Bridge Hydraulics Scour

Bridges are expensive, route-critical elements in the Nation's highway system. They must be as safe and durable as possible. Hydraulic scour can undermine the structural integrity of bridges, even causing structural failure with deadly and costly consequences.

Results of a bridge scour experiment in the laboratory's main flume.

Above water view of the same bridge scour.

The research program at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory includes both general and bridge-specific research into the nature, causes, and preventions of hydraulic scour at bridge sites.

• General research can include studying how bridge geometry such as piers, abutments, piles, and pile caps, can affect scour hole geometry. Results of this research can then be used to develop predictive equations to assist in developing scour-resistant bridge designs.
  
  
• Bridge-specific research includes modeling alternative bridge designs to evaluate scour ramifications as well as replicating critical events to gain a better understanding for the scour response of an existing bridge.