 3 456
_fIHOURS) _I(HOURS)
TEST No.lIJ D. Jmm TEST No.112 D. 3mm
d.,.20cm d.,.20cm
Ü.52 cm/s Ü.52cmls

Fig. 6. Scour as a function of time V < V C' Fig. 7. Scour as a function of time V> ü;

222 Journalof Hydraulic Research / Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques15 (1977) no. 3

 E 25
~.,

t :; mm
0
cm
d.
cm
b

10 .3 20 15
X l,S 20 15
I> 0,52 20 10
5
CIRCULAR PIL ES

Fig. 8.
o 20 40 60 80 100 120
_OemIs

- '00
~ 90
~ 80
" 70

t~ 0

V
ds=2b

drb
0

30
/ / V
20
Vt/:[/

'09
8
/
l~~
Jo
0
W
0
•
do (cm)
010 OR 11 3
Dfmm)

3
7 o'S
6
/ .'8 OR 20 3
/ / / 03S 3

/ 17 .,0
'20
'.S
,.S
/ {; / • 3S ,.S
0'0 0.S2
820 o.S2
.,0 0.52
2

Fig. 9. ,, 2 4S67891O 20 30 40 50 60 80 100

~b(cm}

The influence of grain size, pier diameter and water depth can be seen from Fig. 9, which shows
a smal! influence of grain size, a negligible influence of water depth for water depthjpier diameter
ratios Jarger than one, and an increase of scour with bl% in which Cl. :::::; 1. The Jatter influence may
have been sligthly obscured by the fact that the dojb ratio decreased with increasing pier diameter
b for these tests.
The influence of pier shape and angJe of attack can be seen from Fig. 10 which shows that at a
zero angJe of attack the scour depth may be minimised by streamJining the pier, but that this ad-

D/MENS/ONS IN cm SHAPE
0 J'S. CIRCULAR
o ,

00,0 01,s 2 CIRCULAR

x , c:=:JI IS RDUNO-NOSED

o , C=>J'S LENTICULAR

+, ~I's JOUKOWSKI

o , ~J'S BEVEL-NOSED

• , "('=T!îlS THREE PILES

!td
Fig. 10. 'S· ~

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 223
vantage disappears for angles of attack above 10°. An exception is formed by the system of 2 cir-
cular piers at a spacing of 3 pier diameters, which shows only a minor influence of the angle of
attack.
Sorne care should be given to the interpretation of the results, because three piers were simul-
taneously tested in the flume at a separation of 6 m. Fig. 6 shows that some influence of the
upstream piers was present.

4.5 LAURSEN and TOCH(1956, 1953) investigated the influence of pier shape, angle of attack,
water depth, velocity and sediment size. The effects of pier shape and angle of attack were studied
at the standard test condition : b = 0.06 m, do = 0.092 m, D = 0.38 mis and D = 0.58 mm (see
following Tabie):

relative scour depth •

angle of attack /Ib
round-nosed elliptic Ienticu]ar

0° 1: 1 1.00
3:2 1.00
2: 1 1.00 0.91 0.91
3:1 1.00 0.83 0.76
10° 3:1 1.02 0.98 0.98
20° 3:i U3 1.06 1.02
30° 2: 1 1.17 1.13 1.13
30° 3:1 1.24 1.24 1.24

• relative to scour for a circular pier with b = 0.06 m.

I

The influence of water depth, mean flow velocity and sediment size was studied with a dumb-bell
pier under an angle of attack of 30°. The results are given in Fig. 11, from which it was concluded
that there was no systematic influence of grain size and velocity in the range studied. There is an
influence of water depth as might be expected in view of the large projected width of the pier
(dimensions 0.06 x 0.4 m, b = 0.06 m, berr = 0.25 m). Scour depth varied with time due to the
passage of dunes; the values given are averages.
The authors presented also a graphic design relation for rectangular piers under zero angle of
attack, which was expressed by NEILL (1964b) as:

(11)

~V11' ---
~
~

Meon
- --:...

Diameter Veloeity
(mm) (lp.) - r-
11 0.44 o 1.00
"- 0.58 • 1.25
°
·: gg - r-- r-----
0.97 ~ 1.50 -
<>- 1.30 1.75
9 2.25 • 2.00

Fig. 11.
REC,ANGULîR PIEIR •• 3110 I I
4

-~ 5

224 Journa/ 0/ Hydraulic Research I Journa/ de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

4.6 VARZELlOTIS1960 (quoted from NeillI964a). Varzeliotis did experiments with 1.7 mm sand
with pier shape, angle of attack, velocity and water depth as variables. Standard test conditions
were flow depth 0.107 m, mean velocity 0.48 mis and b = 0.025 m. Here are some of bis results:
Influence ofshape:
square-nosed 0.067 m
round-nosed 0.038 m
bevel-nosed 0.041 m
lenticular 0.030 m

The length of a round-nosed pier had no influence for zero angle of attack and Iength/width
ratios of 1 to 20. The influence of pier width was studied with constant depth with the results:

b= 0.025 0.05 0.075 0.1 m

0.038 0.079 0.114 0.127 m

Variation of the angle of attack for a round-nosed pier with llb = 6 gave the following result:

1;0
ei = 00 7.J 15"
ds= 0.035 0.041 0.048 0.083 0.132 m

Water depth and velocity were in~reased simultaneously during tests with increasing discharge
intensity and a round-nosed pier of dimensions 0.05 x 0.15 m under zero angle of attack. Assuming
that mean velocity has no great effect in the range used (0.4 to 0.58 mis, see also Fig. 8), it may
be concluded that ds increases slowly with do upto do/b equal2 to 3:

0.40 0.45 0.48 0.51 0.53 0.56 0.58 mis

0.073 0.091 0.107 0.122 0.134 0.146 0.159 m
0.076 0.084 0.088 0.093 0.096 0.094 0.101 m

4.7 TARAPORE (1962) reported some experiments with circular piers (b = 0.05 m, D = 0.15 and
0.5 mm), from from which it may be concluded that d, increases with do/b upto dolb equal to
about one and remains constant thereafter (dslb ~ 1.4). The development of scour depth with
time may be represented with a logarithmic relation. TARAPORE showed that this corresponds to
an exponentiai decrease of veiocity near the bed in the scour hole, assuming a standard type of
bed-load transport relation to be valid in the scour hole.

4.8 LARRAS(1963, 1960) analysed the data given by CHABERTand ENGI:lLDlNGER (1956). He
concentrated on the maximum scour depth near the threshold velocity of the undisturbed bed
material and gave arelation expressing scour depth as a function of pier diameter, with water
depth and grain size neglected:
(m-units) (12)
Tables were given for the influence of pier shape and angle of attack, with the circular pier as a

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 225
basis. Lenticular shapes gave a relative scour depth of 0.75, elliptical shapes 0.85, rounded piers
1.0 and rectangular ones 1.1 to 1.4. The advantage of the first two shapes disappears for angles of
attack of 10° or more.

4.9 NEILL(1964a) gave an excellent review of the work of TISON,INGLlS,LAURSENand TOCH,

CHABERTand ENGELDINGER and VARZELIOTIS. He concluded in favour of relations expressing
scour depth as measured from the original bed surface. Suggestions for design were given. For
extrapolation to prototype conditions, NEILLsuggested a linear increase of scour depth with pier
diameter with a relative value of 1.5 to 2.5 for a round-nosed pier. The effects of grain size distri-
bution, local conditions (contraction, embankments) should be investigated in more detail, pre-
ferably on the basis of field data.

4.10 NEILL(1964b). In this report detailed attention was given to the infiuence of the actual
river on the scour phenomena, of which the local scour near the pier is only one aspect. A review
of literature on model and field data as weil as recommendations for design were presented.

4.11 ARUNACHALAM (1965). For the modification of the Inglis-relation see 4.3 The influence
of an angle of attack can be taken into account by substituting the projected width of the pier in
the relation given.

4.12 NEILL(1965) described some field data on local scour and gave a critical comparison of
existing relations for local SCOUT. This gave rise to an extensive discussion by people involved in
the development of regime formulas (see Chapter 5).

~ 1.0
dsm
1/
.~ v..
0.8 • .!.. f---

a • -Oso-5.00mm.0!JO-6.S0mm. b-IJcm;
0.6
• -oso-aSOmm.090-1.00mm. b-13cm;
• -050-Z.00mm.090-4.00mm.b- s cm;
ds (lP_!
0.4 - • -050- Z.lXJmm.
090-4.00mm. b - 3 cm;

0.2
.l/' ~. g dsm Uc
•
a
-05O-Z.00mm.090-4.00mm. b-13cm;
-OSO-Z.OOmm.090-4.00mm. b-ZOcm;

Fig. 12.
00
V 0.2 0.4 0.8 0.8 1.0 (li_l'
-OSO-Z.OOmm.090-4.lXJmm. b-4.7cm;

-...... uc 'I

4.13 HîNCU (1965, for a French translation see HANCO(1971» gave experimental results for
circular piers (b = 3,4.7,6, 13and 20 cm) in coarse material (Dso = 0.5,2 and 5 mm). The scour
depth was constant (d, = d.m) above a certain velocity (V c)' At lower veloeities a linear relation
with velocity was obtained:

(see Fig. 12) (13)

The influence of water depth was negligible for do/b > 1, and d.m increased with grain size. The
results were correlated with the expression :

dim = 2.42 ( -2)+

~b (~~ = 0.05 to 0.6) (14)

226 Journalof Hydraulic Research/ Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

 With arelation given for Uc:

(15)

for natural sands, the relation may be converted into:

db
sm =
3.3
(E_)0.2
b
(dob)O.13 (16)

4.14 SHEN,SCHNEIDER, KARAKI(1966a, b, 1969), ROPER,SCHNEIDER, SHEN(1967), SHEN(1971).

In the first reference (1966a) a review of existing literature is given. An analysis of the flow field
and the horseshoe-vortex system near a circular pier gave the concIusion that the circulation of the
vortex is proportional to U· a (a = bI2). The next conclusion that the local scour depth will be a
function of this factor divided by the kinematic viscosity, being a Reynolds number, is not so
obvious.

~ 0.2

t 0.7
b .0.75 m
050.0..24 mm
o d•• 0.775m
Ij a; '0.75 m

" d •• 0.27 m
• d. '0.27 m

Fig. 13.
o 0.5 7.0
-{frm/sJ

Experimental results (21 tests) were given for a circular pier with b = 0.15 m in 0.24 mm sand. One
test was done with b = 0.15 mand 0.46 mm sand and two tests with D = 0.9 m in 0.46 mm sand.
Results for the 0.24 mm sand are shown in Fig. 13. The scour depths for the 0.9 m pier were 0.67 m
and 0.55 m respectively for do = 0.67 m, U = 0.66 mis and do = 0.61 m, U = 0.50 mis.
From these data and other results from literature a relation was derived of the form:

d, = 0.000059 ReO.512 (m-units) (SHEN1966a) (17)

d, = 0.00022 ReO.619 (m-units) (SHEN1969) see Fig. 14 (18)

This relation must be considered as an upper envelope because scour depth does not increase with
U for U > U c (CHABERTand ENGELDINGER).
For «; another relation is given:

-
F = Ul-;
,-
ea« (19)
or
db m = 2FO.43
(dbO)0.355 (20)

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 227
which is similar to the design relation given by LAURSENand TOCH. The Jatter may be approxi-
mated by:

for a circular pier (21)

dsm ftuctuates with time for D > De. The authors advised to take dsm+0.5 dune heigbt for design
purposes.

./"
~;"'A
V
./
0
.0
.0 -:
~ ,0<YJon", ~r-._
-:
v-
.0

-:
/-
~

D~io-r
20 FOOT FLLM4:, J FOOr PfEfl

0
.8
.6

-:
k1 .\
e=.
.•..
~ IJ :. ~
I'

0
· C/)()/)~ft8 E"fJtIfIdI~'('5)
Cllr.!bHf lJ EnlJllltil/~r(5J

·· s,,_,.
·· :::::
., ol(25J
Î~~]
0246
ORJ
O.50

~~~ !l
~

(;
D$O_

026
mm

O.!JZ
0.24 (IA)
0.46 (1,14/
046 OM)
-
-
-
·
Tisoflt2'51 02 0$0
, T"rapoft!128; 0 161' 0.$0
o , ./" " 0 TU:lf'C'f'f! (28) 0 J67 0.150
'-
0.08
0.06 -: ·
0

0
MonJ DM St1nclMz (15)
CM"'- (61
eMul, (6)
023]!
~:~
0.17
0 ...
0-'6
f-
'-

. · ehiJoIt! (51 06 068

*
00 4
s o m$ m6
10 ,ol
Reynolds Number,

Fig. 14.

The influence of grain size was considered to be negligible for D < 0.5 mm (SHENet al 1966a).
Tbe inftuence of pier sbape was studied by SHENet al (l966b). Adding a sharp nose (top angle 15°
or 30°) to a blunt-nosed pier gave a reduction in maximum scour depth. Rougbening tbe upstream
face of the pier to decrease the vertical veloeities or the strengtb of the vortex bad no effect.
SHENet al (1969) gave a summary of SHEN(1966a, b) and new experiments, The data were also
compared with other design relations sucb as given by LARRAS(1963): d, = 1.05 kbo.75 (m-units)
in which k = 1.0 for a circular pier and 1.4 for a rectangular pier, and by BREUSERS (1965):
d, = lAb for circular piers. These relations were considered as an upper limit for scour with
continuous transport.
In the discussion on SHENet al (1969), BREUSERS (1970) stressed the empirical knowledge that in
general a linear sealing-up of scour depth with pier dimensions may be expected. Comparisons of
model and prototype data were given which pointed to this linear relationship (Fig. 15). VEIGADA
CUNHA(1970) stated that the relation given by SHENet al (1966a) can be valid for clear-water
scour only because scour is independent of velocity for veloeities above the threshold velocity
(Fig. 16), as was sbown by CHABERT and ENGELDINGER (1956). The Reynolds number is apparently
an unsuitable parameter to characterise the scour depth. According to VEIGADACUNHA,also the
ratio of water depth to pier diameter sbould be considered (Fig. 17).

228 Journalof Hydraulic Research I Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

 ,P'

_:.1..---------- ..._
,'" .''''
. ~.. ---------~~---,,_
• t.t'
-.""

,,,,

...
;

:."
-."_

---_.,!......-
.>

I"
I "
, I

,". I /
,'"
-/":" ,
,,
, -------------- ..
, ".I.'

,
Fig. 15.
"""'-'

MODEL

1.0

~
'0
. o.s
b:100mm

"'! J_ ~.: •• = ~m

<P'
.. . b=SOrrm

,
0
".lY.Ç.
0.2

1 Scur ce
(a)(b) °SO Pier Sin
(mm) (mm)
o • Sheon et al (2S) 0.24 'S2

.z-
3
·· ) Chabt'rt and { SO
7S

·
0,26
Eng.ldinger (5)
'00
O.1
o • J Chobt'rl and [ SO

·.
o. .
0 7S
o.S2
EngeldIng., (5)
'00

1-+-+-+-++-------1'------1 :;~Sc:" w~7:' cont~s.d~ ~ton

O.OSL...L_J.....l_J.-,OL:·.-----..J---.l----------::,o:l·,-----'
Pier Reynolds Number. IR

Fig. 16. Scour with and without continuous sedimentmotion.

Breusers, Nico/let and Shen I Local scour around cylindrical piers 229
 11 t.-I-
0
Î TT
_____-: Va ..
Ib
d.
=us
_.I--~
(d
-=:-
ï"
Hem (1.)•
m
§

-
I.0
8010 (2)

050 Pi~r Sizeo

....
(mm) (mm) (o)(b)
c. • Sh~n 0.24 m ~
{ 50
o •
0.52 75

..
Cha""rt 100 e •
ond { SO " A
1,50 100
Eno·tdinger ISO A A
c. 2 c •
{ SO
3.00 100 o •
(a) Maximum
150 m
(b) Minimum
•
tG
0.1 0.2 tG 10.0
_!o.
b

Fig. 17. Influenceof d.lb.

4.15 MAZAALVAREZand SANCHEZBRmlESCA(1966, 1967, 1968) presented a general discussion

on the various types of scour in a river and gave results of flume tests on circular, rounded and
rectangular piers in sand with diameters of 0.17, 0.56 and 1.3 mmo Some results for a circular pier
013.3 cm are shown in Fig. 18. Maximum scour depth is in the order of 1.5 times the diameter for
a circular cylinder and 2.0 for a rectangular pier under zero angle of attack. The influence of
water depth seems insignificant, whereas a linear increase of scour depth with velocity is observed
for veloeities below the threshold value.

] 0.2()
~

t 0.10
b «ts.s em
o .0.56mm
d".FIGURE ADDED
IN cm
Fig. 18.
0.25 0.50 0.75
_Ü(mlsl

4.16 CoLEMAN(1971) analysed data from SHENet al (1969) and results from experiments on
circular piers with b = 0.045 and 0.076 m in sand with D = 0.1 mrn under conditions of continuous
sediment transport. The correlation obtained was:

a,
-= 1.49 -
(U2)1/10 (22)
b gdo

which can be transformed into d. = lAb (BREUSERS

1965) with a minor change of coefficients.

4.17 NICOLLET(1971a, b) extended the experiments by CHABERT

and ENGELDINGER
(1956) with
respect to the following variables :

230 Journal 0/ Hydraulic Research I Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

- Grain size and gradiation,
- the velocity at which the scouring process starts,
- the influence of bed material density, and
- the intluence of aspect ratio for a round-nosed pier.

The first aspect was studied by performing tests with grain sizes of 0.94, 1.93 and 3 mm in the flume
used by CHABERT and ENGELDINGER and with gravel (7, 15 and 25 mm) in a large channel (4 m
wide) with a water depth of 1.5 mand pier sizes of 0.5 and 1.0 m. The results for dam, the maximum
value of d, are presented in Fig. 19. Scour depth increases with grain size upto D = 2 mm for
constant water depth.

ds inmD.30

020

0.10

Fig. 19.
o 2 3 o 10
__
30
D(mm)
_O(mm)

Tests with a widely graded material (Ds = 0.24 mm, Dso = 0.7 mm, D90 = 4 mm) gave a much
lower value of dslD (in the order of 0.5 instead of l.5) than with uniform sand under simular con-
ditions (see also Para. 6.6).
Results for bakelite (es = l320 kg/m") are also plotted in Fig. 19 from which it may be con-
cluded that e. is not a significant parameter as far as dsm is concerned. The influence of aspect
ratio was studied with b = 0.1 mand [Ib = 1, 2 and 3 (see Fig. 20), which shows that the aspect
ratio only has a slight influence on d.m•
Special attention was given to the velocity for initiation of scour. The ratio of this velocity to
Uc' the velocity for initiation of movement of the undisturbed bed material, was 0.42 to 0.53 for a

ds(cmJ20

t
...,._--~--
:=~
B -".
f---r--
L ... c
5

Ir' -
--
_.-
~",
.....J.

B
0
(L'20em)
e ( L,JOem
'A
=:J:b'lOem
::::rb »tûcm
)]b"0em
dD ::;O.20m

o.. ,]em

Fig. 20. I
10
J5 40 45 sa 55
_Ülcmlsl

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 231
circular pier and 0.5 to 0.65 for round-nosed piers. For design of scour proteetion by rip-rap, the
ratio given by HANCO(0.5) is suggested.

4.18 From the tests by DIETZ(1972) on circular piers with various bed materials it may be con-
cluded that scour depth increases with do/h upto do/h = 3 (see Fig. 21). Scour increased linearly
with b for b = 0.043 to 0.135 m. Several shapes were investigated. When the cylindrical pier was
taken as a reference, the following ratios were measured:

shape round-nosed elliptical rectangular

aspect ratio 1 :2 1:3 1:5 1: 1 1:3 1: 5

ratio 0.95 0.9 0.85 0.72 1.4 1.2 1.1

4.19 Systematic tests were performed under geometrically similar conditions by BONASOUNDAS
(1973) on circular piers (h = 0.05,0.10,0.125 and 0.15 m, grain size 0.63, 1.15 and 3.3 mm). The
results are summarised in Fig. 22 for [J/[Jc ~ l.O. The scour depth given is that measured after
2 hours and is not the equilibrium value. The figure shows that d, increases with do/h upto do/h = 2.
The infiuence of grain size is relatively unimportant for constant D and do. Scour depth increases
roughly with b, keeping do/h and grain size constant.

, 2.0

E'O,----.----,--,--,---,--,--,---,--,
.!! 9
8
1----+-----+_-+--+_--+_-rt---+_--+_-1
I----+-----b_...-t.-~-~,.,..I,.-._=b~
t
ë

./ ..:..-f--..... . :-:::F- - . E":-:

1.0

D50(mm)
b(m)
a63 1.153.3
a05
aio •
•
• ,~,,
•
0.125
0.15 "1 •
• 0

~dD(cm) o
Fig. 21. Fig. 22.

4.20 WmTE (1975a, b) presented experimental data for various pier shapes in a coarse sand
(Dso =0.9 mm, D90 = 3.4 mm) for high Froude numbers (0.8 to 1.2). The influence ofthe Froude
number was only sm all in this range. The influence of the pier width decreased with decreasing
water depth. The results are difficult to interpret because of interdependence of the variables. The
tests were done for scour prediction in steep mountain streams.

4.21 CARSTENS and SHARMA (1975) argued that for large values of b (offshore oil storage tanks)
the scour depth will not increase linearly with b for several reasons : the special velocity distribution
(Ekman spiral), the large ratio of hjdo, and the absence of thick layers of sand. They also stated
that protections against scour should Dot increase linearly with b as far as dimensions are con-
cerned.

4.22 NlCOLLET (1975) gave results for a test in cohesive material (Dso = 2.2 um), Initiation of
scour occurred at 60% of the critical velocity without the presence of the pier. The scour depth

232 Joumal of Hydraulic Research I Joumal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

was in the order of 0.045 to 0.065 m for a circular pier, with D = 0.05 mat veloeities of 0.7 to
0.8 mis. The scour hole was more elongated in the downstream direction and more irregular
than with sand as bed mater iaI.

4.23 Tests with a large diameter pier (up to 0.75 m) were described by TORSETHAUGEN (1975).
Polystyrene was used as bed material and special attention was given to the time-history of the
scour:
(23)

The correlation obtained for dse was:

dolb < 1.0 (24)

where most experiments were for D(ëJe = 0.8 and dolb = 0.2 tot 0.65. The scouring depths given
are below those found by other investigators for similar conditions, but no explanation is given,

4.24 BASAK et al (1975) performed tests with square piers in coarse sand (Dso = 0.65 mm,
D90 = 1 mm). Pier width ranged from 0.04 to 0.5 m but the water depths were smal! (up to 0.14 m).
For most of the tests D> De, but as both depth and velocity were varied simultaneously, no in-
dependent variation of parameters was obtained. The results for square piers were correlated with
the equation:

d, = 0.558bo.s86 (m-units) (25)

for varying do, which can be interpreted only as a decrease of dslb with increasing bldo. The results
are interpreted in a better way by plotting dslb versus dolb, which shows that for constant dolb,
d, increases linearly with b (see Fig. 23). Increasing the length width ratio of rectangular piers gave
no increase in scour depth for II b = 1to 6. For rectangular piers under an angle of attack 0 ::::;;
IX ::::;;90,

d. 2.5
b

t 2.0 "
•
•

ü>üc
b (cm)
4 "
7 •
1.0 10 ..
20 ..
400
50.
24 x 1'4
12 + 1,4

Fig. 23.
o 2 3
-!fr
Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 233
the relation given above was also valid if the projected width was taken for b. Interesting results
were obtained with rows of square piers. For a row aligned with the flow, maximum scour always
occurred at the upstream face ofthe first pier, so that no influence of spacing and number of piers
on d, was found. For the other piers minimum scour was observed for a centre spacing Iwidth
ratio of 4.
For rows perpendicular to the flow, scour depth decreased with increasing spacing upto a
spacing/width ratio of 5.

4.25 MELVILLE(1975) made very detailed measurements of the turbulent velocity field around
a circular pier and in the scouring hole. For a brief summary see Chapter 2. Also field data are
given, (see Section 5.9).

4.26 ETTEMA (1976) studied the influence of median grain size (Dso = 0.55 to 6.0 mm) and gra-
dation (ulDso upto 1.6) on local scour near a circular pier with b = 0.1 mand do = 0.6 m. The
experiments were carried out at or below the critical flow velocity. For a discussion of the results,
see Sections 6.2 and 6.6. The development of the scour depth with time was described satis-
factorily with a 10g(t)-relation:

5 Description of field data

Field data should give a final proof of the relations established on the basis of small-scale experi-
ments. It is unfortunate, therefore, that the availability of well-documentated field data is limited.
Use of the data is also hampèred by complicated geometrical shapes, variability of bed material,
and inaccuracy of measured quantities. It is, however, possible to present a few cases, mainly
taken from NEILL(1964a, b) and MELVILLE(1975).

5.1 INGLIS(1949), Indian Rivers. Observations in the period 1924--1942on 17 bridges in rivers
with discharges from 850 tot 63,000 m 3Is were recorded. Data were presented as a table of total
scoured depth, measured fr om the water surface to the bottom of the scour. This tota1 depth is the
sum of general scoured depth, scour due to contraction and local scour due to the piers. The
depths were compared with the Lacey regime depth:

dLacey = 0.473(Q/f)t (m or ft-units) (26)

in which f = silt factor = 1.76 (D)t, D = median grain size in mmo The average value was 2.09
with a r.m.s. value of 12.9% (see ARUNACHALAM, 1965). Individual values of the ratio varied be-
tween 1.73 and 2.62. For design purposes generally a value of 2.0 is used, therefore:

do+d. = 0.95(Q/f)t (27)

ARUNACHALAM (1965) re-analysed the data and found that the correlation could be improved by
leavingf out of the correlation. The result was:

do + d, = (2.09) 0.473Qt ~ 0.95Qt (28)

The r.m.s. value reduced to 8.45% with individual ratios varying from 1.72 to 2.59. ARUNACHALAM
stated that it may not be concluded that the grain size is not important as the grain size only
varied from 0.17 to 0.39 mm (f from 0.71 to 1.10).

234 Journalof Hydraulic Research/ Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

5.2 LAURSENand TOCH (1956), Skunk River. Field observations at the nose of a single rounded
pier in the middle of a straight reach of a sand-bed river were obtained with an electric resistivity
device. The width of the pier is not exactly defined but was approximately 1.2 m. The maximum
value of d,was 2.0 m at a flow dep th of 3.7 m. Neither veloeities nor bed material were given. Scale
models (1: 12 and 1:24) with 0.58 mm sand and a velocity of 0.53 mis gave a good correspondence
with the field observations (see Fig. 24).

5.3 LARRAS(1960) gave two tables with scoured depths around bridge piers. The fust table
contained depths observed af ter a flood had passed and must, therefore, as is clearly stated in the
paper, have been smaller than the maximum depths during the flood. Pier widths ranged from 0.5
to 6.5 mand scoured depths from 0.6 to 4.3 with dslb ratios from 0.4 tot 1.2.
The second table presented estimated scoured depths, including general scour, based on accidents
or incidents with bridge piers. Values of pier widths ranged from 0.7 to 4.2 m, estimated dslb
values from 1.3 to 2.0.

ELEVATION A·A

2~ ---~~--~-+-

I~-r--~~--+--+-
°2L--~~--~~6~~--~8--~~IO~~"~~'2
_-
--
Moy-June 1954
June 1954
.!.---- AuC)usl1954
1'12 Model
124 Model
-
o o
_doL">
Fig. 24. Fig. 25.

5.4 NEILL(1964a, b) reported several cases of scour near bridges which in some cases led to bridge
failure. The following cases are of interest for the aspect of local scour:
Bridge C. Figure 25 shows the principal features of this case. Slender piers were supported by a
concrete caisson from 10.6 m below the bed to 1.5 m above it. The bed was composed of sand and
the pier was skewed at least 40° to the current. During aflood one caisson settled and tipped side-
ways towards the flow, as shown. The maximum scoured depth was estimated at 9.4 m below
lew-water bed on the exposed face of the caisson. General scour was not known, but using Laur-
sen's design data a scour depth almost equal to the observed depths was predicted.
Bridge F. Scour in a stabie gravel-bed river. In this case a total scoured depth (do +d.) of about
15.9 m at the no se of a 6 m wide pier at zero angle of attack was observed. U sing Blench's method
to determine a "zero flood depth" and a multiplication factor of 2.0 (INGLlS)resulted in a depth
of 15.3 m.
5.5 NEILL1965, Beaver River. Scour data on two bridges (la Corey and Beaver Crossing) were
given. Scouring was mainly due to constriction of the flow; only limited local scour near the piers
was observed. The scoured depth was compared with the two-dimensional LACEYdepth:

(ft-units, 1.34 for metric units) (29)

f was taken equal to 1.0 (D = 0.5 mm).

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Load scour around cylindrical peirs 235
Ta compute q, the clear water-surface width beneath the bridge at a low-water stage was taken.
The ratios of total scoured depth and d2, Lacey were 1.22 and 1.3 respectively. The artiele about
this gave rise to interesting discussions by several authors involved in the development of regime
relations (LACEY,INGLlS,THOMAS,BLENCH).

5.6 ARUNACHALAM (1965). ARUNACHALAM also re-analysed the data given by INGLISwith a
relation developed from the InglisjPoona relation (developed from model tests on the Hardinge
bridge). The resulting equation was:

d./b = drib[1.95(dr/b)-t -1] (30)

in which some influence of pier width is present. For d.lb ~ 1, this relation reduces to ds+dr ~
1.95dr•
Correlation with 11 out the 17 bridges where b was known, resulted in a r.m.s, value of 10%
instead of 12.7% with Equation (27). The relation also gave good results for some other cases, but
overestimated the scour for the data given by NEILL(1965).

5.7 Ministry of Railways, India (1967, 1968, 1?72).

5.7.1 1967 Report. At the request of the lndian Railway Board a measuring campaign on
railway bridges in all parts of India was started. After a careful selection, only 8 bridges out of 48
were used, because many bridges were protected with stone pitchings or because observations
were incomplete. The bridges had spans from 9 to 23 m, the bed material was coarse sand to
gravel with silt factors from 1.83 to 2.9 (D = 1 to 3 mm). Discharges varied from 35 to 600 m 3 js.
The computed LACEYdepths varied from 1.35 to 3 mand the observed total scour depths (do+ ds)
from 2.3 to 5.5 m, The dimensions of the piers were not given (in one case b = 2.44 m). For flow
parallel to the pier, maximum scour occurs at the nose and an average ratio of (do + ds) to LACEY
depth of 1.71 was found (r.m.s. value 19%). For currents inclined to the pier upto 35°, maximum
scour occurred on the side of the pier under attack and averaged 1.99dLacey(r.m.s. value 15%).
Combination of all data gave (do + ds)/dLacey= 1.93.
The correlation with Q was better than with the discharge intensity computed from an estimated
stream width near the piers. In this case the depth was computed from the "two-dimensional"
Lacey relation.

(m-units)
(ft-units) (31)

5.7.2 1968 Report. Scour around the piers of Ganga Pul at Makameh. This bridge has 14
spans of 123 m, and the width ofthe wells was 9.75 m. 18 observations are given for various mon-
soon floods (5,000 to 34,000 m3js) in the period 1958-1967. Corresponding LACEYdepths were
7.5 to 14.5 m using a silt factor of 1.15 (sediment size not given). Average scoured depth at the
nose ofthe piers gave a ratio (do+ds)jdLaCey= 1.75, whereas for an inclined attack scour along the
sides averaged 2. 15dLacey'
Itwas observed that during non-monsoon floods the value of (do+ ds)jdLacey was larger, possibly
due to a lower silt content, according to the author. Corresponding values from 13 observations
were 2.94dLaceyat the na se and 2.7dLaceyfor scour along the sides of the piers. Measured scour

236 Journal of Hydraulic Research I Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

depths during non-monsoon floods were slightly smaller, however, than during the largest monsoon
Bood.

5.7.3 1972-Report. Further observations (50) on 4 out ofthe 8 bridges mentioned in the 1967
Report are given with discharges from 60 to 500 m3/s, dL•eer 1.5 to 3 mand (do +ds) values from
2.1 to 6.8 m. Maximum scoured depth was generally found along the sides ofthe piers.
The final correlation for all (93) observations was (see Fig. 26) (do + ds) = 1.92 dL•eer (r.m.s.
value 15%, correlation coefficient 0.79). Correlation with the two-dimentional LACEYdepth gave
the result (see Fig. 27): (do+d,) = 1.46d2L•cer = 1.46[1.34(q2(j)t] (r.m.s. value 15%, correlation
coefficient 0.80; q is the local discharge intensity near the piers). In 36 out of the 50 observations
also the depth between the piers was measured and correlated with Q and q. The bestcorrelation
was obtained with the Lacey expression (correlation coefficients of 0.74 and 0.76 respectively for
the three and two-dimensional cases).
In this series of observations pier width was also measured and a Laursen type of plot (d,lh vs
dol?) was given after reduction for effects of shape and angle of attack. In 14 cases do was estimated
from Lacey's formula. The result was discouraging. No correlation with Reynolds or Froude
number was obtained. The authors also tried correlations of the form

RE.GRE.5SIOl'4
MLAN'

~
~ 7r------r----~r--,~~~~~
::E
;z
-=-
.J
W
~ ~r_-----r----~r+----~~--~
c.:
....
!(
3:
~ 5r------r----~rn.-T,~4_----~
9
~
ct
o:J 41----
~

J
o
"0
:"
"0
°O~~--~'~~--~2--~--~~--~~4
CALCULATlO VAWlS OF LAClYS REGIMéOtPTHdL:O'47(t)I5QNME.~)

Fig. 26. SCOUI depth as a function of total discharge.

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 237
 10
AltIlNM'T1~ IUGRl$SIOII
.. e,t.N ...... N

-tl-.-
~

~
a:
....~l- a
2
.:::...
.J
....
_,>
UI
7

ct
....
te
~
I>

~
'"
al
a: 5
::J
0
~
"'0"
Cl)
4
:r
....
c,
ui
0
0 :!I
ui
itui
(/)
cO
0 2

lil
"C
..
0 I
"C

2. a ~ ". G
CAL.CULATED VALUES OF LACEYS RE.GIME.OEPTH d2C=1'~8(t)l3~iN ME.TRE.S)

Fig. 27. Scour depth as a function of local discharge infmsity.

It appeared that the effect of the silt factor was insignificant, so that the following relations were
given:
(d.+do) = 0.72QO.33 (32)
and
(d.+do) = 2.31qo.37 (33)

(m-units, r.m.s. value 16%, correlation coefficient 0.74 in both cases).

5.8 BREUSERS (1971) gave a comparison between the local scour measured in nature and in a
model for the Onitsha Bridge on the Niger River. The piers consisted oftwo circular piles with a
diameter of 8.5 mand a centre-Iine separation of 17 m. At a low stage of the river = 0.7 mis ca
238 Journalof Hydraulic Research I Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) TW. 3
do = 9 m) scour was measured and reproduced in model tests (scale I:53) under the condition that
the scale of mean velocity and critica I velocity for all fractions was equal. For the result see
Fig. 15.

5.9 MELVILLE (1975) gave a literature review and compared the predictions with field data from
New Zealand. The cases in which local scour depth was clearly defined are:

5.9.1 Tuakau Bridge, lower Waikato River. Data: mean depth 3.0 m, mean velocity 0.87 mis,
bed material DiS = 0.38 mm, Dso = 0.78 mm, DS5 = 2.09 mmo The pier shape was rectangular
with dimensions 8.85 by 2.44 m with chamfered corners and an angle of attack of 10% (estimated
LAURSENand TOCHcorrection factor 1.3). Maximum scour depth was estimated at 2.75 m but
can have been greater in view of the limited number of depth observations.

5.9.2 Big Wanganui River Bridge. Mean water depth 3.8 m, mean velocity 4.27 mis, bed material
D 50 = 0.23 m with De = 5.9 mis. The scour for a pier measuring 8.5 by 1.63 m at a supposed angle
of attack of 10° (LAURSEN-ToCH factor 1.5) was estimated at 4.88 m.

5.9.3 Matawhera Railway Bridge. Water depth 3.0 m, mean velocity 2.25 mis, bed material
Dso = 7 mm, De = 1.12 mis. Estimated scour depth ~ m for a pier measuring 6.8 by 1.5 m (see
Fig. 28). Maximum angle of attack was 45°, LAURSEN-ToCHcorrection factor 1.75.

Fig. 28.

5.9.4 Bull's Bridge, Rangitikei River. The river bed was composed of a shingle surface stratum
= 0.15
(D 50 = 11 mm) overlying a thin layer of silty clay and a thick layer of fine river sand (D 50
mm). This combination proved extremely dangerous with respect to scout. Once the upper layers
were eroded, scour proceeded in the fine sand without an upstream supply. A scoured depth in the
order of 12 m developed which caused the complete failure of the bridge. Water depth before scour
was 2.7 mand mean velocity 2.8 mis. Fine sediments underlying coarse sediments or less erodible
layers are, therefore, a potential danger.

MELVILLE (1975) concluded from his study at the above four bridge sites that for Clear Water
Scour Shen's Equation (18) for the equilibrium depth of scour forms an envelope to all the
available experimental data and should be used for clear water scour at bridge piers. For Sediment-
transporting Scour Laursen's relationship appears to be reliable. For flows in which the Froude
number is greater than 0.5, the larger of the scour depths given by Laursen and Shen's Equation
(19) should be used. MELVILLEapparently misquoted Shen's Equation (19). However, using the
corrected equation, it was found that the results were in even better agreement with Melville's
field data.

5.10 NORMAN(1975) coUected and analyzed depths of scour around piers at seven bridge sites in
Alaska, U.S.A., plus four other bridge sites, and found that all scour depths were below the
curve d, = 3bo.s. The two largest scour depths were about 7 meters.

Breurers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 239
6 Comparison of data with dimensional analysis and theoretical work, and influence of
parameters
A theory in the sense of a complete model for computing the velocity field and the related local
sediment-transport rate in the scouring hole has not yet been developed, mainly because the flow
field is too complicated. Some attempts have, indeed, been made (TARAPORE (1962), GRADOWCZYK
(1968), ZAGHLOUL (1975) and others), but they can only be considered as explanatory in view of
the underlying assumptions.
An analysis of experimental data, with dimensional analysis as some kind of framework, seems,
therefore, the only possibility to derive genera Irelationships. The dimensional analysis resulted in
a relation of the form:

(5)

neglecting the influence of shape, Froude number, bed-material density and gradation. In this
chapter the influence of various parameters and other factors is discussed.

6.1 lnfluence of U/Uc

From the results of various investigations a reasonable picture of the influence ofthis parameter
can be obtained. The following regimes may be distinguished:
a. tut),~ 0.5 - no scour (see HANCO1967, NICOLLET1971a, b)
b. 0.5 ~ u/uc ~ 1.0 - clear water scour. In this interval some investigators found that the scour
depth increases almost linearly with U. (See Fig. 8 for D = 3 mm (CHABERT and ENGELDINGER
1956), Fig. 17 (HANCO1967), and Fig. 18 (MAzA 1968». The function:
d./dsm= (2U/Ue-l) (13)
given by HANCOis a good approximation in this interval. The limiting scour depth is ap-
proached slowly (Fig. 6).
c. U/Uc;;': 1.0 - scour with sediment motion. Here scour depth does not increase further with
velocity, apparently because the dynamic equilibrium between transport out of the scouring
hole and the supply is not influenced by the magnitude of the transport rate. Sometimes a
slight decrease of d, with U is observed. Scour depth fluctuates with time due to the influence
of moving bed forms (Fig. 7). The limiting scour depth is defined here as the time-averaged
value (NEILL1964a). The maximum dsmis defined as the maximum w,ith respect to velocity.
For most practical problems an estimate of dsm is suflicient because in a natural river the
condition [J/[Je ;;,: 1.0 will almost certainly be met during floods. Therefore further discussions
will be concentrated on dsm.

6.2 lnfluence of Djb

NICOLLET(l971a, b) reported systematic tests with a large variation in grain size, and the results
were interpreted as giving an infiuence of Dlb. If the results are replotted as d, against D for con-
stant band do, it follows that scour depth is a function of D (Fig. 19). The influence of bis mainly
due to a simultaneous variation of do/b (do was constant and equal to 0.2 m in most tests). Maxi-
mum scour depth as a function of grain size occurred at D = 2 mmo
LAURSENand TOCH(1956) did not observe an influence of D for D = 0.5 to 5 mmo

240 Joumal of Hydraulic Research I Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

The results by BONASOUNDASalso show some increase of scour depth with increasing grain size
in the range 0.6 to 3.3 mmo
The results of ETTEMA (1976) for V/Ve ~ 1.0 show some increase of d with D (uniformly
graded) upto D ~ 4 mm, as can be seen from the following table:

Dso (mm) 0.55 0.70 0.85 1.9 4.1 6.0

d./b 1.45 1.75 2.0 2.05 2.2 2.1

In conclusion, it may be stated that the infiuence of grain size is limited for single partiele size
sediment. The main effect of D/do is the infiuence on the velocity profile which is a function of
this parameter. An increase in velocity gradient (with increasing D/do) will increase the strength
ofthe vortex system, as has been shown by TISON(1940).

6.3 Influence of do/h

This factor gives the most confiicting statements. The following schools may be distinguished:
a. The regime theory which gives the scour depth as a function of the regime water depth. As an
example the Inglis relation is taken:

d, ~ dL_eey = 0.473(Q/f)t (27)

b. Modification of this type of relation to introduce some effect of do/b, for example, ARUNU-
CHALAM (1965) :

d./dr = 1.95(b/dr)t-l (do = d, = regime depth) (30)

or BLENCH:

d./dr = 1.8(b/dr)*-1 (7)

c. Relationships expressing d./b as a function of b/do:

LAURSENand TOCH(1956), NEILL(1965):

d./b = 1.5(do/b)o.3 for rectangular piers (11)

This relation was also given by VEIGADACUNHA(1970):

d./b = 1.35(do/b)o.3 for circular piers (34)

HANCO(1971):

d.ib = J.3(Dib)o.2(do/b)o.13 (16)

d. Relations giving scour depth- as a function of pier diameter:

LARRAS(1963) d. = 1.05bo.75 (m-units) (12)
SHEN(1969a) d. '" bO.619 (for constant V) (18)
BREUSERS (1965) d, = l.4b (circular piers) (35)
BARAK(1975) d, = 0.558bo.S86 (rectangular piers) (25)

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 241

/
.:
 ~25'-------------------------------~-------d~--~~~------'
ti" ARUNACHALAM
/r=18f9;J .f FOR do=dr

X a b 025
r
BLENCH f,.=t.8(ëi .J -1 FOR drrdr

EXPERIMENTS
I LAURSEN ANO TOCH (1956)
• BONASOUNDAS (1973)
,. BASAK - (1974)
X CHABERT AND ENGELDfNGER 1956 bt::O.1m
Z SHEN ET AL (1969) '<

Fig. 29.
2 3

<'

The experimental evidence is compared with some of these expressions in Fig. 29. The results of
LAURSEN were scaled with the effective width (0.6 ft) instead of the real width (0.2 ft) because a
pier under an angle of 30° was used (ka=2.5), and they were also corrected for pier shape (LI).
The results of BASAK were also reduced with a factor 1.2 because rectangular piers were used in
the experiments.
Many authors state that the influence of water depth can be neglected for do/b> 1 or 2. It is
not clear whether this is due to the experimental set-up (not fully developed velocity profiles or
inlet conditions). Also the influence of simultaneously testing more piers (CHABERT and ENGEL-
DINGER) is not clear. From the experimental results it may he concluded, ho wever, that for
do/b> 3 the influence of this parameter can he neglected. For smaller values some empirical
relation is necessary. The following relation gives a good description for the full range of do/b:

do
ds/ b = 1.5 tanh b (36)
_J

For do/b -+ 0 the relation over-estimates the scour depth if compared to the regime theory, hut
experiments also point to higher ds/b values for do/b = 0.4 to 1.
Relations of the type band c and BREUSERS (1965) satisfy the basic linear relationship between
scour depth and pier dimension for geometrie similarity. This linear relation is considered essen-
tial for model studies and is stressed by LAURSEN and TOCH (1956) in these words:
"On the basis of all the accumulated evidence, both laboratory and field, it appears that the
depth of scour can he regarded as a function of the geometryalone, and that tbe scour depth can
he treated like any other length in the comparison of model and prototype" (under the condition
do/b is constant).

NEILL (1964a) puts it this way:

"The availahle evidence suggests that if the pier dimension and depth of flow are scaled up
uniformly, then the scour depth may be scaled up hy approximately the same factor" (also for
constant do/b).
These statements are only valid, of course, under the condition that U/Uc ~ l.O.

242 Joumal of Hydraulic Research / Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

6.4 Shape of the pier
TISON(1964) showed qualitatively that scour around piers can be affected by the curvature of
strearnlines, SHEN,SCHNEIDER and KARAKI(1969) cJassified pier shapes in two categories:
(i) Blunt-nosed pier where astrong horseshoe-vortex system and thus the maximum scour depth
occur at the pier nose. The upstream pier shape should have astrong influence on the scour depth,
and the length of the pier and downstream pier shape should have a minimum effect if the blunt-
nosed pier is aLigned with flow.
(ii) Sharp-nosed pier, where the horseshoe-vortex system is very weak and the maximum scour
depth occurs near the downstream end. For long piers under an angJe of attack the point of maxi-
mum scour depths shifts towards the downstream end of the pier (LAURSENand TOCH, 1956,
MAZAALVAREZ,1968).
The effect of pier shape on scour depth is significant, and some important studies have been
conducted by FLAMANT (1900), REHBOCK(1921), YARNELLand NAGLER(1931), KEUTNER(1932),
TISON(1940), ISHIHARA(1942), SCHNEIBLE (1951), LAURSENand TOCH (1956), CHABERTand
ENGELDINGER (1956), ROMITA(1960), KNEZIVIC(1960), VARZELIOTIS (1960), LARRAS(1962),
MAZAand SANCHEZ (1964), PAINTAL and GARDE(1965) and SHENand SCHNEIDER (1970). CHABERT
and ENGELDlNGER (1956) tested scour around six pier shapes (shown in Fig. 30). See also Fig. 10.
Their results indicate that (i) Group 1 for shapes 1, 2, 4 and 6 have approximately the same
maximum scour depths for correspondingly the same flow conditions ; (ii) the maximum scour
depths for shape 3 were between 33% to 86% of that for the same corresponding flow veloeities
of Group 1 (with greater scour depths ratios for greater corresponding flow velocities); and
(iii) the maximum scour depths for shape 5 varied between 50% to 100% of that for the same
corresponding flow veloeities for Group 1 (with greater scour depths ratios for greater flow
velocities).

oss.« O.75m Q15m O.15m Q15m DJ5m NOSE FORM LEIIGTH- WIOTH SHAPE SHAPE COI!FFJCltNT
t--l I---l 1--1 I--l t--l
I-t RECTANGULAR d 1.00

~imt ~~-t
SEMICURCULAR q 0.90

ELLIPTIC 2:1 Cl 0.80

3: 1 q 0.75

LENTICULAR 2:1 Cl 0.80

1.CYLINDIIJCAL 2.ROOND 3.LENTICUUR 4.JO/JKOWSKI 5.OGIVAL 6. DOUBLE

3:7 cl 0.70

PIER NOSEO PIER PIER PIER PIER

PIER WITH WEB

Fig. 30. Fig. 31.

PAINTALand GARDE(1956) observed that the upstream nose of the pier pJays an important part
in the phenomenon of scour and that the rear of the pier had no effect. Some of their tests were
conducted on piers with upstream trianguJar noses having different apex angJes (15° tot 180°),
and their results indicated that maximum scour depth increased with increasing apex angJes. They
also found that the length of pier has a neglibible effect on maximum scour depths for their pier
shapes with a sediment size of 2.5 mm (the pier was aligned with flow direction).
LAURSEN (1960) found that the shape coefficient (defined as the ratio between scour dep th of a
particular shape to that ofthe rectangular shape) varies with the shape of pier as shown in Fig. 31.
SHENand SCHNEIDER (1970) tested nine pier shapes and found that (i) maximum scour depth
occurred at the downstream end of a sharp-nosed pier with a wedge nose angle of 30°, (ii) a ree-
tangular pier with roughened upstream face and roughened horizontal apron seemed to have no

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 243
effect on scour, and (iii) a rectangular pier on a flat footing supported on piers with a vertical lip
around the edge of the footing is an effective device for reducing scour (40-50%) if the top of the
flat footing with verticallip is placed at the proper elevation (see also Para. 7).
A pier consisting of two or more circular piers seems to be an attractive one where there is an
appreciable angle of attack (CHABERTand ENGLEDINGER 1956). According to DIETZ, who made
systematic tests with a system of 2 circular piers, dsm is not influenced by the angle of attack for
centre-line spacings larger than 3b.

Taking together all evidence, it is conc1uded that if the circular or the round-nosed pier is taken as
a reference, a reduction in the order of 25% in scour depth can be obtained by streamlining the
pier, although his positive effect disappears for angles of attack larger than 10 to 15°. On the other
hand, a rectangular pier gives 20 to 40% more scour than the reference pier.

6.5 lnfluence of angle of attack

The influence of an angle of attack has been studied by LAURSEN and TOCH(1956). See Fig. 32 for
an empirical relation for ka, which is the ratio of scour depth at an angle of attack ex: to that a zero
angle of attack. The results of CHABERTand ENGELDINGER (1956) for /Ib = 4 (see Fig. 10) and
VARZELIOTIS (1960) for llb = 6 (both rounded piers) are also given in this figure. It may be con-
cluded that the LAURSENand TOCHrelation gives a good estimate for ka. Some authors have
proposed the use of the projected width in their formulas (ARUNACHALAM (1965) and BARAK
(1974), but this gives an overestimate in most cases.
For piers consisting of circular piers with a spacing of more than 3b (DIETZ1973) and, of course,
for a single circular pier, no influence of an angle of attack has to be considered.

Multiplying Factors
6 - for
Angle of Attack

• CHABERT AND ENGEL-

DtNGERL/b.4
4 Tt-7"''-?.Lf-==--''''''-t--_ll.-+-===----I x VARZELIOTISL/b.6

Fig. 32.
30 45 60 75 90

6.6 Influence of sediment partiele distribution

To determine the influence of sediment partiele size distribution, a series of tests were conducted
by RAMEITEand NICOLLET(1971) with the same hydraulic conditions and the same circular piers
as those used for tests with uniform bed materiais. The sand for these tests was a 33% mixture
of the sands a, band c previously used, giving a rather straight grading curve between 0.8 and
3.2 mm.
Experimental data on scouring depth limits are presented as a function of flow velocity in Fig.
33, for a pier with a 10 cm diameter. Tests with materials of uniform size carried out for veloeities

244 Journalof Hydraulic Research/ Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

Fig. 33. PIER b=100mm
ds 2
b
____ • c

t
•, (X~~ x:
13~5---47.0~------~5~O------~6~O~------~~O~------~8~O--~85
- Ü cm Is

SIEVE SIZES mm

.-
SAND mm
SAND OF UNI- TEST WITHOUT
FORM rEXrURE NDURISHMENT
a 0.77- 1.12 0,94
b 1.62-2.24 I,Q3
c 2,77-3.17 2,Q7

WITHOUT
x-x NOURISHMENT
SAND MIXED SAND MIXTURE
TEXTURE
.-. WITH
NOIJRISHMENT
33"/. a • 33"/. b • 33"/. c

near incipient movement did not show any significant change in the bed upstream ofthe pier, and
it was therefore not necessary to feed bed load in the channel. For the mixture, the flow veloeities
corresponded to an intense movement of the fine elements with the formation of dunes in certain
cases. Two series of tests were conducted: the first one with additional sediment ensuring the
stability ofthe bed upstream, and the other without any feeding. The scouring depth was measured
in all cases with respect to the mean level ofthe bed upstream.
In Fig. 33, it can be seen that:
- For the mixture, the maximum scouring is obtained for a flow velocity in the vicinity of the
velocity giving the maximum scouring for the component b alone;
- the maximum scouring depth limit for the mixture is about 25% smaller than those obtained
with each of the components taken separately;
- in the case of the mixture, the variation in scouring depth for the flow veloeities giving a signifi-
cant bed load transport is always far below the limit values of ds obtained with the compo-
nents of the mixture; and
the scouring depths are greater in the absence of solid addition upstream, i.e., when the bed
load is provided only by the materials in place.
These results tend to demonstrate that the values of ds, around the beginning of bed load transport
for a material of uniform gradation cannot be exceeded if a certain particIe size gradation is
considered and that this conclusion is independent of the flow conditions.
EITEMA (1976) also studied the influence of bed material gradation on local scour, and found
that for ajD50 ratios above 0.3 scour depth decreases dramatically with ajD50 (a = standard
deviation of grain size distribution). These experiments were done at or slightly below the critical
velocity, so that no general conclusions can be drawn. The reduction in scour depth is due to
armouring effects in the scouring hole.

Breusers, Nico/let and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 245
6.7 Jnjluence of bed material density
Several authors have carried out experiments with various bed material densities (NICOLLET
(197Ia) and DIETZ (1972)) under identical conditions. The conclusion of these experiments is
that the density only has an influence on the maximum scouring depth. There is some tendency
for scour depth to increase with decreasing bed material density for identical U/Ue, but the use
of low material densities in model tests seems to be possible in cases where reproduetion of a
Froude number is necessary.

6.8 lnfluence of jlow duration

The limiting scour depth, on which this Report concentrates, will be reached only during floods of
a sufficiently long duration. For very short floods time may be important, because maximum scour
will occur on the receding flood. At this stage the river bed has been lowered to its lowest level
and with decreasing flow the general sediment transport is already greatly reduced so that clear-
water scour conditions prevail. Here the rate of scour development can have an important in-
fluence on the maximum scour depth (RAUDKIVI,1976, personal communication).

7 Scoor protection
After making the best choice of the pier shape for minimizing scour, additional arrangements can
be considered to prevent the formation of the scour hole, thereby permitting smaller foundation
depths. In the final analysis, it is the cost criterion which will allow a decision as to the suitability
of these arrangements.

The main scour proteetion systems which have yielded valid results are a caisson placed around
the pier and whose top is under the average level of the river bed, additional structures such as
smal! piles placed above the main pier, and mats of riprap (see Fig. 34).

Q. CIRCULAR PlliR WITH CAISSON b. RliCTANGULAR PlliR WITH CAISSON

SliCTION ALONG PIER AXIS SliCT/ON ALONG PIER AXIS

Fig. 34.

c. SMALL PILES

7.1 Foundation caisson

Engineering requirements may call for the founding of the pier on a caisson of larger dimensions.
In this field, CHABERT and ENGELDINGFR (1956) investigated a circular pier founded on a circular
caisson. Tests in an experimental channel enabled them to conclude that the best system appeared
to be a caisson having a diameter three times the diameter of the pier, and a top elevation about
half the diameter of the pier below the natural bed. This would reduce scour to only one-third of
that reached with the pier alone.

246 Journalof Hydraulic Research I Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

SIII:N and SCIINElUER(1970) invcstigated a variant of the caisson system in which the caisson
is surroundcd by a vcrtical lip (cut-olf sheet-pi Ie). The main idea was to contain the horseshoe-
vertex insiele au enelosure allowing it 10 escape downstream. These tests we re conducted on ree-
langular picrs, and undcr thc optimum conditioris of overall dimensions, it was possible to obtain
a bed level corrcspouding tn thc lip, ubovc and on thc sidcs of the pier, and even to get an accre-
tion downstrcarn.

This systcm made it possihlc to rcducc scour by hall'. However, the dimensions of the platform and
of thc lip in relation 10 thc pier and to the othcr parameters (flow and sediment) were not exa-
mined in a sullicicmly systcmatic marmer to cnablc general laws to be formulated on the valid
dimensions in thc general case. The lip ccrtuinly allows a reduction in the dimensions of the cais-
son. Rcduction of scour depth upro 50/.'. can bc obtained by placing a horizontal flat plate with
a diameter of at least 3 times the pier diameter sornc disrance (0.3 to O.4D) below the undisturbed
bed level (sec C11/\III!RTand ENUEU)IN(ilm 1956, T/\NAKA 1969, THOMAS 1967).

7.2 Addi! ioualst ruct (/1'(',1' placet! upstream : pi/es

Additional structurcs are somcrimes providcd to proteet the bridge piers from collision with
Iloating bodics : cxumplc of dolphins on nuvigable waterways.
CIIAIIERTand EN(iELDINGER(1956) investigated the installation of small piles above the pier
itscll', thc main purpose being to break the incident current and in th is way weaken the vortex
generating the crosion.
A large nurnbcr of para meters are nccessary for thc definition of such a structure: n piles of dia-
meter ä, spaeed e Irorn cach othcr, open according to the angle a. and a distance L from the pier
(live parameters). No general luw could be formulated concerning such a systern, but laboratory
tests have made it possiblc to observe scour rcductions as high as 50%. Similar reductions were
mcntioned by LEVI and Lu NA (1961) rol' a vertical strip placed at 2b upstream of an rectangular
pier. The optimum width of the strip was equal to the pier width b,
lt must be rncntioned, howcver, thut all these construetions were not tested under general
condinons. so rol' practical upplicutions special tests are udvised.

7.3 Riprap mats

The most usual method rol' rcmedying erosion is the dumping of stones into the scour hole. Many
nuthors have cxumincd this problom (sce list in H, W. SI-IEN"River Mechanics", 1972) and have
made rccornmcndations rcgarding the choice of matenals. Experience has shown that this type
of proteetion is thc only onc allowing scour to be totally prevenred.
CARSTI'NS(1966) uscd the Iact that the maximum velocity around the cylinder in two-dimensio-
nar 110wis approxirnutcly twicc the velocity in undisturbed flow in order to state that the flow vel-
ocity giving thc initial scour at the base of the pier must be half that corresponding to general bed
loud movement. The tests of S. HANCU(1971), conlirmed by RAMETfEand NICOLLET(1971), have
in [act shown that rol' a given sediment scour begins to appear at the foot of a circular pier at a
110w velocity cqual to hall' thc crincal velocity. irrespective of the diameter of the pier. These
rcsults make it possiblc io dctcrrninc thc wcight of riprup capable of prevenring any scour. In
Iact, in a rivcr whcrc thc extreme 1100d velocity is Vmax' it is enough to place boulders whose critical
velocity is Ve = 2V",nx' Veloeitics are delincd herc as mean-on-vertical valnes.

ltrcuscrs, Nicollct and Shcn / LU('l1l SCUll,.around cylindrical piers 247

The diameter of the boulders D as a function of Uc can he determined, for example, by means
of the ISBASH (1935) formula:

(37)

where e. and e denote the specific weight of the boulders and of the water. For e. = 2650 kg/m?
this reduces to Il, ~ 5-JD (m-units), which covers also tbe data given by MAZA and SANCHEZ
(1964) and NEILL (1973).
Tbe borizontal dimensions of the proteetion to prevent any scour sbould be at least 2 times the
width of tbe pier measured from the face of the pier. For tbe thickness it is suggested to take at
least three times tbe diameter of tbe stone. A good inverted filter is necessary to prevent leacbing
of the bed material (POSEY, 1974). Tbe top of the proteetion sbould be at some distance below tbe
normal bed level to prevent excessive exposure.

7.4 Conc/usion
Althougb valid results can be obtained by means of foundation caissons below tbe bed level or by
means of piles placed upstream of the main pier, no generallawas yet enables the dimensions of
tbese protective structures to be determined.
On the other band, an effective metbod of preventing any scour consists of providing a riprap
proteetion in which the stone dimensions, stone gradation and tbe location for proteetion can be
evaluated by estimating tbe river ,flow velocity.

8 Practical aspects for design

From tbe material presented it is concluded tbat the scour deptb may be described by a function
oftbe form:

d
zs =f {V=-,~,d sbape, angle of attack } (38)
b u, b

For practical applications tbe following relation is suggested:

(39)

(tbe constant bas been taken as 2.0 instead of 1.5 to be on the safe side).
in wbich

(40)

= 1 for U;?: 1.0

Ue-

248 Journalof Hydraulic Research / Journal de RecherchesHydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

f2 (shape) = 1.0 for circular and rounded piers
= 0.75 for stream-lined shapes
= 1.3 for rectangular piers

f3 (a, Ilb) - see Fig. 32

Suggestions for bottom protections to decrease the scour depth have been given in Chapter 7.
Generally speaking a flexible proteetion at some depth below the normal river bed will give the
best results. The necessary stone size for a given maximum mean velocity Umax can be obtained
from:
- -
o.: = O.5Uc= 0.42 J (}.-()
2g-(}-'D (41)

A good filter construction is necessary.

Rigid footings should be designed carefully and be placed at some depth below the level of
general scour.
If the footing is exposed to the flow, scour depth will increase due to the greater effective width.
Attention had to be given to the following special effects :
._ Debris and ice can increase the effective size of the piers and therefore the local scour.
_ Flashfloods can give a greater scour depth because of unsteady transport conditions. Also non-
monsoon floods can give relatively large scour depths (Min. of Railways India, 1968). LAURSEN
and TOCH(1956) suggest a 50% increase in design scour depth.
- Dunes and sand waves can change the angle of attack and increase the local depth near the pier.
SHEN,SCHNEIDER and KARAKI(1969) suggest adding 50% of the dune height to scour depth.
- A cohesive upper layer can be disturbed near the pi Ie and cause an increase in scour depth be-
cause upstream supply is not present (MELVILLE1975). The same effect is caused by vegetation
in a dry period.
- General scour due to degradation, contraction, shifting channels, or bed level variations during
floods has to be added to the local scour near the piers (see for example, NEILL1973).
- Intensive suspension of sediment in large fine-bed rivers may invalidate the emperical relations.
- Bad placement of riprap can provoke scour.

9 Discussion, research needs

Although it has been possible here to present a wealth of experimental data and useful design
relations have been developed, it cannot be said that all aspects of local scour near bridge piers
have been c1eared up. Theoretical developments are limited, and there is not much hope for a rapid
success in this complicated interaction of flow field and sediment transport. More experimental
data for large diameters piers ib > 0.5 m) in the full range of water depths (dolb = 0.5 to 4) and
sufficiently large flow velocity would be helpful to test the relations given.
Also prototype data are needed to improve the relations developed on the basis of model
experiments. The data would have to give all relevant information on geometry, bed material
and flow field, and are therefore difficult to obtain because maximum scour depth will oecur
during floods.
It is hoped that the present Report will encourage comprehensive studies on large-scale modeis.
Perhaps certain sites could be selected for more precise data collection, while other secondary
field sites could be chosen from which to obtain order-of-magnitude estimates on scour depth.

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers

Acknowledgement

The assistance of Prof. A. J. RAUDKIVI and Mr. C. R. NEILL in reviewing the manuscript and
giving suggestions for improvement is gratefully acknowledged.

References Bibliograpbie

MUNACHALAM,K., 1965, Scour around bridge piers; J. ofthe Indian Roads Congress (No. 2), August, pp. 189/210.
ARUNACHALAM, K., 1967, Discussion to Neill (1965); Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng., London, 36, pp. 402/404.
BAINFS,W. D., 1965, Effect of velocity distribution on wind Ioads and flow pattems on buildings; Wind effects on
buildings and structures; Vol. 1, H.M.S.O. London, England, pp. 197/224.
BASAK,V., Y. BASAMISLI and O. ERGUN, 1975, Maximum equilibrium scour depth around linear-axissquare cross-
section pier groups (in Turkish), Deviet su isteri genel müdür!ügü, Rep. No. 583, Ankara.
BATA, C., 1950, Erezija eke novesadskeg mastorskog stube (scour around bridge piers), Inst. za Vodoprivedu,
Jaroslav Cerni Beograd, Yugos1avia.
BoNASOUNDAS,M., 1973, Strömungsvorgang und KolkprobIem; Diss. T.U. München (Bericht no. 28, Versuchs-
anstalt für Wasserbau, T.U. München).
BREUSERS,H. N. C., 1965, Scouring around drilling platforms; Hydr. Res. 1964/65, IAHR Bulletin, 19, p. 276.
BREUSERS,H. N. c., 1970, Discussion on Shen et al (1969); Proc. ASCE, 96, HY 7, pp. 1638/1639.
BREUSERS,H. N. C., 1971, Local scour near offshore structures; Proc. Symp, on Offshore Hydrodynamics, Wage-
ningen, 1971, (also Delft Hydraulics Laboratory Publication No. 105).
CARSTENS,M. R., 1966, Sirnilarity Iaws for localized scour; Proc. ASCE 92, (HY 3), pp. 13/36.
CARSTENS,T. and H. R. SHARMA,1975, Local scour around large obstructions; Proc. 16th IAHR Congress, Sao
Paulo, 2, pp. 251/262.
CHABERT,J. and P. ENGELDINGER,1956, Etude des affouillements autour des piles de ponts; Lab. Nat. d'Hydr.
Chatou, Octobre.
CHrrALE, S. V., 1960, Discussion on Laursen (1960); Trans. ASCE, 127, pp. 191/196.
CoLEMAN,N. L., 1971, Analyzing laboratory measurements of scour at cylindrical piers in sand beds; Proc. 14th
IAHR Congress, Paris, 3, pp. 307/313.
VEIGADACUNHA, L., Discussion to Shen et al (1969); Proc. ASCE, 96, (HY 8), pp. 1742/1747.
DALTON,C. and F. D. MASCH,1968, Influence of secondary flow on drag forces; Proc. ASCE, 94, (EM 5).
DIETZ, J. W., 1972, Ausbildung von langen Pfeilern bei Schräganströmung am Beispiel der BAB-Mainbrücke Ed-
dersheim; Mitt. blatt der Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau, Karlsruhe, (No. 31), pp. 79/94.
DIETZ, J. W., 1973, Kolkbildung an einem kreiszylindrischen Pfeilerpaar; Die Bautechnik, 50,1973 (6), pp. 203/208.
DURANDCLAYE,A., A., 1873, Expériences sur les affouillements; Ann. des Ponts et Chaussées, Ier sérnestre, p. 467.
ETTBMA,R., 1976, Influence of bed material gradation on local scour. M. Eng. Thesis. Univ. of Auckland, School
of Engineering, Rep. no. 124, Auckland, New Zealand.
FLAMANT,A., 1900, Hydraulique, Paris, Béranger, pp. 281/282.
GRADOWCZYK,M. H., O. J. MAOGIOLOand H. C. FOLOUERA,1968, Localized scour in erodible bed channels;
J. Hydr. Res., 6 (4), pp. 289/334.
HANco, S., 1971, Sur Ie calcul des affouillements locaux dans la zone des piles de ponts, Proc. 14th IAHR Congress,
Paris, 3, pp. 299/313.
HINcu, S., 1965, Cu privire la calculul a fuierilor locale in zona pilelor poduIii; Hidrotehnica, Gospodärirea Apelor,
Meteorologia, 10 (1), pp. 9/13.
Highway Research Board, 1970, Scour at bridge waterways; Nat. Acad. of Sciences, Washington.
HJORTH,P., 1975, Studies on the nature of local scour. Dept. of Water Resources Eng. Univ. of Lund, Bull series A,
No. 46.
HUNG, C. S., 1968, A prelirninary study on the resistance of cylinders in open channel flow: unpublished report,
Colorado State University.
INGLIS, C. c., 1949, The behaviour and control of rivers and canals; Chapter 8, C.W.I. & N., Research Station
Poona, Res. Pub!. 13.
IsHIHARA,T., 1942, Experimental study of scour at bridge piers (in Japanese); Trans. Jap. Soc. of Civ. Eng., 28 (11),
pp. 974/1007.
JsBASH,S. V., 1935, Construction of dams and other structures by dumping stones into flowing water; Trans. Res.
Res. Inst. Hydro!. Leningrad, 17, pp. 12/66.

250 Journa/ of Hydraulic Research / Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no. 3

KEUTNER,c., 1932, Strörnungsvorgange an Strompfeilern von verschiedenen Grundrissformen und ihre Einwirkung
auf die Flüss-sohle ; Die Bautechnik, 10, (12), März.
KNEZERIA,B., 1960, Prilog proucaranju erozije oko mostovskih stubova; Inst. za vodoprivedu. Jaroslav Cerni
Beograd, Yugoslavia.
LARRAS,J., 1960,. Recherches expérimentales sur l'érosion au pied d'une piIe de pont; C. R. Acad. Sciences, 251 (3)
pp. 330/331.
LARRAS,J., 1963, Profondeurs maximales d'érosion des fonds mobiles au tour des piles en rivière; Ann. Ponts et
Chaussées, 133 (4), pp. 411/424.
LAURSEN,E. M. and A. TOCH, 1953, A generalized model study of scour around bridge piers and abutments; Proc.
IAHR Int. Hydr. Conf., Minnesota, pp. 123/131.
LAURSEN,E. M. and A. TOCH, 1956, Scour around bridge piers and abutments; Bull. No. 4, Iowa Highway Res.
Board.
LAURSEN,E. M., 1960, Scour at bridge crossings; Proc. ASCE, 86, (HY 2), pp. 39/54 (also 1962, Trans. ASCE, 127
(I), p. 166/209).
LAURSEN,E. M., 1970, Bridge design considering scour and risk; Proc. ASCE 96, (TE 2), pp. 149/164.
LECLERC,J. P., 1971, Recherches des lois régissants les phénomènes d'affouillement au pied des piles de pont. Pre-
miers résultats ; Proc. 14th Int. IAHR Congress, 3, pp. 323/330.
LEVI, E. and H. LUNA, 1961, Dispositifs pOUTreduire I'affouillement au pied des piles de pont; Proc. 9th IAHR
Congress, Dubrovnik, pp. 1061/1069.
MATIINGLY,G. E., 1962, An experimental study of the three-dimensionality of the flow around a circular cylinder;
Inst. of Fluid Dyn. and Appl. Math. Univ. of Maryland TN BN-295.
MAZA ALVAREZ,J. A. and J. L. SANCHEZBRIBIESCA,1964, Contribucion al estudio de la socavación local en piles
de puente; Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
MAZA ALVAREz, J. A. and J. L. SANCHEZBRIBIESCA,1966, Socavaci6n y protección al pie de pilas de puenta;
Segundo Congr. Latin-americo de Hidraulica, Caracas.
MAZA ALVAREZ,J. A., 1967, Erosión del cause de un rio por el cruce de un puente. Ing. Hidr. en México, 20 (1/2),
pp. 93/106.
MAZA ALVAREZ,J. A., 1968, Socavaci6n en eauces naturales; Inst. de Eng., Univ. Nac. de Mexicó, Publ. No. 177.
MELVILLE,B. W., 1975, Local SCOUTat bridge sites, Univ. of Auckland, School of Engineering, Auckland, New
Zealand, Rep. No. 117. ,
Ministry of Railways, India, 1967, 1968, 1972, Scour around bridge piers; Bridges and floods reports No. RBF 1,
2,3.
MOORE,W. L. and F. D. MASCH,1963, The influence of secondary flow on local scour at obstructions in a channel;
Proc. Federal Interagency Sed. Conf. Mise. Publ. No. 970, pp. 314/320.
NEILL,C. R., 1964a, Local scour around bridge piers; Res. Council of Alberta, Highway and River Eng. Div.
NEILL, C. R., 1964b, River bed scour, a review for bridge engineers; Res. Council of Alberta, Contr. No. 281 (also
Techn. pub!. No. 23, Canadian Good Roads Assoc., reprinted 1970).
NEILL, C. R., 1965, Measurements of bridge scour and bed changes in a flooding sand-bed river; Proc. Inst. Civ.
Eng., London, 30, pp. 415/436, Discussion in 36 (1967), pp. 397/421.
NEII.L, C. R., 1967, Mean velocity criterion for scour of coarse uniform bed material; Proc. 12th IAHR Congress
Ft. Collins, 3, pp. 17/25.
NEILL, C. R., 1970, Discussion on Shen et al (1969), Proc. ASCE, 96, HY5.
NEILL, C. R. (ed.), 1973, Guide to bridge hydraulies, Univ. of Toronto Press.
NICOLLET,G. and M. RAMETIE,1971a, Affouillements au voisinage de piles de pont cylindriques circulaires; Proc.
14th IAHR Congress, Paris, 3, pp. 315/322.
NICOLLET,G., 1971b, Déformation des lits alluvionnaires; affouillements autour des piles de ponts cylindriques,
E.D .. , Dep. Lab. Nat. d'Hydr., Chatou, HCj043/689.
NrcoLLET, G., 1975, Affouillements au pied des piles de pont en milieu cohesif; Proc. 16th IAHR Congress, Sao
Paulo, 2, pp. 478/484.
NORMAN,V. W., 1975, Scour at selected bridge sites in Alaska, U.S. Geol. Survey Water Resources Div., Anchorage,
Alaska.
PAINTAI.,A. S. and R. J. GARDE, 1965, Effect of inclination and shape of obstruction on local scour; Res. Journal,
Vol. 8, Univ. of Roorkee, Uttar Pradesh, India.
PETRYK,S., 1969, Drag on cylinders in open channel flows; Diss. Colorado State Univ. Ft. Collins, Colorado.
POSEY,C. J., 1949, Why bridges fail in floods; Civ. Eng., 19, pp. 42/90.
POSEY,C. J., 1974, Tests of scour proteetion for bridge piers; Proc. ASCE 100, HY12, Dec., pp. 1773/1783.
REHBOCK,TH., 1921, Transformations wrought in stream beds by bridge piers of various shapes of cross sections and
experiments on the scouring action of the circular piers of a skew raiIroad bridge across the Wiesent River
for the Nürnberg Railroad; see Hydraulic Laboratory Practice, Joho R. Freeman, ed. ASME, New Vork, 1929
ROMITA,P. L., 1960, Discussion on Laursen (1960); Proc. ASCE, 86, HY9, pp. 151/152.

Breusers, Nicollet and Shen / Local scour around cylindrical piers 251
ROPER,A. T., 1965, Wake region of a circular cylinder in a turbulent boundary layer ; M.Sc. Thesis, Colorado State
Univ. Ft. Collins, Colorado.
ROPER,A. T., 1967, A cylinder in a turbulent shear layer ; Diss. Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado.
ROPER,A. T., V. R. SCHNEfDERand H. W., SHEN, 1967, Analytical approach to local scour; Proc. 12th IAHR Con-
gress, Ft. Collins, 3, pp. 151/161.
ROSHKO,A., 1961, Experiments on the flow past a circular cylinder at a very high Reynolds number; J. Fluid Mech.,
10, pp. 345/356.
SCHNElBLE,D. E., 1951, An investigation of the effect of bridge-pier shape on the relative depth of scour; M.Sc.
Thesis, Dept. of Mechanics and Hydraulics, Graduate Coll. of the State Univ. of lowa.
SCHWIND,R. G., 1962, The three-dirnensional boundary layer near a strut; Gas turbine Lab. Rep. No. 67, Mass.
Inst. of Techn.
SHEN, H. W., V. R. SCHNEIDERand S. KARAKI, 1966a, Mechanics of local scour; Colorado State Univ., CER 66
HWS- VRS-SK22.
SHEN, H. W., V. R. SCHNEIDERand S. KARAKI,1966b, Mechanics of local scour; Supplement: Methods of reducing
scour. Colorado State Univ., CER 66 HWS 36.
SHEN, H. W., V. R. SCHNEIDERand S. KARAKI, 1969, Local scour around bridge piers; Proc. ASCE, 95, (HY6),
pp.1919/194O.
SHEN, H. W. and V. R. SCHNEIDER,1970, Effect of bridge pier shape on local scour; Prepr. No. 1238, ASCE Nat.
Meeting on Transport Eng., Boston, Mass., July.
SHEN,H. W., V. R. SCHNEIDERand S. KARAKI,1971, Closure 011 Shen et al (1969); Proc. ASCE, 97, HY 9.
SHEN, H. W., 1971, River Mechanics, Vol. 2, Chapter 23, Scour near piles; Ft. Collins.
TANAKA,S. and YANO, M., 1967, Local scour around a circular cylinder; Proc. 12th IAHR Congress, Ft. ColJins,
3, pp. 193/201.
TARAPORE,Z. S., i962, A theoretical and experimental determination of the eros ion pattems caused by obstructions
in an alluvial channel with particular reference to a vertical circular cylindrical pier; Ph. D. Thesis, Univ, of
Minnesota.
TAYLOR,E. S., 1965, The horseshoe-vortex ; silent movie film, B/W-Nos-FM 020, Encyclopedia Britannica.
THOMAS,A. R., 1962, Discussion on Laursen 1960; Trans. ASCE, 127 (1), p. 196/198.
THOMAS,Z., 1967, An interesting hydraulic effect occurring at local scour; Proc. 12th IAHR Congress, Ft. ColJins, 3,
pp. 125/134.
TISON, L. J., 1940, Erosion autour de piles de pont en rivière; Ann. des Travaux Publies de Belgique, 41 (6), pp.
813/871.
TISON, L. J., 1961, Local scour in rivers; J. Geoph. Res., 66 (12), p. 4227/4232.
TORSETHAUGEN, K., 1975, Lokalerosjon ved store konstruksjoner Modellforsek (Norvegian); Vassdrags-og Havne-
laboratoriet, Trondheim.
VARZELIOTIS, A. N., 1960, Model studies of scour around bridge piers; M.Sc. Thesis Dept. of Civil Eng., Univ. of
Alberta.
VAUTIER,E. W., 1972, Flow around a cylindrical pier with scour hole format ion ; M .E. Thesis, Civil Eng. Dept.
Univ. of Auckland, New Zealand.
WHITE, W. R., 1975b, Scour around bridge piers in steep streams; Proc. 16th IAHR Congress, Sao Paulo, 2, pp.
279/284.
WHITE, W. R., 1975b, The design of bridge piers for steep streams in Jamaica; H.R.S. Wallingford, EX 690.
YARNELL,D. L. and F. A., NAGLER,1931, A report upon a hydraulic investigation of North Carolina standard rein-
forced concrete bridge pier, No. P-401-R and modifications thereof; Iowa Inst. of Hydr., Res., Univ. of Iowa
Iowa City.
ZAGHLOUL,N. A. and J. A. MCCORDQUODALE, 1975, A stable numerical model for local scour; J. Hydr. Res. 13 (4),
pp. 425/444.

252 Journalof Hydraulic Research 1 Journal de Recherches Hydrauliques 15 (1977) no, 3

 RIJKSWATERSTAAT - DELTA DIRECTORATE
AND

DELFT HYDRAULICS LABORATORY

PUBLICATION NO. 64

CLOSURE OF ESTUARINE CHANNELS IN TIDAL REGIONS

BY
J.J.DRONKERS, H.N.C. BREUSERS, J.J.VINJÉ, W.A. VENIS, F.SPAARGAREN

JUNI 1967

SERIES 1 : FLUID MECHANICS

Group 16 . Unsteady motion: waves, tides, oscillations, etc. of fluids

Section 16.32: Tidal motion in river mouths and estuaries

SERIES 2 : EXPERIMENTAL HYDRAULIC RESEARCH

Group 28 : Experiments on movement of sediments

Section 28.80: Local scour-general
Closure of estuarine channels in tidal regions

I. Considerations on ftuid motion in and around cIosure gaps

by dr . .J. J..Dronkers

D. Two-dimensional local scour in loose sendiments

by ir. H. N. C. Breusers

lIl. Local scour caused by vortex streets

by ir. J. J. Vinjé

IV. Behaviour of dumping material when exposed to currents

and wave action
by ir. W. A. Venis

V. Results of model tests applied to an actual project

by ir. F. Spaargaren

R,print from 'DB \NGENIEUR', 1968,~ 44, 47 and 50.

 627.223.2

Closure of estuarine channels in tidal regions I)

I. Considerations on fluid motion in and around closure gaps
by dr. J.J. Dronkers

Summary: The closure of the final gaps is the most difficult part of the construction of the dams in
the 'Delta plan' of the Netherlands. In this contribution various factors concerning the water motion
in closure gaps are discussed in general terms. These factors are: the tidal motion in the region, the
changes of veloeities in and near the closure gap during the closure period, and the way in which they
can he computed. Remarks are made about the interaction of water motion and soil mechanics.

1. Introduction soi! properties; consequently, we can never be certain about the

effect of fluid motion on soil displacements during channel
A primary consideration when closing an estuary is the inter- closures. This uncertain factor must be taken into account
action of water and soil. Fluid and soil mechanics figure pro- when planning channel closures and it is important that our
minently in studies on channel closures. For the fluid motion studies be aimed at limiting this uncertainty as much as possible.
causes sediment transport which is followed by changes in the The main subject of this article, is determining the fluid
structure and pattem of the bedprofile, and this in turn affects motion during closure of a channel. Since lack of space does not
the flow pattem. When a channel is closed the fluid motion in permit of a more thorough analysis of studies on soil mechanics,
the area undergoes a drastic change, which affects the bed and we cannot do more than give some further general information
sometimes also the sides of the channel. This influence does not regarding these studies at the end of the paper.
only make itself feit at the surface. but also in the deeper layers
of the ground masses. Whenever changes in pore-water pressure
occur in ground water as a result of changing levels of the bed 2. Remarks on tidal movement in general
and changes in water pressure, the ground-water may start
moving. Consequently, changes will take place in effective When an estuary is to be closed off from the sea, or a dam is to
stresses, which in turn may cause the ground masses to shift. be built splitting a tidal area into two parts - as is the case
This interplay of movements is of a complex nature. It would with the Volkerak and Grevelingen dams - it is necessary first
be a far less difficult subject if only we could get to know more of all to investigate how such a construction will affect the
about the soi! properties that occur in a given situation. In this existing tidal movement (fig. I). The boundaries ofthe area thus
respect there is agreat difference with the knowledge we can affected then determine the tidal area involved in the hydraulic
acquire of fluid motion. For water is a homogeneous substance, calculations for closure. In the first place the initial and fmal
whereas soil as a rule is not. In soil properties, such as effective fluid motion pattems must be studied, that is to say the pattem
granular stresses, pore-water pressure and initial density, irre- . before and the pattem after construction of the barrier dam,
gular changes may take place, and variations of this kind are followed in turn by the pattems that may be expected in the
very difficult to determine accurately by measurement. In the transition period.
case of water it is the motion which interests us most and this The initial pattem must be determined as accurately as pos-
can be measured sufficiently accurately to be of practical use. sible by measuring the vertical tide and the tidal velocities, after
Micromotion, however, which occurs in turbulent fluid motion which tidal calculations can be made to determine the necessary
and which is of a statistical nature, is also difficult to determine hydraulic parameters or factors, such as Chézy's coefficient,
with the required measure of precision. and to verify and control the schematization. There are various
As a result of our inadequate knowledge of soil properties, methods of determining the final pattem, such as tidal com-
it is difficult to predict the interaction between fluid motion and putation, an electric model or a hydraulic model. To a greater
') Engelse weergavf van de voordrachten gehouden tijdens het
or lesser degree, they are all based on a schematization of
Symposium over 'Geulafsluitingen in Getijgebieden' onder auspiciën reality. In order to verify this schemátization, tests aJso have
van de Afdeling voor 'Bouw- en Waterbouwkunde van het K.I.v.l. to be made under the existing conditions. Tidal calculations and
op 7 juni 1967 te 's-Gravenhage. Aangekondigd in De Ingenieur 1967, an electric mode! can then be regarded as a mathematica! mode!
nr. 20, blz. A 317. in which all the determining factors are indicated in figures. In

1
 initial and the final pattems. This gives rise to the question
whether we could use a corresponding linear interpolation if

Q. we narrow down the cross-profile at the place in question. As a

rule this is not so. Initially the fluid motion in the tidal region
changes more slowly than it does at the final stage.
At first the total amount of water flowing through the closure
gap at ebb and flood decreases only very slowly so that the
velocity of the water in the gap increases in proportion as the
gap becomes narrower. This means that changes in the fluid
motion in the immediate vicinity of the place where the gap is
closed make themselves feit at once. Changes in the tidal area
further away from the closure appear only slowly. Usually it is
not before the profile is reduced to about 1- that any changes in
the tide become really noticeable in the whole area.

3. Tbe water motion in tbe c1osure-gap area

The flow of water through one or more closure gaps of course

depends on the tide on both sides, which in turn is influenced
by the size of the closure gap. The water from the side with the
Fig. 1. Delta region, completed dams and dams under construction highest water-level then flows to the closure gap at an ever
are denoted. The area within the square is given in greater detail in greater rate. This is known as the acceleration zone.
fig. 4. If there is a broad crest, i.e. if the breadth of the crest equals
or exceeds the depth (d) above the sill of the closure gap, the
the hydraulic model on the otber hand, certain information, acceleration will in any case continue as far as the downstream
such as elements of resistance, can be inserted on a more expe- end of the sill (fig. 2). If the flow is subcritical, meaning that it
rimental basis, and profiles of the channels can he reproduced has a velocity of less 'than .J9d, it may even he fastest at the
in more detail, depending on the scale. In this way the model downstream side of the sill. This is due to the contraction which
can reproduce the fluid motion at certain points more accurately the flow undergoes as it passes tlrrough the closure gap. It may
than would he possible when using either of the former methods. cause such strong trains of vortices at the downstream side of
For this reason severai large-scale tidal models have been built the actual closure gap that the gap itself is extended to the down-
at the Hydraulics Laboratory at Delft (horizontal ratio 1:300, stream side and even becomes narrower. This phenomenon also
vertical ratio 1:100). Such models are obviously very expensive depends on the height of the sill in relation to the height of the
and we must he sure that the details they produce are important bed beyond the downstream end of the closure gap. If there is a
enough for our research before deciding to build them. high sill the water can disperse into the depth. Moreover, the
For all practical purposes we are able to caJculate the tidal eddy with horizontal axis (counter-current) which may occur
motion accurately enough in rivers and channels. We refer to on the downstream slope of the sill and beyond it can also be
such calculations as one-dimensional, disregarding the dimension of influence. The measure of roughness at the sill also plays an
of time. Our knowledge and experience of how to compute the important part in this phenorncnon.
tides in a sea area, which is of a two-dimensiona! nature on the When critica! flow occurs with a velocity equal to .J9d, the
horizontal plane, is increasing rapidly. A new metbod has been maximum velocity will occur at the downstream end of the crest
developed by Leendertse. ofthe sill.
It is obvious that such computations at the seaside with If the sil! has a sharp crest (fig. 3) the maximum velocity will
respect to conditions before and after completion of the Delta occur a few metres beyond the top. If there is a smooth sill,
Project are also very important in conneetion with the closure there may be what is called a divingjet, in which the water shoots
ofthe various estuaries. We have already obtained some useful down the side slope of the sill.
results. Naturally, computations of this kind will also affect As the water flows out of the closure gap it slows down. This
future requirements for tidal modeis. takes place in the deceleration zone. There is a strong building-up
In order to determine the final flow pattern, we must introduce of eddies and increased turbulence as a result. A distance away
certain boundary conditions. This involves no extra difficulty. from the closure gap, however, the fluid motion of the tide
However, it is doubtful whether a tidal model showing the bed reverts to normal. This distance depends on the measure in which
shape as it is at present can still be used after the enelosure has the velocity of the water decreases until anormal distribution
been completed. over the whole tide channel is restored.
In most cases it will he possible to do so until immediately The area in and around the closure gap, in which the velocity
after the complete closure, provided this is accomplished within distribution over the profiles differs from the distribution hefore
a short period lasting not more than a few months and provided the closure gap was formed, will henceforth he referred to simply
that the preparatory work done previously has not greatly as the closure-qap area. We now propose to concentrate especi-
affected the topography ofthe bed. However, important changes ally on this area. The water level in this area is lowest at the
may occur during the closure period, usually in a limited area place where acceleration changes to deceleration. Since at ebb
in the immediate vicinity of the dam. the water flows in the opposite direction to that at flood and
When the final tidal pattem has been computed it will gene- since it is subjected to about the same force in each case, we may
rally he found that the tidal pattems expected to occur during assume that the areas on either side of the closure gap are of
the ciosure period correspond to interpolations hetween the equal extent (fig. 4).

2
 etosure - gap area

Fig. 2. Example of velocity distributions in the vertical plane in a closure-gap area in case of a sill with a horizontal crest.

the water may remain stronger than before over a distance of

hundreds of metres. This depends on the shape of the closure
gap. It is one of the aims of the model studies to determine the
shape of the gap in such a way that the cIosure-gap area is as
small as possible and the development of turbulence is weakest.
The flow pattem also depends on the position of the cIosure
gap in relation to the original channel. Besides acceIeration or
veloci1y in mh deceleration there mayaIso be cross-currents, and it is very
important to site the closure gap in such a way as to reduce them
Fig. 3. Example. of velocity distributions in the vertical plane in
case of a sill with a sharp crest. to a minimum. Cross-currents tend to intensify the contraction
in the closure gap and should be avoided as far as possible.
The forces of resistance acting on the motion of the water
are subject to aIteration, depending on the changed profile of
the closure-gap area during the closure operation and the
materials present for the proteetion ofthe bed.
Provided the river-bed is practically horizontal, the flow in
the original channel can be regarded as one-dimensional with
respect to both magnitude and direction. In that case the dis-
tribution of the velocity in the vertical plane, as well as the
turbulent motion as a result of which the velocity continually
undergoes slight changes, are disregarded in tidal computations.
The fluid motion in the closure-gap area is said to be two-
dimensional if, aIthough there is no change in the direction of
the current, there are important changes of velocity in the ver-
tical plane as a result of the area being narrowed. This usually
happens when raising the sill, the closure gap narrows more or
less evenly along its whole length. If, however, the narrowing
varies from one place to another or if it is effected from the
extremities of the closure gap, causing a contraction of the
flow pattem, the direction of the current also changes over the
closure gap and we then speak of a three-dimensional flow
pattem.
There may be important side-effects in such two- and three-
dimensional flow pattems. If the sill in the closure gap is high
enough this may produce an eddy (counter-current) against
and behind the downstream slope of the sill; the rotating fluid
motion in it has a horizontal axis at right angles to the direction
Fig. 4. Locations of boundaries of the hydraulic and the cornputa- of the current then. This means that rotation takes place in the
tional model of 'Volkerak': the closure-gap area (see aJso square in
vertical plane.
fig. I).
If contraction is caused by narrowing the closure' gap at the
ends it may produce trains of vortices in the closure gap, parti-
It is difficult to indicate the exact boundary of this area, since cularly at discontinuous transitions where the vortices actually
it expands as the velocity in the closure gap increases in relation originate. These trains ofvortices continue into the deceleration
to the velocity outside the closure-gap area. It should be visualiz- area; they may be very stable and screen off the main flow
ed as a wide strip facing the closure gap, for instanee 300 metres from the area downstream of the completed part of the dam
wide, or in exceptional cases 1000 m, running parallel with the (fig. 5). The vortices are continually being created at the source.
dam, with flow veloeities of three to four metres per second in The trains of vortices also may set the water downstream of the
the gap and for instanee one metre per second outside the cIo- completed part of the dam in motion, which is apt to cause
sure-gap area. The extent of this area depends on the shape and counter-currents in that region, rotating in the horizontal plane,
dimensions of the gap. Outside of th is area the turbulence of with the highest velocity on the periphery.

3
 part of dosure dam Fig. 5. Examples of velocity-distributions in the horizontal plane
in the closure-gaparea of 'Volkerak' before and after placingof ten
out of twelveflow caissonson the sill.

part d dosure dam

VOLKERAK EEE3 cai',sons

velocitydistrlbJtion
aflee piacing of 10 flow
cassens
veloeities befere
placing of caissons

- eddy street
flow Iines

Often, however, part of the flow pattem in the middle of the results are often inaccurate. Further velocity measurements in
closure gap can safely be regarded as two-dimensionaI. This is the closure-gap area will be used mainly for purposes of study,
the case, for instance, in gaps that are to be cIosed with caissons. for instanee to determine the distribution of veloeities and the
There will of course be a three-dimensional flow pattem at the degree ofturbulence in the closure-gap area. It is also important
extremities. to know the distribution of veloeities in counter-currents and
Changes in the bed topography and in the tide while the dam eddies.
is being built must of course be followed closely and compared
with forecasts based on calculations and on conditions observed
during previous c1osures. Should the actual conditions he 4. Remarks concemiag the forces wbich detenoine the equations
found to ditTer from the forecasts, the latter can then be revised for the currents flowing thr!»ugha c10suregap
in accordance with this more exact information for the further
procedure in closing the gap. . In a one-dimensional flow pattem where the bed is practically
Itis particularly important to see that the gauges for these tide horizon tal the usual equations for long waves apply, whereby
measurements are put in the right places; they should be capable the average velocity at any time in a cross-section of the river is
of continuous automatic registration so that we can also obtain taken as the basis for all computations. In the equation offorces
information about abnormal conditions, for instanee in gales. the inertia forces then balance the gravity (slope) and frictional
Preferably, the gauges should be placed at the boundaries ofthe forces.
closure-gap area, in line with the channel. If important changes Two terms can he distinguished in the inertia forces; viz.:
in the two-dimensional flow pattem are expected in wide c10- the force which at a given spot depends on the change of velocity
sure gaps (with a width of say 1000 metres), it is advisable to with respect to time, and the Bemoulli term, indicating the
place at least two gauges, on each side of the cIosure gap, -both force at any given moment as a result of the variation in velocity
on the ebb side and on the flood side. Our calculations will then along the flow lines. In the case referred to above, where the
have to be made in such a way that it will he possible to correlate bed is horizon tal, the velocity going in the direction of the flow
the results with the information thus obtained about the ver- line changes due to the filling or emptying of the tidal prism
tical tide. Velocity measurements should he made, if possible, situated alongside the channel during the tide.
in the cross-profiles where the veloeities are highest, since these In theclosure-gap area, the Bernoulli force is also influenced
velocities, combined with the flow volume, are the factors which by the height and shape of the sill which deflects the direction
determine the degree of scouring. of the flow lanes. The flow and consequently the forces exerted
If possible, velocity measurements should be made in a cross- on the fluid motion near the downstream slope of the base may
section above the sill, where there is only limited contraction. be atTected by a counter-current. However, if there are broad
Measurements in areas with eddies are difficult to make and the crests we may safely assume that the BemoulJi forces at the sill

4
predominate over those at the beginning of the acceleration b = storage width
area. If the channel is narrowed, for instanee by raising the sill, Q = the total flow through a transverse section
this becomes even more mark ed. In view of the comparatively p density
limited spaee covered by the closure-gap area the influence of 9 = gravitational aceeleration
the storage in th at area on the magnitude of the Bernoulli term t = time.
can usually be disregarded in view of the far greater effect of In equations (3) and (4) the shear stresses due to turbulenee
the accelerated fluid motion caused by narrowing the closure are taken account of by adding the terms comprising a coeffi-
gap. This even applies to the local inertia term. cient ç. The coefficient ç depends generally on x and z; it is
If the depth in the closure gap changes, or if the gap is narrow- here assumed that the variation of ç is slow in comparison
ed, either or both factors have a steadily increasing influence on with the other factors in the equations. Even equations (3) and
the value ofthe Bernoulli terms. In addition, the frictional forees (4) are simplified equations for the study of the influence of
increase, due to the varied velocity distribution as the water turbulence and eddies on the water motion. No eddies are
fTowsover the sill and due to the roughness of any bed proteetion produeed in a frictionless fluid if they are not already present.
there may beoIfthe sill is high, the friction is generally strongest In view of the difference in scale between x and z, the coeffi-
at the sill, in which case estimates can be made of its magnitude. cient ç wiU be found to have a different value in the two direc-
However, if the closure gap is deep, the influence of friction is tions. Initial (t = 0) and boundary values, for instanee the
usually negligible. The situation in the deceleration area defined vertical tide on either side of the closure gap, must also be
above is even more complicated. In that area the effect of the added to equations (1) and (2). So far the case of one-dimensional
Bernoulli force is the opposite of what it is in the acceleration motion. However, boundary values for the velocity components
area. However, its value is greatly affected by the fact that the at the bottom of the river and the water surfaee must also be
increased turbulence causes a dissipation of energy. The in- added, besides the vertical tide on either side of the closure gap,
fluence of this strongly increased turbulence can be regarded to equations (3), (4) and (5) for the two-dimensional motions.
as an extra friction to which the fluid motion is subjected. The equations must be solved in each particular case by a
Moreover, it depends on the kind of bed proteetion and changes numerical method, using a computer. A 'more simple case
in profile due to scouring, etc. The magnitude of this resistance (lU (lW
occurs if we may assume -=0 and-=O, thus calcu-
must be determined empirically from slope measurements of ()t (Ir
the water surface. This is one ofthe objects of laboratory research lating a stationary current example, for instanee supposing that
on the subject of closure gaps. there is a current with given water levels on either side of the
closure gap. For the three-dimensional case we must consider
The above was a brief survey of the factors which influence the
the well-known three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations.
flow of water through closure gaps. We shall now give the
Equations (3) ... (5) are a particular case. It is very remarkable
equations for a subcritical flow, the various terms of which
that we are able to deal with the problem in practice much
we have discussed above. Critical flow will not be discussed
more simply, when the closure gap has a sufficiently small area.
here; in that case the equations are quite different.
A simple formula may be drawn up for determining the flow
volume through the closure gap. The formula which is a sim-
5. Discussion of the formulae plification of equation (I), is based on the fact that in the closure
gap the Bernoulli term predominates over all other terms in the
The equation of motion for the one-dimensional fluid motion equation of motion, although the friction value, which is also
is as follows: proportional to u2 may be important (see section 4). This is
the case when, for instance, the velocity in the gap exceeds
bU ou
-+u-= -g--~,
bh glulu (1) 2 metres per second and in the region outside the closure area
bt bX bX C2a the velocity is about one metre per second or less.
and the equation of continuity is: The velocity also varies across the width of the closure gap,
for instanee if the water level above the closure gap has a
bQ + b bh = 0 (2) transversal slope, as is often the case in broad channels. In
()x ot practice we are mainly interested in two magnitudes, namely
The analogous equations for the two-dimensional fluid motion the maximum velocity in the gap (u2 maJ, and the maximum
in the length and the vertical directions are: total mass of water (Q) flowing through the closure gap per
second: or more precisely the discharge per unit ofwidth (Qjb)
(lU+ullU +W Ilu =_~ IIp +~ (1l2U+ (12:) (3) where b is the width of the channel. These values are important
III ~x Ilz (} (Ix (} (lX2 Ilz in conneetion with scouring. If a gap is closed with caissons
the change of the veloeities at the turns of the tide (slackwater
(lW+ Ilw +W Ilw =_!(lP +g+~ ((l2W + (l2W) (4) periods) is of great importance.
(11 (Ix (lZ (} Ilz (} (lX2 (lZ2
The total mass of water (Q) is one of the factors which also
arid the equation of continuity: determine the tidal motion at both sides of the closure gap.
Let u be the average velocity of the current across the closure
(lU+ (lW=0 (5) gap over the flow profile (A) at a point of time t.
(Ix (lZ According to the simplifications which are based on the
In these and further expressions u and w denote velocity com- discussions in section 4, the following very simple relation
ponents in x and z direction (z is in the vertical direction); can then be deduced from equation (I): u = J 2g!J.h, if !J.h
h = height of water level is the drop in head across the closure gap, while further Q =
a = depth AJ2ifJï. There are, however, several difficulties involved in
C = coefficient of Chézy applying it. We know the total profile of the closure gap as it
A = area of cross-section was designed. However, in order to detennine Q we must know

5
the etTective flow profile, since part of the closure gap may not of the overflowing water. The properties of the subgrade which
be etTective due to contraction and in the further part the consists mainly of sand in the Netherlands Delta area, are
veloeities vary. Moreover, the resistance of the sill influences highiy important in this aspect.
the water motion etc. (see section 4). The etTect of this is The initial density of the sand is one of the determining
absorbed by a coefficient J.L. Moreover we should determine factors in problems of this kind and is a measure of its looseness.
the drop in head not merely across the closure gap itself but There seems to be a critical value, meaning the porosity
also across the entire closure gap area, at the edges of belonging to the so-called critical density (fig. G).
which gauges will have been placed. It is extremely difficult If the value of the percentage ofvoids in nature is greater than
to measure the level of water in the closure gap itself. In view the critical value the sand is said to be loosely packed. If shear
of this, J.L is replaced by a new coefficient tp; which includes stresses are exerted on sand of this kind its volume decreases.
the drop of head over the acceleration and deceleration areas. As the pores are full of water, pressure of it wiUbuild up inside
The formula finally applied is: the mass of sand, diminishing the etTective stresses and thus
reducing the shear resistance. Not until sufficient water is
Q = cpA'~2g (hl-h2)
drained out, the pore-water pressure decreases, enabling the
The maximum velocity in the closure gap at an instant t then is: etTectivestresses as weil as the shear resistance to build up once
more. The shear resistance in this period of high pore-water
u = cp'~2g (hl - h2) pressure is low and as a result sliding or even liquefaction may
occur in the sand body. It is obvious that scourings reduce the
hl (t) and h2 (t) are the water-levels measured at the gauges; resistance of the construction base to sideways sliding. Sudden
their ditTerence is positive, otherwise they are taken in the váriations of overburden pressure, caused for instanee by the
reversed way (flood or ebb) placing of caissons, may be particularly risky, since over-
The value of cp' ditTers from that of cp as a result of the dis- pressured pore-water has no opportunity of flowing away in
tribution ofthe veloeities across the closure gap. the short time available, so that stresses in the water do not
The values of cp and tp' are unknown when planning the diminish quickly enough.
closing of a gap. The initial calculations are therefore made The same thing occurs if there is a sudden sliding in the slope
for the cross-section of the closure gap, in which cp and cp' are of a scouring pit beyond the sill.
taken to equal one, unless these values are known from com- If however the percentage of voids equals or exceeds the
parabie data gained from experience in the past and can be critical value there is less to fear, since in that case the volume
introduced. ofvoids increases as soon as a sheár stress is exerted. The shear
We then calculate the values of Q for various A'-values. resistance also increases as aresuit.
The coefficients cp and cp' in this formula are determined by Hence, when making a design it is very important to know
means of tests on a closure gap model at the hydraulics labo- the critical density; this is deterrnined in the Delft Soil Mecha-
ratory. The ratio of such models is I :30 to I :60. They are not nies Laboratory. The test in question consists in deterrnining
distorted. the change in volume of a dry sample of sand obtained by
The values of cp, which were originally determined for A', drilling, while subjecting it to a shear stress increasing from
belong to profile area tpA', As regards the computation of Q, zero on. The initial density in the sand sample is varied in
such computations are nowadays generally done by computer. order to find out what porosity of the sand stiUjust shows no
By this method anormal tide calculation is combined with a decrease in volume when subjected to this test.
calculation of the flow through the closure gap.
The Delft Soil Mechanics Laboratory has developed a method
The values of cp and cp' vary for each closure, whether it be a for measuring the porosity or compaction in nature based on
closure using caissons or a gradual closure by building up a comparing the specific electrical resistance of the soil (which
barrier dam by dumping. During the closure, too, the values actually consists of sand-particles and water), and the electrical
change. resistance of the ground-water proper. The measuring device
A special case is the one in which part of the gap is closed with is fixed either on or in a sounding rod. A similar kind of measu-
open sluice caissons. In that case the values of cp and cp' for the
open sluice caissons are very ditTerent from those in the stretch
ofthe closure gap which is still fully open (see fig. 5). In the open ,hear stress
.part cp is considerably high and differs little from I. In the oepn very loosely r
packed
caissons cp' has a value of about 0.8 or even lower, depending loo,ely packed weUpacked
on the manner of inflow into the caisson. The values of cp and cp' --;
must be determined by means oflaboratory tests.

6. Considerations on soH-mechanicalproblems

We pointed out at the beginning of this artiele that the in-

creasing power of fluid motion can produce disturbances in the
ground mass. A direct result of the increased water veloeities
is the occurrence of scouring which will be described iri more
detail in the ensuing article.") Such scouring is liable to be a
great danger to the ground body on which the closure dam is decrease in volume increa'e in volume
being built, even if the dam itself can stand up to the pressure
Fig. 6. The relation between shear stress and volume, under the effect
2) Cf. this issue, p. B 133. of external forces on the sand sample, for different initial densities.

6
rement takes place in the laboratory by measuring separately nological University, Delft, on highly schematized examples in
the specific e1ectrical resistance of the saturated sand proper for which the soil is taken to be an elastic, isotropie medium,
different degrees of compaction, and that of the water. while the scouring pit is taken to be an are of a circle in a semi-
In th is way a relation is determined between porosity on the infinite region.
one hand and electrical magnitudes on the other, after which the
values measured in the field can be translated into a percentage Finally the following remarks are made. It is obvious that the
of voids. After this initial density has thus been determined parameters used in the practical computations of the water
we can compare it with the critical density. motion and soil mechanics determine only roughly the complex
It is obvious that it is not only the greateror lessercompactness circumstances in nature. For instanee the principles of turbu-
of a sand body that counts, but particularly the degree to which lence are not introduced into the equations of water motion
shear stress variations are liable to occur and the rapidity with and the variations in the components of stresses and tensions
which they may erop Up. This poses a problem, since it means are not considered in soil mechanics. Otherwise the theory of
that one has to know both the initia I stresses in the ground tensors and probability must be applied. Still the Iimitations
masses and the stress conditions after changes in surcharge of the results of practical applications in soil mechanics are
have occurred as a result of the closure works, caused by the greater than those in case of water motion. Especially in soil
construction of a sill and by scouring effects. Efforts are being mechanics tendencies are found instead of suflicient conditions.
made at the moment to work these problems out by way of For the time being we have to accept these Iimitations for the
computation. Calculations of this kind are made at the Tech- practical solution of design problems.

627.223: 532.582

11.Two-dimensional local scour In loose sediments

by ir. H. N. C. Breusers, research engineer Delft Hydraulics Laboratory

Summary: The conformity and time scale of local scour is studied from model experiments. A description of the
tlow pattern in the scouring hole and the development of the scouring process with time is given. A time-scale
relationship is derived from experiments with a wide range of scales. The intluence of the velocity profile and
turbulence intensity on the scouring process is demonstrated with some examples.

1. Introduetion

The study of scour and the consequential erosion behind struc-

tures is necessary in order to safeguard the stability.
In a number of cases structures have failed due to local scour, To solve these problems investigations with models present
e.g. around bridge piers. possibilities, provided the time scale is established, viz. the
In the Delta area in the Netherlands this problem is further appropriate correlative interpretation of actual and model time.
aggravated by the danger of landslides, because many sand The description of the scouring process and the time scale
layers are loosely packed. (confined to the contemplation of a two-dimensional case) is
The measures required for proteetion against scouring are the subject of this paper.
costly and consequently a careful design is of the utmost im-
portance.
In case of small structures Iike river-weir and bridge piers the 2. Problem
knowledge of the maximal scour in the equilibrium situation is
usually sufficient and good results are obtained m a geometri- The large amount of empirical knowledge on sediment transport
cally similar model, provided that the ratio of bottom shear of non-cohesive material in uniform flow, justifies a study on
stresses in model and prototype is the same as the ratio of the the value of the parameters involved in this type of flow. Their
critica 1 shear stresses of the bottom materials in model and relationships may be reduced to arelation between the rate of
prototype. transport, the sediment characteristics and the bottom shear
Critical shear stress is the shear stress at which sediment stress.
movement starts. This simplification is due to the fact that the bottom shear
With large structures Iike the Haringvliet discharge sluices stress determines the structure of the turbulent flow for a
however, the time necessary to reach the equilibrium scour greater part.
depth is very extensive. For closure of an estuarine channellike Determination of shear stresses in a scour hole is difficult due
the Brouwershavensche Gat the scouring process is even slow to the fluctuating character of the flow; even if an average shear
as compared to the construction speed in question. In such stress is obtained, this value does not govern the average rate
cases knowledge of the time history of the scouring process is of sediment transport. It is necessary therefore to use other
of paramount importance. quantities which determine the sediment transport. Once a

7
relationship between these quantiries and the transport has been 3. Flow pattems
obtained a second step is necessary: the determination of these
characteristic quantities from the given flow geometry. Generally Although a study of the flow pattern gives no direct solution it
the flow geometry is so complicated that a purely theoretical may be helpful to get some insight and also for practical pro-
solution is impossible. Only a model experiment (with all the blems like determination of the required length of the bottorn-
difficulties of scale effects and limitations in instrumentation) proteetion. It is known that in decelerating turbulent flows high
can provide the required information. To overcome these turbulence-intensities are possible, due to the formation of
difficulties it is necessary to predict the scouring directly from layers with great velocity gradients. This effect is very strong in
the movable bed models. an abrupt expansion (see fig. 1). In this figure are shown the
distribution of the mean velocity and the turbulence intensity
For problems in which the time element for development ofthe
(r.m.s. deviation) as measured with a propeller current-meter
scouring process is important (like the closure of a tidal channel),
(fig. 2) [I]. The rotor diameter ofthe meter israther large(15 mm)
the determination of the time scale for scouring is essential to
but a greater part of the large-scale turbulence is measured. This
interpret the model results. It is dear that for a definition of a
large-scale turbulence is of paramount importance in the
time scale, which is constant during the process, conformity
scouring process.
of the scour hole in model and prototype is necessary; hence:
After reattachment of the flow an equalization of mean velocity
h(x.,) =f(!__,~) (I) and turbulence intensity takes place and the ultimate distribution
ho t, ho is gradually approached. From this type of measurement an
optimallength of a bottorn-proteetion can be deduced.
in which h(x. I) = scouring depth, Bebind the bottom-protection a second region with decele-
ho = water-depth at the end of the bottorn-
rating flow is formed in the scour hole. The mean velocity near
protection,
the bottom decreases rapidly as the erosion depth increases,
x = distancefrom theendofthe bottom-protection,
whereas the turbulence intensity remains more constant (fig. 3).
= time,
An example of the velocity distribution is shown in fig. 4.
I, = a characteristic time of the scouring process.
From observations of the scouring process it is clear that
especially eddies of large dimensions and 10w frequencies are
If the function f is the same in model and prototype then the
important. Because viscosity has nearly no influence on these
time scale can be defined as the ratio of the t,-values.
eddies areasonabie conformity between the important parts of
As there are hardly any prototype test cases which can be used
the turbulence structure in model and prototype may be expected.
for comparative tests, it is necessary to study the validity of (I)
by means of scale tests. Subsequently the influence on the time
scale of the length scale, the velocity scale and the material
4. Description of the scouring process
characteristics in the model must be derived from series of those
tests with adequate variations in the characteristic quantities.
To study the scouring process many laboratory experiments
have been performed, with variations in velocity, water-depth,
material and flow geometry. An example of a test is iI1ustrated
in fig. 5 where the scouring downstream of a rough bottorn-
proteetion at a water-depth ho is given. Generally the scouring
o 0.5 1.0 o 0.1 0.2
1..._...1.._....l.
_U
Uo
------L
Uo

I
0 0
I I
I I
I I I
E I I
N
I
~ I
0' I
I
I I
I I

,
~ i
I
..'"
e

,
J
I
?
I
ó
11
,
I I
I
0
oe::

I
,
I f
f

1
-0.14 0 0.4 1.1 2.3 4.3 7.1 ____11.5 1 14

Fig. l. Distribution of ü and u' downstream of a step; Uo = 0.8 mis. 7i;

8
depth hx• at a point a distance x from the end of the bottorn- proteetion or a dam, the variation of 0: was small with an average
protection, increases with time as: value of 0.38.
hxJho = A(x) In (tlto(x»
If for a certain flow condition hesides hmax as a function of
(2)
time also the shape ofthe scouring hole is sirnilar, then the value
For small values of xlho an equilibrium erosion depth is reached of (I determines the whole process. An example is given in fig. 7.
after a certain time. From observations it was deduced that both From this figure it appears that even if the velocity scale is
A(x) and to(x) increased exponentially with x [2]. From this fact different from the scale of the critical veloeities of the bottom
and (2) it may be deduced that the maximum scour depth hmax sediments, good similarity is obtained.
also increases exponentially with time: The ratio ofthe t.-values oftwo tests may he taken now as the
time scale of the tests. Because the variatien in 0: is small for
(3) different flow conditions, the influence of these conditions on
the rate of scouring may be compared directly by means of ti'
From the experiments it appeared that for a certain flow condi-
tion the value of ex was nearly independent of the mean velocity, 5. Time scale
the bottom material or the water-depth ho (see fig. 6). Also for
different types of inflow condition, e.g. a smooth bottom- The conformity 10 the scouring process with different flow

Fig. 2. Propeller current-meter. Rotor diameter

15mm.

,
0.15
0_
-_ ......
I
.....
!
- t-
•
O.lOm

'///////
q = 951/(s.",'
2.50m
'I
I,0,25m 1.0.40m~

~:
30

" veloeities measured at 0.015 m trom the botlom

U = turbulence intensity
0 ",'
-,
'-0
<,
~
0.10
'0
...... V 20
0, V
"',p..,~
0,0 l..-'V
V~
V
k ...
r V~ ,

~v
0.05
!J.- --. -
-*- '1-
/I' V ~"
/j- i'T!J.- !J.-!J. /j-~A. I ~.
~'o0
--q.,,_
I ~
0

-L"II~i-'~
1--,- 0-0_0-0

I-'
VV
.J V
o o
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 2 6 8 10 2 4 6 8 m
_ linhours
Fig. 3. Scouring-depth and bottom velocity as a function of time.

9
 IJ
0 0.5 1.0
Ua ou iio = 0.37 mIs
u'
0 0.1 0.2 • u' ho = 0.30 m
Uo
1.0

0.
, 0,
I
\
I
\
ho \
\
0
\
'\
t
\
\ \
\ \
~,
0.5
,
I
0
I

I
I

o.

o 0.33

Fig. 4. Velocity and turbulence-intensityprofiles

2.0 3.3 5.0

in the scouring hole.

8.3
-- x
ho

h
0.5
,
\'
X/ho

0.25
0.4
0.8
1.6
--+-,dt-d
h
o
_:__,
--_AXOO?
=0.03
..........
IIO ~c~. - _X -+'!h
ho 3.2 Ilo = 0.95 mIs
0.4 + 5.0

t ,
/,. 8.0
12.0

0.3

o
0.1 0.2 0.4 Q6 0.8 1.0 6 8 10 20 40 60 80 100

Fig. S. Local scouring-depth as a function of time ..

10
 1,0
0.8

0.6
k-~
.., C!-
-
J,../ _..

»>
v_
:....v
""'_ ~ ~
....
_.,....
IH'"""
__.. I-'"
.-t~
c-

,~
v
L-
a-tlirc
__....-~
~_.....,.....
........
~ -.>
~-
~ ~

.~
..........-~
I--'"
~I--'"
v
V
V
V
V
v
....

Lo-l---
.s-:~ lP j.,It( ~.
aR-
0.4
~
;.--
~ ~
kot
I., ~ ~~~ ~
;-,.A
...~s-... .....~
L,..- .... :;.~ rrt>Jl-<1
I"""""
......

~b-,D'.." ~
IV
~ I< t;~ Vf ,,-Ir V ~I

I ~ yb
»> w.,....:"' r L.i ~~~ .~~ ......

_4 Ift &J..b

V~
"l •
~ ~ ~., ~ ll--~
rf9 ,0- IV ~ ~
0.2
~
~- VI--
V
- I-- ~ ~O.38
~~
J...-"- V ~.... I--- hl!~
.~
1
~ ~
0.1
~ / .... VP Ir-'"
...... V b u
ho , material d
....
..,•
0.08 L,..-' ./f v 0 0.25 m 0.80 mI • grayel 2600 JI
0.06 kv'"
....
v
_..... r> C ........... b 0.25 m
0.25 m
0.64 mI.
0.80 mI.
.and
.and
1600 JI
1600 JI

0.04
»>
»> i ......
V ..
b
0.25 m
0.25 m
1.50 m
0.88 mI.
0.80 mI.
0.83 mI.
.and
.and
.and
400 JI
120,.
220 JI
1.50m 1.13 mI. .and 220 JI
..,P 0.50 m 1·10 mI. .and 220 JI
0..25m 1.10 mI.
, .and .220 JI
0-
A 0.25 m 0.80 mI. bakelJle 1900 JI
0.25 m. 0.56 mI. bakeli.I. 1900 }J
0.02 j 0.25 m 0.48 mI. bek,hl. 600,.
V 0.25 m 0.175 mI. poIY'Iyr.n. 1500 JI
I 0.25 m 0.18 mi. poly'Iyr.... 1500,.
+ 0.125m 0.275 mI. poIY'Iyr.n. 1500 ,.
D ~.50m 0.275 mi. I pol1'lyren. I I I 1500 JI
0.01
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 2 4 6 8 10 20 40 60 80 100 200 400
_ tin hours

Fig. 6. hm .. as a function of time. Scouring downstteam of a rough bottom.

conditions, veloeities and materials is of great value because it and 3.0 m, water-depth 0.25, 0.5 and 1.5 m) downstream of a
is possible 'now to express the time scale as a function of the long horizontal bottom-protection consisting of stones: dston. =
initial conditions and sediment transport. For this correlation (0.02 ... 0.04) ho.
existing sediment-transport relations could be used. This was taken as a reference case.
If the amount of material which goes directly in suspension Tests (see fig. 8) with different mean veloeities and sediment
is smal! compared with the bed-Ioad transport then the equation diameter (sand: d= 0.12 ... 2.6 mm) could be correlated by:
of continuity of the bottom material :
'bh 'bT . (8)
_=_ (T = transport m m3/(s'm» (4)
'bI 'bx
in which Umax = (1 + 3r) U, and Ucrit is the critical mean velocity
gives the scale relationship: computed from the critical shear velocity as given by Shields.
Values of U were used instead of u· for practical reasons ; ris the
(5)
mean relative turbulence intensity, measured with the propeller
It is assumed that for local scour only geometrically undistorted current-meter at the end of the bottom-protection. The factor
models are used, hence nx = nh' (1 + 3r) was determined from the experiments. The influence
A simple approximation of the existing relations between the of the grain diameter on the critical velocity was adequate to
parameters used in describing sediment transport, take into account the influence ofthe grain diameter on the time
scale (see fig. 8).
cp = T. d-I.s (g,1)-O.s

and 'I' = (U.)2. (,1gd)-I(With ,1 = f!g _ f!w) By comparing tests with various ho (viz. 0.25 ... 1.5 m) it was
f!w found that on the average n, - (nJ2.0S (fig. 8). The exponent
I _lf'21)4-. (6)
was slightly greater than 2 due to the fact that with increasing
is given by: (/J=c '1'2 ( ho the ratio U/u* increases and that the value of u* is more
CrU
appropriate for sediment transport.
From this fol!ows that: The influence of the matérial density was studied with sand,
-1.5 ( )--{).5 bakelite and polystyrene (p = 1.65, 0.35 and 0.050). By com-
nT= ( n(U*-U*cri.) ) 4x ( nLl) X nd paring the materials it was found that relationship (8) was
SO that valid and that n, varied with (nJ1.6 (see fig. 9).
Other flow conditions, e.g. scouring downstream of low dams
n, = (nh
o
)2 X (n J'S X (ndt5 X (n(u*-u* . ))-4- . Cru
(7)
and long bottom-protections, could be correlated equally wel!
with (7). The velocity profiles were reasonably similar to the
This relation will be compared with experimental results. profile found at the end of a rough bottom. In case of deviating
The experimental determination of the time scale for different velocity profiles, e.g. flow over a smooth bottom-protection or
conditions required many tests. A great part of these tests on downstream of high dams, a correction factor ex. had to be
the scouring influence was done in three flumes (width 0.5, 1.0 introduced:

11
 I
ho -
oro------~~------~2------~3~------~4------~5~------~6------~7~------;8------~9~---- __~10

0.1 \~ ,.0.oL .. •
I
• __ +
0

I ~h ;; 0 d _
0.2t-- .1 4--A-f-A--1 KA............... i+- 0' mat.rial

h ~~i--~(V~~-v--f+ 1.50m
1.50m
A 0.50m
~ • 1.13mI'
0.83 mI,
1.10mI.
,and
,and
,and
220 ,.m
220 ,. m
220 ,.m
ho ~O, c 0.25m
0.50m •,
1.10mI,
0.275mI'
sand 220 ,.m
pol,.t,rene1500 Jlm
tI 0.3~------+-~~~. tv -~-------+------~--------+-------4- 0.25m
+ 0.25m
0.20m/,
0.56mh
'polyslyrene
1500 ,.m
bakelite 1900,.m
I 0.25m O.BOm/, bakelite 600 ,.m
. .. 0.25m 0.72mI' sand 120 ,. m

1:~~:
0.4 1----I----jF-- 'Ti....!-
p ,and = 2650 kg/m3
..

p pol"t,rene= 1050kg/m3
;
~~

,--J I-~II V-- I", 0,1IJ---+-----t--'~ ..

-tV&:I,1
ll.-~-
: ~::~: g..:::~:

..-
---l----
::~
Jr,'

pbakelite~ 1350kg/m~
0.5L-------L_-----~---~---~---~---~---~---~
Fig. 7. Comparison of scour profiles.

,couringdown,trnmof. roughbottom
prot.et,on
d inmm
,
.and
0.12
I 0.225
A
, 0.28
0.39
0.84
0 1.6
V 2.6

for an, Uma.- Uçrjt 11.: h:D5

2.0~----~------.--------,------'------'--------,,------r------r------~

f
""",.
-",'--....{.4...' ,
.
I

'-o~.~-,-.,....
0.5~-----+------+--------+------~~~

0.15L----L---_J--------~~----~~----~~-----~~--~1~OOO~----~200~0~----~·500~0
W ~ 50 m ~ ~
_ 111hour'l

Fig. 8. Relation of ti VS. (U ma. - Ue,u)'

12
 Scouring down.tream ot a rough boltom protection

sand d = 0.12 - 2.6 mm 1.=1.65

bakelite d = 0.6 mm 1.:0.35

baka(ite d = 1.9mm 1.=0.35

pol,.t,rene d = 1.5 IIIm 1.=0.050

2.0~-------r----------~---
tor an, umax- ucrit: ntl = nl·6

Umu- Ucrit
(mI.)

'1 1 heurs)
Fig. 9. lnfluence of rnaterial-density .

•couring Ia.t. with polyat,rene .d = 0.05 ; d = 1.5 mm

t~02sm

K 0
- 10ho
L- 4~ :f-----
r in% 1 +3 r O(U oCtot
Ii;- i:
I 0.03 0 7,3 1.22 1.0 1.22
A 0.03 1/6 11 , .0 1.33
, 0.03 V3 20
'.33
'.60 1.0 , .60
.. 0.03 '17 30 1.90 1.'8 2.25
0 0 0 3.6 1.1' , .31 1.45
A 0.006 0 5.0 1.15 '.16 1.33
V 0.08 0 8.0 1.24 1.0 , .24
'1 0 0 2.7 1.08 1.82 , .97
10 • (.couring direeU, atter contraction L=O
uma.- tJtrit
( mI.)
,.= mean relatiu turbulence ,nten.it,

0.5
1---.__
1 f4--j. A-x.. -4
+-V,IA'h :_1.v- '1'" 1 Umu - Uc";t)
~~I-+ AV I
0.2 I
o---.:~
0.11
2 5 10 20
· r-'\
50
V-A
""'---""0 ._~
100 200 500 1000
----'1 (hou,,)
Fig. 10. Influence of flow conditions.

13
 ij = 20em/.

s.
ho
= 0.05

t:-~: l~ft
.!!_ = 0.3
ho

" L 1,VI
L
"0
O(tot 1.3r
-,,---
(/) 1.24 1';32 1.00
44 1.45 1.46 2.8
20 1.50 1.50 3.6
A 12 1.53 1.53 4.0
V 5 1.45 1.48 2.8

I i.

0.1 ~~~~~----~~~--~----~~------~----~~----~------~------~
0.1 0.5 2 10 20 50 100
Ilhours)

Fig. 11. Influence of turbulence.

Urnax = IX. (I + 3 r) x ij (see fig. 10) of importance. A blunt profile causes rapid spreading of the
flow and a relatively short and deep scouring hole with a small
The final results of all experiments was the relation : value of I i - A profile with a large velocity gradient also causes
more scouring. This may be seen in fig. 12where 5velocity proftles
n,=(nll
u
)1.05x(n,(Óx(Il(.
l 111:1\ -(
.
cr i t
»).. (9)
are given from 5 tests with exactly the same scour/time-relation-
The influence of 11is in accordance with the factor 1.5 obtained ship but with different mean velocities. The smooth bottom
by assuming a fourth power relation between <IJ and IJ' l, the (S 39 - 2) and the large gradient (S 39- 5) gave values for lXu of
influence of the sediment diameter was less than predicted. 1.3 and 1.1 respectively.
Other factors, as cohesion, may be very important in practical The value of lXu varied from 1.0 to 1.4 in normal cases. For a
cases [3]. conservative estimate of the time scale a measurement of the
The value of IX. (I + 3 r) is not important for the determination turbulence intensity is sufficient if lXu is assumed to be l.O.

of the time scale if nü = nu Cri, ' which is also the condition

for reproduetion of the equilibrium scouring depth. In this case 7. Practical application
relation (9) may be simplified to:
·z.O s: Besides the relation for the time scale a formula for the absolute
n,=(nh) x(nJ6x(nüf4 (JO) value ofthe maximal scour may bederived. From the experiments
with sand it followed that:
_,>,
(,(hours)= 180h1JUm:o'-t,r) (11)
6. Influence of flow conditions on the scouring process With:
hrnaJho = (t/II) 0.38
From the experiments it has become evident that the velocity
profile and the turbulence intensity are very important. The this reduces to:
influence of the turbulence could be represented in many cases
by the factor (I + 3 r), from which the strong influence of peak
veloeities appears. This is shown in fig. I1 where the scouring In case of Umax » Ucri, and Urnax ~ 1.6 ij form. (11) gives:
downstream of a dam is given for different lengths ofthe bottorn-
protection. Even with a relatively great length the scouring is h
m ax
=03(h
• 0
)0.Z5 Û·5 0.38
1
more severe than in the case without a dam, due to the persis-
or
tency of the large-scale turbulence.
hmax = 0.3 q.5 ho -1.25 tO.38
Besides the turbulence, the form of the velocity profile is also

14
 i rcm/tT
539 -1 24 rough horizont.1 bollom
0- - --0 539-2 20,8 smooth horizont.1 bollom

6--------6 seouring .;th

539 - 3 18 539 -1 w;th grid "produoe .tr. turbulenee equal '1
V-'---V 539-.4 22.5 Oom 0= 0.3 ho Sottomprot.et Ion L=8.5ho

539 - 5 20 Dam 0= 0.5 ho 510p•• 1: 20

1.0 1.0
..
1• °I
I V
I I 1/ \
y
-
\

\\ol°
t.
!
V
\
•
I
\
'.\
V ho Ilo V • •
\:\ 9
I,
'I
! I'V
I
I~

f~
\1
I \

I
"
\

~
1'.
'\'-
1,
60
/1 ~
V r
0.5 H 0.5
~~ I-V

°1\\ V.
I
I
6
/ ,1'1 I j'/ J
\'b 1'-'
• 'v.
I
~ / '/f ~,v
\ "\ \ / -: l)/.'-
t
v'
~~ 6 \ v'
\ y~ • ./ ~!7

o
ti .(;;!//
o
/ I fl'~.~.o':D' 1
o 2 3 4 5 0 5 'KJ 15 20 25 30 35 40
_ q' in emls _ u In em/.
Fig. 12, Influence of velocity profile.

(q in m3/(s'm», ho and hmax in m, t in hours). References

For the Haringvliet sluices the practical question arises: which
value of ho gives a minimum for the sum of ho and hma.. the total [I) SCHUIF,A: The measurement of turbulent velocity fluctuations
with a propeller-type current meter. J. Hydr. Res. 4 (1966) no. 2
depth, for a given value of q?
p. 37 ... 54.
For a discharge of 15000 m3/s and t = 2000 bours (equivalent [2) PRINS,J. E.: Echelle de temps dans la reproduetion d'un affouille-
to one year with fully opened sluice-gates) it has been found that ment. La Houille Blanche 18 (1963) no. 2 p. 183 ... 188.
this value wiU be ho = 14 m. Hence the total depth (ho + hmax) [3) ZELLER,J.: Versuche der VAWE über die Erosion in kohärenten
will be 26 m. Comparison with the actua1 prototype data will be Gerinnen. Schweiz. Bauzeitung 83 (1965) no. 42 p. 733 ... 738.
difficult, due to the occurrence of thin silt layers wbich will [4) BREUSERS, H. N. C. : Time scale of local scour. Proc. Xl th IAHR
retard the scouring process. Congress, Ft. Collins 1967, paper C32.

15
 627.223:532.54

Closure of estuarine channels in tidal regions I)

111.Localscour caused by vortex streets
by ir. J. J. Vinjé, Engineer- Department Head, Delft Hydraulics Laboratory

Summary: In th is artiele considerations are given about three-dimensional local scour caused by vortices, in
non-cohesive bed-material. After a general characterization of the scour-pattems for different closing-methods
and a description of the tlow-pattern, the process of local scour is described more in detail.
As the development ofthe scouring process with time is very important for practical purposes, estimates ofthe
time-scale are given based on reproduetion in mode Is and on a systernatic research program as weIl.

1. Introduction flow-time conditions, for dam-height versus water-depth ratios

of 0, 0.3 and 0.6.
The occurrence of fine sand in the Netherlands tidal estuarine From the foregoing it is evident that with three-dimensional
areas is the reason -that one has to contend with scouring scouring a state of equilibrium is reached more quickly than
action on either downstream side of the applied bottom- in case of two-dimensional scour, but for the design of tempor-
protection, irrespective of the method used such as caissons or ary works Iike closures it is understandable that much value
gradual closure. is attached to the course of the bed erosion as a function of
In addition to the more or less important area govemed time.
by scouring which can be considered two-dimensional, there In order to solve this problem one has to resort to model
is also the area where the currents and consequently the scouring studies. It is therefore understandable that for each closure
actions produce a three-dimensional phenomenon. of some importance a separate model study is carried out in
Due to the presence of abutments - especially the vertical which the geometry is duplicated as true to nature as possible,
terminations - vortex streets are generated whose intensity may In addition to the above the characteristics of the model
attain such values that they may seriously endanger the stability tests for the contemporary cJosures require a highly systematic
of the construction unless efTective protective measures are approach. The scope of the works and the hazards which must
taken. be accepted make it compulsory to exploit the existing pos-
To illustrate the fact that in particular cases three-dimensional sibilities to their fullest.
scouring action can play the predominant role, attention is Both the available time for the tests and the equipment
drawn to fig. I, showing the local scour as a function of the time existing at present provide broader possibilities than before,
of flow in a model with a horizontally protected bed. Here the Nevertheless, the difficulties involved in the solution of
three-dimensional efTectwas obtained by protruding avertical three-dimensional scour problems should not be underestimated.
baffie perpendicular to the model-flume wall, For the rest, all On account of these complexities, the more fundamental
boundary conditions (depth, length of bottom-protection, approach of this subject could be properly started only after
velocity and material) are identical. the various relationships of the two-dimensional scouring
In situations with a horizontal bed there is already a consider- problem were established and an insight into the time scale was
able increase of intensity of the attack on the bottom caused by obtained,
a three-dimensional flow as compared to the two-dimensional
variety, but this influence becomes even more apparent in the
presence of dams. For the sake of completeness it is pointed out that the vortex
From the figs. 2, 3 and 4, comparisons can be made of the streets not only play an important part in the erosion of fine
resulting bed erosions caused by scouring under corresponding bed material, but that, under certain conditions, the heavy-
rubbie bottorn-proteetion may even be affected.
This for instanee is the motivation for the decision that those
1) De voorafgaande delen I en 11zijn verschenen in De Ingenieur 1968, parts of the apron which touch the Haringvliet discharge
nr. 44, blz. B 127 resp. B 133. sluices have been built as a cJosed concrete structure, inasmuch

16
 With caisson closures eertain unexpected settling movements
'1'1
1
I ' can cause serious if not insurmountable stagnation to the work 's
I I progress, while a gradual closure afTords a better opportunity
! III, , I I)' to take easy and quick remedial action. The influenee of the
A
weather conditions is of less importance with a gradual closure,
but with caisson closures the influenee of the weather is an im-
!I portant factor.
Considering the two-dimensional flow pattern, the erosion may
WATERO¬ PTH ho = 0.25 m

BfO-HA11'R'AL POLYSTYRl:NE
he expressed as a function of the rate of flow and turbulence
(d: ''''"00 }Jm) intensity. By heightening the sill, the rate of flow decreases
but the intensity of turbulence increases. The rate of change is
0.20
conditional on the situation.
Consequently, maximum eros ion is observed when the ratio
of sill height to channel depth is 0.7.
Generally speaking, closures by means of caissons are un-
0'0
advisable for deep estuarine channels, inasmuch as the limited
construction height of the caissons necessitates a relatively
high sill. In consequence of the required leveled position of the
sill, it is impossible to adapt the shape of the sill to the expected
erosion.
With gradual closures the stage of maximum scour, seen
Fig. 1. Maximum scouring-depth as a function of time (horizontal bed). from a two-dimensional viewpoint (ratio of sill-height/depth
0.65 ... 0.75) should always be passed. This entails that during
as model tests indicated that even very heavy rubble was not this stage of the closure-activities, no stagnation can be allowed.
equal to the negative pressures prevailing in vortex streets. With such a type of closure it will be possible to influence the
These negative pressures might appear in unfavourable con- location and quantity of the eros ion by determining the most
ditions, for instanee when iee conditions prevent one of the favourable ratio of sill height/channel depth. As a rule, the best
gates from being lifted. contour of the closure gap is obtained (when viewed over the
Preventive measures were necessary for those parts of the
apron (situated further at a distanee from the gates) where
heavy rubble 300 ... 1000 kg could be utilized, but the danger
existed that the underlying lighter stones would be sucked
through the space left between the heavy rubble; consequently
a layer of heavy rubble with a diameter 11/2 times the under-
Iying was deemed necessary.
The attack on the rubble stone situated at a caisson-sill,
should be recognized especially under conditions where all
caissons but one, are placed in position on the sill.
As has been established during the model study for the clo-
sure of the Volkerak, under extreme conditions, the bottom-
proteetion can be attacked at the upstream side in the vicinity
of the edges of the caissons, as a result of vorticcs leaving the
walls of the caissons.

2. General characterizatioD of the scoor pattems for different

c1osiog methods

The stability of the structure is of prime importanee with

gap-closures.
It is therefore advantageous to design the gap profile in such a
rnanner, that the least possible scour can be expected. '.0

The length of the bottorn-proteetien on either side of the sill

is important amongst other factors.
Characteristic differenees will occur relative to the chosen
closing method; they shall he briefly discussed hereafter.
,

'.0 I-o~
u
-
_-
/ ........'.......
/_;L_ __.- -0--- -- - ~
--'- ,._

"» _JO
01+ 3<11
Next to the tinancial and constructional aspects, the hydraulic
0.s ---
aspect is often a decisive factor' for the choiee of the closing
equipment. o
>-D-"-o._J
o cr~
U 0---0- ,_O -0-
o "'0 2.00 100 <.DO $00
~ Z'N.
Regarding the method of execution of the closure, it is evident
that with caissons a leveled sill is essential whilst with a graduaJ Fig. 2. Scouring-pattern after 10 hours model. Dam-height/water-
closure a certain freedom as to the shaping exists. depth = O.

17
 resulting in a diminished erosion-effect, With caisson closures
the contraction increases in the course of the execution phase.
By utilizing 'sluice-caissons', which can onJy be used for
closing the main estuarine channels on account of the maximum
allowable velocities, this effect is onJy observed present to a
lesser degree. Moreover, these phases are ordinarily rapidly
passed through. Nevertheless, increased intensity of vortex
streets and local erosions should he anticipated, but a favour-
able aspect is that head-effects (caused by vertical terminations)
continually occur at different places. With gradual closures tbe
different closing-phases can he seheduled in such a manner that
the contraction hardly increases, thus avoiding continual
erosion at one and the same location. For this reason the phases
during closing should he arranged in such a way that a vertical
narrowing of the closure gap occurs simultaneously with a
horizontal narrowing.
From the foregoing it will be cJear that with the design of the
shape and size of a closing gap, it is of primary importance that
a well-considered choice is made regarding the closing method
on which the so essential scouring effects are dependent.
For the aforementioned reasons model tests are indispensabie.

3. Defmition of tbe problem

The general purpose of the program established for fundamental

research of three-dimensional scour can be summarized as
• .0

( -x_x ....
follows:
1. Determination of relationships hetween flow-conditions,
,
---r.- .. material properties and tbe sediment transport. In order to

-.} // obtain a complete insight in the overall flow-conditions, it is

not sufficient to work with mean values of the veJocities but the

0.'I-
X

o~
O,:"Cf.,
i,
U I turbulence of the 'water should also he taken into account.
In view of the complexity of the boundary conditions, the need
for model tests in solving practical problems shall remain.
U cr"0-' --0 0
2. Verification of the similitude of scour in a model by means of
°o "'0 aoo
_ZIN.
3.00 4.00 •.00
systematic tests and the determination of the 'time-scale' of
Fig. 3. Scouring-pattern after 10 hours model. Dam-height/water- the model.
depth = 0.3. The model tests can, to a certain extent, be divided into two
fields of research, viz.: the field directed towards solving
cross-section ofthe channel) ifthe ratio sill-height/channel-depth practical design-problems and the part which aims at inter-
achieves a fairly constant value. preting the model results like the influence of the properties
of the bed-materials, the velocity-seale and length-seale on tbe
The three-dimensional flow pattem shows in conneetion with time-scale of three-dimensional seour.
the various closure methods, that generally speaking vertical It is impossible to draw a strict dividing line between the two
terminations exist with caissons, which consequently cause fields of research inasmuch as the designer is also very much
strong vortex streets and considerable scour. (Veersehe Gat, interested in the development of scour as a function of time,
Southem Grevelingen channel.) which entails that for a proper evaluation the time-sçale of the
In diminishing this effect, experience will he gained with the model has to be determined.
élosu~e of the Volkerak by utilizing oblique abutment-caissons Hence, the sehedu1e of tests has been established in such a
with a sloping siU(slope I :5). manner that the tests required for the design criteria can also
With gradual closures, terminations in the centre line of the be used for the model-seale research.
gap can he realized with a very gentIe slope which may lead to In the test-sehedules various important design variables
a reduction of the intensity of the vortex streets. were incJuded like sill-height, the length of the bottem-protee-
It is incorrect to assume that the lack of vertical terminations tion, the degree of roughness of dam and bottom-protection
implies the absence of vortex streets. and the shape of the protrusion.
With the detachment from talus, vortices with avertical Before going into further detail on the subject of these tests,
axis can also he generated; it is only with very gentle slopes that the flow-pattem will he briefly discussed.
it is operative to suppress the vortex-street effect entirely.
With caisson closures there is the tendency of shaping the 4. Flow-pattem
'winter-gap' as narrow as possible, causing astrong contraction
and consequently severe local scour. The horizontal constncnon of the flow profile. usually oe-
With gradual closing however, a narrow 'winter-gap' is not curring in a closure gap, is the cause of a flow-concentration
compulsory, thus avoiding in this phase the contraction and within a narrower path on the downstream side of the gap

18
 With a profile enlargement for instanee just behind a dosure
gap in a distorted model the vertical flow-pattem however is
not correctly reproduced. The eventual existing bottom eddies
will be reproduced relatively too long in the model.
For a detailed research of closing gaps for which the two-
dimensional part is important and the scour has to be studied
quantitatively, the tests are mainly conducted with non-distorted
models having a small scale factor.
The flow pattem and the velocity distribution in both the
vertical and the horizontal sense, are the main goveming
factors for the scour that will occur. Particularly the vortices
with vertical axis play an important part. These vortices are
characterized by the proportional decrease in velocity with the
radius (U = Cfr). This relationship does not hold good near the
centre of the vortex, since the velocity should reach infinite
values there.
In reviewing the horizontal velocity distribution on the down-
stream sideofthe gap (with vortex streets) it proves that maximum
veloeities occur immediately adjacent to the vortex street on the
side of the main current. When leaving the main current in a
horizontal direction, the velocity decreases almost linearly, so
that the term 'velocity gradient' may be applied to a vortex street.
The intensity ofthe vortex street is related to the velocity gradient.
The relative turbulence, however, when pursuing in the same
direction, strongly lncreases. The latter can reach very high
values (30%).
From the pressure distribution in curved flow-lines which
s appear in conneetion with closing gaps, it can be derived on
mathematical grounds, based on the comparison of the flow
0 \ pattems at surface and bottom, that on the upstream side of the
/r!' closing gap an upwardly directed water current is generated,
, t--- -
having its major velocity component in the direction of the main

s - -
-
.
'....... t--,- j/
--
...... 1'-~_
t---~-
~
--~
.
current (Tison).
At the location of the point of separation of the vortices,
for instanee at the abutrnents, it can be inferred that an ascen-
ding current must be present in the vortex. The bottom material,
stirred up under the influence of currents and turbulence, can
0 -. Ê}._ --- I---~ --
IJ be picked up by the rotating ascending current in the vortex
, 0,+- lcr, and be thrown out sideways.
, IJ

K~
-

o i1! I
Indicative for the vortex pattem are the slow velocity-fluctu-
-<>
IJ 1'-0
ations in the vortex street.
0
tOO WO
_lIN,.
'00 ....
00 500
The frequency of these fluctuations is smaJl in comparison
with the turbulent velocity-fluctuations. The slow velocity-
Fig. 4. Scouring-pattem after 10 hours model. Dam-height/water- variations can be expressed in a Strouhal number.
depth = 0.6.
In order to ascertain whether the vortex-flow thus can be
characterized, the relationship between the Strouhal number
Z
(contraction). This contraction will increase with increasing and other characteristic quantities, such as me Rey-
UOT50
depth of the downstream bottom profile.
In view of th is it is deemed unadvisable to increase the depth nolds number (Re) and the Froude number (Fr), were examined
of the bottom profile on either side of the gap beforehand. in a model with fixed bottom with avertical protrusion in the
On the other hand, the spread of the flow will increase with flume profile. In this study the water-depth, velocity, rough-
increasing flow-resistance downstream of the closing gap. ness, dam-height and width of the protrusion could be varied
This means for instanee that in general with models of at wiJl.
closing gaps in which the horizontal and vertical scale ratios The apparent reasonable correlation between the quantities
between model and prototype differ so that we can speak of a mentioned before is shown in figs. 5 and 6. It shall be investiga-
geometrie distortion, the depth in the model is relatively too ted whether and to which extent the correlation does change
great. The resulting deviation of the flow pattem can be cor- during the scouring process and whether it will be possible to
rected by increasing the bottom resistance downstream of the establish a link with the scour-pattem.
gap. Thus it may be concluded that within a vortex street a very
A proper reproduetion of the downstream flow-pattem of a complicated three-dimensional flow pattem exists, and conse-
gap, of such great importance for obtaining a correct reproduct- quently it has been impossible to provide even a simple charac-
ion of the scouring action, can be satisfactorily ach ieved, pro- terization of the flow mechanics up till the present.
vided the bottom-resistance scale is correctly applied. This is not so surprising, because in the two-dimensional

19
domain it also appears impossible to characterize the velocity scale is exaggerated as compared with Froude's velocity scale,
profile in a simple way. for obtaining sufficient transport.
Similar to the two-dimensional scour, the empirical relation- The length of the model must then be limited in order to
ships between flow pattem and three-dimensional scouring avoid deviations in the flow pattern. Like with two-dimensional
action are based mi the observations of the flow and turbulence scour, the scour-process caused by vortex streets is characterized
characteristics at the end of the bottom-protection. by the geometry of the SCOUT hole, the maximum scouring depth
This is also based on practical considerations because it and the scour development as a function of the time. The up-
may be expected that here the flow conditions will hardly vary. stream slope of the hole deserves special attention.
As the significant value of the current velocity the maximum ft may safety he assumed that the flow pattern can he repro-
value in horizontal sense of ij (I + 31') is used. duced correctly, in which case no deviations of the turbulence
characteristics are expected on account of the fact that the vis-
cosity-influence is smalI: usually Re < 105.
5. Process of local scoor Assuming similitude in flow-pattern and in turbulence charac-
teristics, the correct initial conditions will occur at the end of
The diameter ofthe fine-grained material found in the estuarine the bottom-protection at the time t = 0, so that it may he as-
channels of the Netherlands cannot he further reduced for the sumed that the transport-distribution along the bottom in the
purpose ofthe model studies, without changing the characteris- model is equal to that in prototype, provided the occurring
tics of this material. veloeities in the model are much greater than (he critical one.
The friction al forces are already of such importance as com- The configuration of the scour hole, undcr (he intluence of
pared to the inertial forces that the reproduetion of the bed- vortex street and certain conditions of tlow and geometry,
material becomes unacceptable on the length scale. indeed appears to he identical for different materials and a
For this reason the sand of the model and also of the proto- given scour-depth, provided that the adjustcd flow-veloeities
type have the same grain diameter, or lighter materials like have nearly the same ratio versus thc critica I velocity for the
polystyrene or bakelite are used. In the latter case the velocity material with a parallel flow.

S" B
70

60 ~

_50 f----
----

,
.,
I
o

\.
- f--c

-
··
o

·
1 h.
0,125

o 2S'"

o so ...
..
I
5 ....00TI-I
ROUGH

5""00''''
ROUGH
5"'00TH
-

-
I
... EASURING
_b_060.0,90.~20,1S0
8 ~,.
Uo= 0.10 - O.SO "'/.
ho= 0 tas- o.so '"
I
POINT IN
1
SECTIONI/h
.. _o
I "" 76
__

'I~sr'
ROUGH 60TTOM 5MOOTI-I "'NO ROUGH
'0. VbIi;,- + b ......RIABLE

ZB
Ue T,oVbïï" 40
r----

-- -
-
~
" ~.
-
- - ----

- - l
30
)-
~
~\ ...:
20 ---

10 ----
-r~ :
r--._
tf

-.._ .~-
•
r-...--
•
+
1-------.!:

o
. ,
Fig.5. RelationshipbetweenStrouhal numberand
o 4 7 8 9 iQxiC Reynoldsnumber.

I
IoIEASUj,;'NC.POINTIN SEClIONl/ho =16
I s)
\ _

o 0.t20; .. 5"'001H
(SH FIG

".\\ o

6
O.2~

0.50
lil

'"
SMOOTI"I

S... OO'H

\
i'.
\- -- -----I------~ -
.t-;
~c
~6~
2----- ~- • ö..... a--.--
6~O ......... 0

r-;---
1----- ---~c---f'~
a
-- --0- -

Fig.6. Relationship betweenStrouhal number

o
o 0.1 0_2 0.3 0.4 0.5 and Froude number.

20
 BAKELITE
influence on either flow-pattem and scouring action is apparent.
.l ! ho-= 015 m
L.,. folio
ij '"OH mis
Scour-holes caused bij vortex streets are characterized by
t '" noh steep side-talus (up to I: 2,. The bulk of the materal removed
from the vortex street scour-hole, is deposited sideways along
the hole, outside the influence of either vortex street and main
current.
Experienee has taught this phenomenon generally to be re-
presented in an exaggerated way due to the too high settling
veloeities of the material in the model. In order to investigate
whether the depth of the vortex street scour-hole is influenced
by the presence of this deposit, the test was repeated under the
same test-conditions, but with the careful removal of the ac-
cumulated deposit at regular intervals of time. This test cIearly
I ' I
.,jon; ~;; n);;
showed that the erosion depth is not influenced by the material
SAND deposited alongside the scour-hole (see fig. 9). From the above
) Ib- 0.25 m it may be concIuded that this phenomenon during the scouring

so
L _'0 ho
0.0,,. mIs process does not contribute to the occurrence of scale-efTects.
1•• nl1
In observing the scouring action caused by vortex streets,
similarity is recognized with the two-dimensional action, viz.
that the erosion is cIearly influenced by the height of the dam,
the length of the bottorn-proteetion and the roughness of dam
and bottorn-proteetion.
With regard to the above-mentioned criteria which are im-
portant for the design, consequently the general conclusion
can be drawn: that the degree of scour will decrease when the
height of the dam (D) is decreased and also when the length
of the bottom-protection is increased. Further it can be con-
5.0m
cluded that a rough proteetion will give less scour than a smooth
POlYSTYRENE protection.
When it is defined that the time required to attain a depth
110= 0.25 m
1.._'0 ho of erosion equal to the original water depth (ho) is t 10 then the
U""o.tom/s
t = •• h
influence on the scour of the above-mentioned variables is
clearly demonstrated in table I. In this table the values of the
time ti are expressed in hours for avertical protrusion (0.5 m
protrusion in a flume of 5 m width).
\
Table 1.

\ o 0.3 0.6 5 10

t I (in hours) t I (in hours)

LJho=5, smooth 25 3.8 0.19 DJho=O, smooth 25 52
LJho=5, rougb 57 8.6 0.38 Dfh; = 0, rough 57 110
Fig. 7. Similarity of scour-pattern for bakelite, sand and polystyrene
grains respectively. Material : polystyrene

The scouring capacity of vortex streets is furthermore dependent

It appears therefore that during the progress of the scouring
on the water-depth at the location of the vortex street and the
action the similitude remains.
immediate vicinity. lncreasing depth causes greater flow which
The scour-pattern at the time ti (for t = ti we have hm.. = ho) in turn facilitates the vortex-street development. This was
is shown for bakelite, sand and polystyrene in fig. 7. The sirnili-
clearly established during the model studies when searching for
tude is apparent. The unproportionally larger shape ofthe scour- the optimum apron depth near the abutments of the discharge
hole, when sand was used, is attributable to the fact that in this
sluices of the Haringvliet and the Lauwerszee respectively.
case the adjusted model flow-velocity ratio was too high as
compared to those used for the tests with bakelite and poly- lt was impossible to establish relationships for the tbree-
styrene. dimensional scour during the model studies for determining
Although the sirnilitude in erosion with the various materials the design criteria, on account of the fact that the velocity-
remains the same during the scouring process, the flow-pattern scale had not been changed. However, an important contribution
is observed to change. in this respect was supplied by tests series in which, for a con-
The increasing depth causes further contraction and the flow stant geometrical situation, only the velocity of the flow was
is still more concentrated towards the central part of the channel. varied. As has been mentioned in the preceding article, 2) the
This is c1early shown in fig. 8 giving the initial flow-pattem
and the condition after 14 hours streaming. Hence, the mutual 2) Cf. De Ingenieur 1968, nr. 44, p. B 133.

21
 Fig. 8. Comparison between initia I flow-pattern and
that after 14 hours.

----~
------ --
----_.
---~--+
--+ ____ ....:J'

--- ....... ----~

--
--~ _::::;.--~

time/erosion-curves for the deepest points can be represented

f =>:30 nour!;
by the relationship:

hmax = I + A log ~
ho t,
where:
maximum scouring-depth at the deepest point
original water-depth
time corresponding to hmax
time corresponding to hmax = ho
a constant.

It must be emphasized that neither the beginning of the scou-

ring-process (starting phenomenon) nor the termination of the
process are covered by this equation. From the test-results it
ol, appears that the value of the coefficient A depends on the height
of the dam. For values of Dlh; of 0, 0.3 and 0.6, respectively,
the following values for A are found: 0.54, 0.75 and 0.88.
1_30 hcxJrs
The coefficient A is independent of the velocity, the rough-
ness (smooth to dlh; = 0.07). And the length of the bottom-
proteetion (Llh; = 5 and 10). The shapes of the erosion/
time curves are represented in figs. 10 and 11 for different
veloeities and for dam-heights of 0 and 0.3ho respectively.
With increasing erosion, the deepest point of the scour-hole
moves in a downstream direction, as weil as in a direction at
right angles to the latter, away from the protrusion. The latter
phenomenon is clearly demonstrated in fig. 12, where the
cross-sections are shown over the deepest point for different
times. Although for practical cases it is of minor interest, still
worth mentioning is the phenomenon that under severe scou-
ring conditions with a low dam-height, and where the scouring
depth exceeds the value ho, the deepest point of the scour-hole
again moves closer to the bottom-protection. Simultaneously
a second hole with intensive scouring action is formed at a
Fig. 9. Comparison of vortex-street scouring effects. greater distance from both bottom-protection and protrusion
Upper: with nonnally generated side-deposit. (see fig. 13). No conclusive explanation for this phenomenon
Lower: material of side-deposit regularly removed. has yet been found. It is however convenient to observe that
also for this second hole the erosion/time-relation function

momentary maximum scouring-depth, in the case of two- hmax = I + A log ~

dimensional scour, can be described as a power-function of ho (,
time. During the investigation carried out on the erosion applies (see fig. 14), and that the horizontal distance between
by vortex streets, it appeared from a large number of syste- the time/erosion-curves for the first and for the second hole
matical tests with different materials (sand, coarse bakelite, remains constant.
pölystyrene), in which the flow-veloeities were varied, that the Further research reveals that for a depth < 0.6 ho the scouring

22
process is better expressed as a power-function between h Needless to say, with the execution of closures every effort
and t, viz.: was made to reduce the erosive action to a minimum, in which

h~x =(~r endeavour one has very weIl succeeded but for a few exceptions.
This implies on the other hand that very few prototype data
The value of p is again dependent on the height of the dam. became available which are suitable for comparison purposes.
However, an important experience was gained at the time
of the Veersche Gat closure, where at the North-Beveland side
6. Estimation of the time-saale based on observed scouring actions of the closing gap, SW of the 'winter-gap', a considerable
in the prototype and reprodoction io models scour occurred under the influence of a flood-tide vortex
streel. This erosion also was observed in the distorted general
The acceptability of the chosen length of a bottom-protection model of the Veersche Gat (scales n, = 150 and nh = 50) used
derived from model-studies is dependent on the expected preparatory to the closure.
erosions in the prototype. This involves the necessity to give In order to increase the insight in the problem, and also
an estimation as to the time-scale of the erosion. Until recently to obtain as reliable as possible an estimate of the time-scale
one was compelled to base the closest estimation of the time- for the erosions at both sides of the northem closing gap in the
scale for vortex streets on the studies of the two-dimensional Grevelingendam, measured in a model, the development of
scour, supplemented by direct comparisons of the erosions the erosion in the Veersche Gat was again reproduced in a model,
caused by vortex streets, observed in model and prototype. but this time in a non-distorted model to scale I : 50. These

PFtOT"USION b/8 '"'

o.e

0.50 0.50

30 B-~
00 "'2. tO 0

e
20~-------------+------~~~----~~~----~~~------~~~----~

Fig. 10. Erosion/time-curves for polystyrene

for different velocities; dam-height = O.

I!
I
~l ----
.L
i
I 2.50s10hp

Fig. 11. Erosion/time-curves for polystyrene

for different veloeities; dam-height = 0.3 ho.

23
 --_ -_--~--- similarity of modeis, the value of the power f> is constant and
independent on the length-soale (nI), the velocity-seale (nu) and
the seale of the bed-material (nJ. Based upon this experimen-
tally established relationship, it was possible to define a time-
scale for the scour (nt), which as a first approximation can be
expressed by the equation :
Q -fJ y
n=», ·nu 'n"
Test results showed decreasing values of the exponents exand fJ
with increasing turbulence intensity.
In observing the maximal erosion in the Veersche Gat as a func-
tion of time, it appears that the vortex-street hole has twice
collapsed due to instability of the talus (see fig. 16). If the sec-
0.5 '0 '.5
tions of the erosion/time-curve occurring after the collapse
Fig. 12. Cross sections over deepest point of scour-hole for different of the hole are reversed in time, so that the starting point
times of flow. coincides with the erosion-depth reached prior to the collapse,
the curve attains a constant inclination (plotted double-loga-
rithmically).
This means that also in this case the deepest point of the
~ erosion develops as a power-function of time (hmax :: 1°·8).
h•• o.lS m
l.fOIt. In this conneetion it should be added that the value of the
o_o.u mis exponent is dependent on the choice of the system of co-ordi-
nates, or in other words from the initial conditions of the bottorn-
profile; translation of the system of co-ordinates changes the
exponent's value.
All erosion/time-curves for the deepest point of the vortex-
steet hole, detennined for different velocity scales, run parallel
for model and prototype (plotted double-logarithmically),
from which follows that the scouring action for different
veloeities adheres to the same relationship as the prototype.
Hence, for a given velocity-scale there exists a constant time-
seale.
It was also possible, in an analogous way, to develop. a
time-scale fot the volume of the scour-hole for the various
velocity-scales, These however appeared to be smaller than
the corresponding time-scales for the deepest point, which
meant that the scour-hole in the model was less extensively
reproduced as compared to the prototype for a corresponding
depth of the hole. In the distorted model of the Veersche Gat
(scales 150/50), however, an opposite tendency was found as
a result of the incorrect reproduetion of the talus and the
damping of the vortices.
Due to the fact that the tests in the erosion-models are performed
under permanent flow conditions, the flood- or ebb-current
periods in the prototype necessarily have to he reduced to a

2"d HOLE j"ö7'5 -

/&
AELATIQN COEFFICIENT OF DIA(CTIQN 1 st HOLE - 2 22

Fig. 13. Scouring effects after short and prolonged time of flow
respectively. 0

0
~/,y; ./ /.
tests were carried out with fine bakelite (d50 = 600 um) as
bed-material, using 5 different velocity-scales, after verification
0
J_./; './;/
of the initial conditions in the model. / .... .t?
A fair agreement appeared to consist between the scour- 0
. _,
/~\'
,0" /'
»:" /_
_j_
pattems in the model and those in the prototype (see fig. 15),
the only difference being that in the model the scour-hole is 0
4, ~
0.....
\.... ;:..
.. '1~'!---tl~"'/#
~ ..1.
o~,}';';
V __J_-
located somewhat more to the east than in the prototype.
/" :,- r :~>-1
o Ot Vf ... , ,"'>CM.1

As has been mentioned before, the deepest point of erosion _ TIME IN HOURS
• O.vl"u
'~-i
0.' '.0 tD'
with two-dimensional scouring act ion can be described as a
power-function of time, viz.: hmax :: t. With geometrical Fig. 14. Erosion/time-curves for first and second scour-hole.

24
 of (1. appeared to vary hetween.1.7 and 2.2, dependent on the
velocity-scale, The values of both (1. and P appeared to be de-
pendent on the nature of the transport; i.e. decreasing with
increasing turbulence-intensity.
Hence, for the determination of the time-scale in a particular
case, it will he possible to find the value of pinthe time-scale
equation by carrying out a number of model tests with a given
geometry and applying different velocity-scales.
In the past it has been assumed that, for obtaining a rough
estimate of the time-scale for three-dimensional scour, it would
be possible to use for the value of (1. in the time-scale equation
the value of (1. corresponding to the value of p, as found in the
model-studies of the Veersche Gat.

7. Recent approximatioo of tbe time-seale

In this chapter an approximation of the time-scale for scouring

action by vortex streets shall be endeavoured, based upon the
present knowledge obtained from the fundamental research
4 _~_._._",!t_ __ ._o_.
mentioned previously. In order to define a time-scale, it is
necessary that the erosion/time-curves are parallel to each
other, in other words, that for a certain scouring-depth, the
distance measured horizontally hetween two erosion/time-curves
should be constant. From the fact that the erosion of the deepest
point can be expressed as:
hmax/ho = 1 + A log tit,
(
I
i"
MODEL i
\
("

Fig. 15. Veersche Gat. Agreement between scour-patterns in prototype

and model respectively.

number of flow hours (te) with the maximum observed velocity

Uma• in accordance with the relationship

'~-------4--------~----+---~~-+-+-+~
~ TIME IN HOURS PROTOTYPE
Hence, the time t; is dependent on the shape of the velocity-
curve. For the above-mentioned reduction the relationship
between the time-scale and the velocity-scale ü1üSt be knOWI1.
The power p in the time-scale equation:
,SolO
~

'0
TtUE IN HOUAS

a . .
PAOTOTYPE

, e 9 ia

n tr: =na·n-p·n Y
1(\)-70 l l]J~JJ
nu-v
I u ti ,

V
could be determined in the Veersche Gat mode' by an analysis ~
nuJ..os

of the scour action caused by the vortex street after applying v/

various velocity-soales. It appeared that the value of this power ~ V
decreases with a decreasing velocity-scale. By means of these
data it could be established that for the Veersche Gat the flood- ..
'0 z
g
~
7..1
~
/'
/
/
/'
V
v~_·"
flow period could be represented by a period of 1.2 hours
effective flowing with the maximal flow (for the northem
closing gap of the Grevelingen the ebb-flow period appeared
:j-./_
•3

Ä~
/'
.#
§

./
7
/
/'
7
V

to be 1.5 hours).
Based upon an assumption regarding the material-scale
'/ / V
.~/ 1/ /
(sand in the prototype and fme bakelite in the model), derived , C7o.e
from the two-dimensional studies, it was possible to determine ,.s ______ TIME IN HOUA.S MODEL

the value of the power (1. in the time-scale equation, from the 0.5

scour measured in the model and in the prototype, or-in other Fig. 16. Veersche Gat. Erosion/time-curves for prototype and model
words: the influence of the length-scale (see fig. 17). The value respectively.

25
 300
/1' For a length of the bottom-protection of 10ho, a fair roughness
/'
/' (k/ho = 0.02) and avertical protrusion, the magnitude of the
/ ! correction-factor, for a dam-height Dfh; = 0; 0.3 and 0.6, will
250
__ ..... /'
/"
be equal to lXu = 1.0, l.l and 1.2 respectively. The above-
_11--
\ mentioned relationship applies to all of the materials used
0

\,. (sand, bakelite and polystyrene). The value of lXu is strongly

200 4
dependent on the geometry.
t iSO I «, :nt· nu". n6"'1 The general equation for the time-scale (characterized by the
time (1) becomes then:
n,.
\\ -,_- --
._-_.-~_--
-.
100

50

"'-...'" The value of y can be determined by comparing the test-results

obtained with the different materiais. For the aforementioned
o o tests, this value appeared to he approximately: y = 1.8.The value
4
·nu~ of the power {J could he determined by means of a number of
length-scale tests. This value found is {J = 1.8. However the
Fig. 17. Relationship of velocity-scaleand tirne-scale,a and IJ res-
pectively. number of tests on which this value is based is still too small for
using this value with full confidence. When the values of
y and {J are established, it will also he possible for any parti-
and that the coefficient A is independent on the velocity, it cular case to determine the value of exu by carrying out scouring-
may he concluded that there exists a constant time-scale for tests with a number of different velocity-scales in a small-
different materials during the scouring-process for a given scale model. The time-scale will then also be fixed.
geometry (see fig. 10, II and 14). Characterization of model- A program for future research has heen drawn up to pay
tests with different II-values offers a solution as to a time-scale. further attention to the influence of the lengtb-scale and of
Provided that the significant veloeities used are equal to the the distortion of models.
maximum values (considered in a horizontal plane) of the
equation Urna• = Ü (I + 3 F) at the end ofthe bottom-protection,
and furthermore that for the critical veloeities the same values 8. Conelaslons
are used as for a paraIIe! flow. then the results ofthe tests can be
summarized in the relationship: 1. Systematic three-dimensional erosion-tests in models in
I1 = (Uma.-Ucrit~Y= cp which different bed-materials were used have indicated a
in which the values of pand cp are dependent on the height of similarity in scour-development both for different materials
the dam. However, for a given geometry and a given material as weIl as for different velocity-scales. Consequently it is
pand cp are constants. possible to define a time-scale which remains constant during
Also, when in an analogous way as was done with the two- the scouring-process.
dimensional scour, a correction-factor a u is introduced for 2. It will be possible for any particular case, to determine the
deviating distribution of velocities, the following relationship value for the time-scale of three-dimensional scour, provided
is established covering all tests (see fig. 18): that the value of exu has been determined by means of a model-
study,
11= (lXv Uma. - U critt = constant.

I
--- [I, (.U)') ••. S .<0-' \
P 4 t _ C44.76h6
_. _. [f.(.U)I.] b,,".1S.te- 1-"'(.[j)4
- - - [I, (.U)').. ,.•
i.Of-----+--+-----;;:;_:c;;o-_+_--,----"_:_:__:__'-_'-----,--:___,-----+---1
1-,._ ._
n5~----+_-_f~~~~_4--~-2-=~

--~f--
-._~
?'r-. ~_

-'- -."0_
__±_-~----_4-~

O.iOI----_-_+-+------+-+----=~""~;;::
I-----
1-. _

..-+r------+--
-
0.051-----+---+-----1---1------+--+-----+-----:

• 00'12 v,..; p o 00 '12M.•.. b -0- 00 \12 M 1

... b Wu :.d.~ + DI V2 ! O<u::U

• 02V2 ...... p "'T"'·2 I .. ti 1D( .. ~'·2 I 0 02V2r.4·· ïl .... =·t

0.01L_ j_ _ __j_ _J___ L, .L__ _j_~----L---j

0.1 1.0 10i 102 103 Fig. 18.Relationshipbetweenscouring-timetI and

t, IN HOUR5 the value of (au Umax-UcrH)'

26
 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HYDRAULIC RESEARCH

THREE- DIMENSIONAL LOCAL SCOUR IN

NON-COHESIVE SEDIMENTS. (SUBJECT B.a.)

by

T. VAN DER MEULEN

Head Closure Works Branch, Delft Hydraulics Laboratory, Delft, the Netherlands.

and
,
J. J. VINJE
Head Laboratory De Voorst, Delft Hydraul ies Laboratory , Delft, the Netherlands.

Summary

The results are described of systematic research for three-dimensional local scour in loose
sediments. Relationships were determined between time-scale and scales for velocity,
length and material density. As for two-dimensional flow the shape and the extent of the
scour-hole due to vortices are in a high degree time dependent; originally the develop-
ment os a function of time is very fast, but in a later phase the progress is slower unti I
eventuallyan equilibrium situation is reached. In many practical cases the equilibrium
will not be attained.
Geometry, dam-height, length and roughness of bottom protection, flow velocity and
density of sediments were varied.
A relationship for the time-scale was derived, somewhat similor to that for two-dimen-
sional scour.
For practical cases the scour hos to be determined for a number of longitudhal sections
which have each a different time-scale. Restrictions of the results like permanent flow
and neglection of upstream material sup'ply can be tackled with additional computation
methods.

Résumé

Les résultats sont décrits d' une recherche systématique pour des érosions locales trois-cll-
mensionelles b fond mobile. De) rélations ont été dérivées entre I' échelle de temps et
les échelles pour la vitesse, la longueur et la densité du matériau.
Comme pour les écoulements bi-,dimensionels la configuration et I' étendue de I'affouille-
ment causées par des chopelets de tourbilions sont grandement dépendant du temps; dans
i'origine ie déveioppement comme Fonct ion du temps est très vite , maïs dons une phase
plus tard Ie progrès est plus lentement jusqu' une situation d' équilibre est otteinte finale-
ment. Pour beau coup de cos pratiques I'équilibre ne sera pas otteint.
La géométrie, la hauteur de la digue, la longueur et la rugosité de la protection du fond,
la vitesse du courant et la densité des sédiments ont été variés.
Une équation pour I' échelle du temps 0 été dérivée, quelque peu identique b laquelle
pour des érosions bi-dimensionelles.·· .
Pour des cas pratiques I' affou iIlement sera déterminé pour un nombre des profi Is longitu-
dinaux, qui possèdent une échelle de temps différente.
C' est possible de résoudre les Iimitations des résultots, comme I' écoulement permanent
et la négligence de I' influence du transport en amont de I'obstacle par des méthodes de
col co l supplémentaires.

263 B33
I Introduction

With the aid of systematic reseorch on two-dimensional local scour in loase sediments re-
lationships have been derived between time scale and scales for velocity, length and mate-
rial density. [1].
In many practical cases, however, the localscour will be determined by three:-dimension-
al effects - e. 9 . vortices during closing operations of estuaries. [2]. In order to determine
the above mentioned relationships 0150 for three-dimensional local scour the reseorch pro-
gramme, carried out at the Delft Hydraulics Laboratory and commissioned by the Nether-
lands. Department of Public Works, was continued. Physical scale models were used as 10-
cal scaur in estuaries due to constructions of dams etc. can not yet be approached by meons
of computing techniques. Dependent on the shape and the exrent of the scaur-hole and the
soil mechanical properties, the stability of structures can be endangered. Originally the
development of scour as a function of time is very fast, but later on an equilibrium situation
will be reoched. During closing operations of a dam in an estuary which require a limited
time the equilibrium will not be attained and then it is strictly nècessary to know the deve-
lopment of the local scaur as a function of time.
2 Programme of th ree dimensional scouring tests

The tests have been carried out in flumes with different geometrics (10 m, 5 mand 2,5 m
wide) and many voriations of dam-height, length of bottom protection, roughness of bottom
protection, flow velocity, sand: 0.24 till 0.64 nYs; bakelite 0.11 till 0.40 nYs; polysty-
rene 0.09 tijl 0.20 nYs, material diameters and density of sediments (2,650, 1,350 and
1,050 kg/m ). A comprehensive summary of the most important tests is given in figure 1 and
the table below.
moterial density
biB D/ho d/h0 I/ho Vh 0 B (rn] ho (ml
2.650 1.350 1.050kg/m3

0.1 0 0.02 24 - 10 0.50 x

0.1 0 0.02 24 - 5 0.25 x x x
O.1 0 0.02 24 - 2.5 0.125 x x x

0.1 0.3 ,0.02 24 4 10 0.50 x

0.1 0.3 0.02 24 4 5 0.25 x x x
0.1 0.3 0.02 24 4 2.5 0.125 x x x

0.1 0.6 0.02 24 4 10 0.50 x

0.1 0.6 0.02 24 4 5 0.25 x x x
0.1 0.6 0.02 24 4 2 5 0.125 x x x

!
TOP-VIEW

lONGIll.ONAL SECTIC:N CFJOSS - SEC TION

2 Sectioes through deepest point of scour-hole cffer different times

lONGITUDINAl SECTIQN
Profils ti teevers por la pointe la plus profonde opr~s des temps difr'Henh
I Summory of situotions

Sommoire de recherches

[1] Breusers, H. N. C. Two dimensionol locol scour in loose sediments, Symposium Closure of
estuarine channels in tidol regions, De Ingenieur 1968, no. 44, Delft Hydraulics Labora-
tory Publication no. 64
[2] Vin jé, J. J. Locol scour coused by vorrex streets, Symposiu~ Closure of estuori~e c~annel5 4
in tidal regions, De Ingenieur 1968, no. 47, Delft Hydroul ics Laboratory, Publlcat,on no. 6

B33 264
3 Relationship between maximum scouring depth and time

The scour-hole caused by vortices is the most significant factor for three-dimensional scour
In figure 2 the development of the scour-hole due to vorrces is given as a function of time
by presenting the cross-sections and longitudinal sections at different time-steps of the pro-
cess for a specific situation.
T~e de~pest point of t~e hole m.oves bo!h in longitudinal direction and lateraffy. As for two-
dimensienol scour the mcreose In scounng dep th decreases with time.
The results of two-dimensional scour for the relationship between maximum scouring depth
and time could be summarized in:

(1)

in which: h = maximum scouring depth

max
h = original waterdepth
o
= ti me at the moment h =h
max 0

For two dimensional flow the factor p proved to be 0.38, but for three-dimensional flow
this factor is dependent on the geometry. This means that p hos to be derived from scouring
tests. In general for three-dimensional scour the results con be written as:

(2)

in which the function for each geometry hos to be determined experimentaffy.

In figure 3 the results of alf tests have been summarized for one geometry (D/h = 0.3).
The scatter in the results is generalfy within reosoncble limits sothat the functi8n fin (2) con
be considered consistent for one geometry. For values of h > h the conformity decreases
for different conditions. max 0
In order to verify whether no scale effects or effects due to material have been blurred the
results have also been specified according to used bottom materials only and to length scale
(see figure 3). The conclusion is that no sr:ale effects occur.

4 Influence of magnitude of the velocities, density of sediments, water depth and geometry
on the scouring time

The dependence of the characteristic scouring time tI on the conditions of flow etc. or in
other words the relationship between time scale on tHe one side and the velocity scale, ma-
terial sco!e , length scale and geometric situation on the other side have been further inves-
tigated. It could be finalfy concluded that the influence of the various factors on the rate of
the scourina orocess can be described with th~ same genera! releflenship both for two- en
three-dime~s'ional local scour.
For two-dimensionol scour the relationship is:
= 25061. 7h 2 - -4.3
t1 0 (® - ucr) (3)

The influence of the waterdepth appears in the quantity h ; the influence of the velocity is
represented in the factor dü - u ond the influence of thg material is expressed both in (c(j -
cr
u ) and the quantity 6 = P - pip, in which p = density of material and p = density ei water.
cr s S
In the quantity c(j - u moreover the influence of the geometry hos been taken into account
cr
in the coeHicient ct.

265 B33
 3

2
~
~~~,;
~~
,v;rr ~~

.-
, ".AIl""
~
.,
II'!'I~."
tJllIk.~ ,,

~ .. ""
.~
'

0.2
'~
-~ :'
r.:

" ~:
, ~ ,, Djh =0.3
'-)' I
0.1
I
0.01 0.02 0.05 0.1 0.2 t 0.5 2 5 10
---+ Ti'
!
2

,_It.:i, "
,
" " ' .
h

~
, ',A
:J
,,[Vr
,
, ,~
D/ho=0.3
0.2 , ' sond
, /. ' bokelite
'/
V ' polystyrcne 1600).lm
• polystyrcne 2400).lm
0.1
I I I I I I I I
0.01 0.02 0.05 0.1 as 2 5 10

3
i
2
:.,'
.. ,,'
\ ..'.';" "..,;":
- ."1' .
hmox
~ :Ao!
....~;
t 0.5 - I
.~

I ~P'
,A '"'" I
i I
"
I,
.~ ~~ D/ho = 0.3

v. .. .
0.2 ' ,
• B= 10m ho =0.50m

0.1
+
0.01 0.02
'X I
0.05
~-~r-
0.1 Cl..?
Î
0.5
• B= Sm ho =0.25m
· B= 2.5m ho =0.125m
I
2
I I I I 1 I1
5 10
_._. t
11

3 Time-scour relotionships
Rl! lotions en tre temps pt offou i Ilement

B33 266
 Equation (3) can be converted in a dimensionless form:
1.7 2 -4.3
nt = n fl nh n (ca) _ u ) (4)
cr

For each test the value of a in (3) was determined. In this factor a as weil the component for
turbulence-intensity (ct), the component for vertical velocity distribution (ct ) and the com-
ponent for horizontal v~locity distribution are involved. u
There is a significant diHerence in ct volues for vorious geometries For D/h = 0 ct is obout
3.0; for D/h = 0.3 ct varies from 4.0 till 4.7 and for D/h = 0.6 a varies from 6.5 till 8.2.
The scatter ii? the results is greater thon for two-dimension8J scour. This is conceivable due
to the complicated situation for three-dimensionol local scour for which the chance of mee-
su ring inaccurocies ond the effect of cosual disturbances is greater thon for two-dimensionol
scour ,
The results of the three-dimensional_!ests satisfy equation (4j- In figu-re 4 the results are surn-
marized. Plotted are the values of au - u ond t llll .7. h . In this figure for eoch geome-
try 0 constant value of ct has been ossume<J"(the averoge ofthe computed values for eoch g4':
ometry).

T~Eml~!n9~$Ûmf~Eml~JI15Iml
4~--+-4-~~H+~--+-4-~~H+r---+-4-~~H+~--r-4-~-HH+~--+-4-~~H+~--+-4-~-H~

',l'! :.."';.-:.
•••
l

11
3 4 56 8 10! J 4 56 8 10" 3 4 56 8101 t 2 3 4 56 8 104 3 4 56 8105 23456810\5
______. 1
/11.7. ho2
4 Reletionship between t1/ó1.7h 2 end (aü - u )
o er

Rélationentre'l/ó1.7h 2et(c:rü-u )
o er

5 Development of scour and shope of scour-hole ot different locations in the cross-section

For scouring tests the length scale and the depth scole have to be the same. Moreover the
chosen bottom material will be the same for the whole model.
From the relotionship nt - nlll. 7nh2n(ct~ _ u )- 4.3, it follows that the time scale (nt) is
proportionol to n( - )-4.3 cr
',au - Ucr _
The scole factor n - hos 0 value which is independent on the location if au and ucr
au - ucr _
are constant values in tne entire cross+se ct ion both in model and prototype (au!ucr = con-
stant; two-dimensionol scour)
For three-dimensiona! scour the factor cxü!ucr wil, be practically never constant as Ucr is
determined by the bottom material ond the waterdepth and possible variations of Ucr do not
show variations of CXÜ.
For the test series with constant water depth Ucr does not vary in the cross-section and the
scale factor n( - ) is independent on the location if n- = n . N'Iostly the value of
au - Ucr u Ucr
n . is smal! sothat - in order to sotisfy the just mentioned condition - the value of n- and
Ucr u
nl will also be small which means large scour modeis.
In the test series in which the velocity was varied the condition n- = n was not satisfied,
u ucr
which means that the time scale is not constant in the cross-section. It is then questionable
whether the basic condition is met viz. conformity of the scour-hole in modeland proto-
type ot corresponding times during the scour process. To verify this the scour potterns we re
compored For tests with vorious velocities, bottom moterials ond lenglh scales.

267 B33
An example of the results of tests with various velocities is given in figure 5.
In generol it could be concluded that the differences are small and show no systematic co-
herenee with the variables, so there are no considerable scale effects for the tested scale
variations. Due to the foet that the time scole is not constant the determination of the time
scale con not be made for one single point in the cross-sectien (in order to translate the
scour pottem from the madel into the prototype). It is, therefore, necessary to determine
the development of scour in many lonqltudino] sections separately. In figure 6 the relation-
ship is given between h x/h and t/t1 for D/h in three longitudinal sections. In these fi-
ma 0 0
gures variations in velocity, length scale and bottom moterial have been used.
For different longitudinal sections hmax/ho = f (t/t1), in whlch the function is different for
each longitudinal section. For a three-dimensional case the geometrie situation is not only
determined by the qualities of sill and bottom protection, but also by the distance ti" the
banks, so by the location in the cross-section.
In figure 7 some longitudinal sections of the scour-hole are given for D/h = 0.6.
o

"
--
-,,_ ..-
0.36
0.40
cmls
cmlS
130 hoor,
65 o
, 2 4 o 6 7 .a. 9 '0
1.2 ---
_._._
0.44
0.48
cmls
cmls
52
21 D/hoaQ6 t~Q25t
l/~:~·1;i·-
'r-'t
----. O.~ cmls 12 O. f--
..".-
. ·i.')B.Q5~
//
.'
.
iÇ
8 bottom
grovol
o-ctecuon
t&- 0.02
L
O.

2
~/
y/
3
....-:
5.2
hO·Q25m.
t ",,0.25 t,
8115m, sond
h

"" O.4 '\~\--. /

-{_'~B.0.45

/
3.2 0.5
\ /
'.6 0.6
"
Or-~~:--;~~-'~0-~'2--'4~~'6~-'6~- I Shope of sccur holes ot different lccettcns
z
5 Scoor pottems
-;;;;-
La farme des offovillements pbur des locotions diff~r ....ntes

Contours des offouillemenh

6 Influence of unsteady flow

The tests which have been described were carried out with steady flow. In practice - e.g.
closing of on estuary with tides - the scour pattern is caused by unsteady flow.
The relationships which are val id for steady flow con not simplybe used in practice besause
o number of significant factors are now 0 function of time, such os the mean velocity u and
the water depth h . IVostly the variotion of ucr os 0 function of time con be neglected. The
voriation of a oncPof the function connected with the vorying geometry due to variation of
woterdepth are smalI end een be !~ft out of ccnsidercfion.
The equotions (3) ond (4) con be odapted to equations for unsteady flow, taking into account
that ü and hare time-dependent and ossuming that the unsteody flow con be considered os
o successionoof on infinite number of short lasting steady situations.
If the unsteady flow is cyclic (tidol movement) with cycle duration T, then the value for the
erosion time t1 becomes:

250111.7h 2(0)
0
(5)
t1 (tide)=
1
T {cxü (t) - u } 4.3
cr dt
-
T
J
0 ho (t)

B33 268
 3

.'
h max .,. ..:".,. •••.• .•
~ •• ~.,. ... t
~ ~

':;/? - . r.·
0..2
v......
.. . Z/S =0..45
:
0..1 I
I
0.0.1 0..0.2 0..05 0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10.
____. t
11
3

2
.... ~i ;r. ). ': .:'
..
,.,:', ~ T.'.'
..,. .
:~'.'
~·t 1,"'1-': '(~:-.:':
~, ',~
hmox
~

i
0..5

,~
.. ~ .'
.""
... Il": ..
\
..

Y" .
0..2
. . Z/S=0.55
'~r..
'li-
0..1 I
I
0.0.1 0.0.2 0..05 0.1 0.2 0.5 2 5 10.
____. t
11
3

...
'<I''':

.~..."'. .
• :.,/."J ~'
hmox
~ .~·I
0.5 L J'l" .. ,

i .~--~r-~~rr~+-~-~·~~~'~·~·_·++++~---+--+-~~~
, k~':-"

0.1 0.5 2 5 10.

-> :::.

6 Scour .05 function of time for three different locations in cross-section

Affou iIlement comme fonction du temps pour trois locations différentes dans Ie proti I en
travers

269 B33
 hmax (t)
and further: (6)
h (0)
o

7 Influence of neglection of upstream material supply

The tests have been carried out in such a way that transport of bottom material could only
take place downstreom of the bottom protection . Especially for fine sediments in nature there
will be a certcin amount of material in suspension . In this case a part ofthe transport capicityof
the current is already occupied, sothat for discharge of material thrown up from the scour-
hole not the full transport capacity will be available. This means that less material will be
taken away from the scour-hole and the scour-holes will be smaller than in the model tests
where no upstream material supply was present. This involves a reduction of the results of
the model tests, by means of cornputotions of the capacity of the scour-hole.
The contents of the scoor-hele per m. width con be approached by .

It=bh2 (t) ( 7)
max

in which b = shape factor.

It = quantity of material discharged from the scour-hole during time t from the be-
ginning of eros ion , if no upstream material transport is present.

If the upstreom material supply is Tl per m width, the quantity of material which hus been
discharged from the scour-hole will be:
1
It reduced = It - T t (s)

The reduced scouring depth follows then from:

h t - (9)
max ( ) reduced -

For the application of this method of reduction it will be necessary to determine the mogni-
tude of Tl for various longitudinal sections. Measurements in prototype are for this method
indispensable. ' .
tv'oreover it hos to be established whether all upstream moterial supply will be effective for
reduction of the dimensions of the scour hole.
The required insight can alsc be obtained with the aid of a smoll scale model. In prototype
there wi II hardly be any eros ion after the bottom protections - the first step during closing
of estuaries - have been put in ploce. In the model without upstream material supply there
wi 11, however, be some erosion .
In order to cbtcin the results in noture (h = ö) iî ean rhen be determined which volue of
max
1
T' hos to be used for reduction of the model results.

8 Conclusions
- There is 0 similority in scour development for three dimensionol locol scour both for diffe-
rent material as for different velocity scoles. This involves thot it is possible to define 0
time scole which remoins constant during the scouring process.
The time scale for three dimensional scour is given by:

_ 1.7 2 -4.3
nt - n f. nh (ctÜ - u )
cr
- It is possible to take into account factors like unsteody flow' ond upstreom material supply
oy means of computations.

B33 270