Uses Field-Scale Data to Modify the HEC-18 Scour Model

The lowering of the river bed elevation near bridge piers caused by the flow washing away the material flowing downstream is known as local scour. Accurate estimation of maximum local scour depth around piers is essential for the safe and efficient design of bridge foundations. To estimate local scour depths around single piers, prevailing methods rely on empirical formulae developed mostly from laboratory studies. To improve the predictability of the HEC-18 scour model, this paper presents the modified equation for prediction of local scour depth around circular piers in non-cohesive soil condition, developed by using field scale data and nonlinear regression. This modified equation already has a determination coefficient (R2) calculated to be 0.95.