J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory

Program

Research Studies

Descriptions/Performing Organizations/Study Partners

Impact on Key Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Initiatives and Programs

Starting Date

Expected Completion Date

 Innovative Bridge Research Deployment Program (IBRD)
and Infrastructure Research and Technology

Scour in Cohesive Soils/Ex-Situ Scour Testing Device

DESCRIPTION: Scour on cohesive soils is a very complex phenomenon that is not completely understood. The study addresses the incipient erosion of cohesive soils. A special erosion apparatus (ESTD) was developed to apply hydraulic loading on cohesive soil samples.

HEC-18

December 2007

March 2012

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems, University of Nebraska and Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory/Transportation Research and Analysis Computing Center (TRACC)

Influence of Large Scale Turbulence Structures on Scour in Cohesive Soils

DESCRIPTION: Large scale turbulence structures play an important role in the bridge pier scour process. The study will address the influence of large scale turbulence on the erosion process of soils. To simulate the turbulent hydraulic loading a dual drive wave making tube will be constructed, where soil samples will be exposed to oscillating hydraulic loads.

HEC-18

August 2011

August 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems

Combined Pier and Pressure Flow Scour for Live Bed and Clear Water Conditions

DESCRIPTION: This study will investigate the interdependency of pressure flow and bridge pier scour. The Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory will use its new high-speed sediment recirculation flume to conduct the study. The proposed study will research both scouring mechanisms combined for live bed flow and clear water conditions.

HEC-18

August 2012

December 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems and DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC

Smart Scour Countermeasures

DESCRIPTION: The objective of this study is to investigate new concepts to monitor the performance of bridge scour countermeasures. The scour countermeasure monitoring is needed for increasing confidence in field installations. Various forms of armoring countermeasures will have embedded active/passive sensors, which will be used for monitoring their positions.

HEC-23

August 2011

March 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems

Wave/Tsunami Wave Bridge Deck Response Forces

DESCRIPTION: This study will determine hydrodynamic wave/tsunami wave drag, wave/tsunami lift forces, and wave/tsunami wave moments from bridge deck response for partially and entirely submerged bridge decks. The bridge decks will be mounted on a 2-degree-of-freedom bridge deck response system consisting of guide system allowing a free horizontal and vertical response of bridge deck models.

HEC-25

May 2012

April 2014

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems and DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC

CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and CMM (Computational Multi-Physics Modeling) Modeling to Analyze Hydraulic Hazards

DESCRIPTION: Develop or further develop CFD and CMM analysis procedures that include: analysis of flood and wave forces on bridges; scour around bridge foundation structures, individually and in combination; scour countermeasures; bridge designs that minimize vulnerability to scour; culvert analysis, including flow losses in different culvert barrel geometries and surfaces; ease of fish passages; effects of bed materials on scour, including cohesive sediment and sediment of varied sizes; effects of debris on scour; live bed scour; and other processes that may impact the safety of the transportation system or minimize adverse affects of the transportation system on the environment.

HEC-18/HEC-25/HEC-26/HDS-5/HDS-7

February 2007

ongoing

PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS:  DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC, GENEX Systems, University of Iowa and University of Nebraska

Transportation Pooled Fund Program (TPF)

Underwater Inspection of Bridge Substructures Using Underwater Imaging Technology TPF-5(131)

DESCRIPTION: Improve methods to assess the performance of existing transportation structures and increase employee safety by reducing exposure of personnel to hazards encountered while performing underwater inspections.

HEC-23

August 2011

July 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS:  GENEX Systems, Collins Engineering, and Ayres Associates

STUDY PARTNERS: CA, FHWA, MO, ND, SC, TX, WI

Fish Passage in Large Culverts with Low Flows TPF-5(164)

DESCRIPTION: A primary objective of this aspect of the fish passage study is to determine the local velocities and flow distributions in corrugated metal pipes and pipe arches. To evaluate the ability of fish to traverse corrugated metal culverts more accurately, it is desirable to examine the changes in the local average velocity of the flow adjacent to the culvert wall under low flow conditions.

HEC-26/HDS-5

February 2008

December 2011

PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS:  GENEX Systems, DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC and University of Nebraska

STUDY PARTNERS: AK, FHWA, GA, MD, MI, MN, VT, WI

Updating U.S. Precipitation Frequency Estimates for the Southeastern Region TPF-5(175)

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of this study is to update the rainfall maps for AL, FL, GA, and MS, and to determine annual exceedance probabilities (AEP) and average recurrence intervals (ARI) for durations ranging from 5 minutes to 60 days and for ARIs from 1 to 1,000 years. The updates will be published as subsequent volumes of the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14.

HDS-2

May 2009

April 2012

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  DOC's NOAA/National Weather Service

STUDY PARTNERS: AL, FL, GA, MS, Southwest Florida Water Management District

Updating U.S. Precipitation Frequency Estimates for the Midwestern Region TPF-5(186) and TPF-5(187)

DESCRIPTION:  The purpose of these studies is to update the rainfall maps for IA, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI, OK, and CO, and to determine annual exceedance probabilities (AEP) and average recurrence intervals (ARI) for durations ranging from 5 minutes to 60 days and for ARIs from 1 to 1,000 years. The updates will be published as subsequent volumes of NOAA Atlas 14.

HDS-2

May 2009

April 2012

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  DOC's NOAA/National Weather Service

STUDY PARTNERS: CO, IA, KS, MN, MO, Minnesota State Aid, NE, SD, WI, SEWRPC, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

In Situ (Field) Scour Potential Testing Device TPF-5(210)

DESCRIPTION: This study will research the feasibility of using a scour testing field device (in situ scour device) to determine the erodibility of soils around bridge foundations. An effective in situ scour testing device could provide assistance on a project-by-project basis. Such a field device could define the scour potential more accurately for a given set of hydraulic design conditions.

HEC-18/HEC-23

July 2011

June 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS:  GENEX Systems and DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC

STUDY PARTNERS: CA, FHWA, CO, KS, NC, NY, TX, UT, WI

Bridge Pier Scour Research TPF-5(211)

DESCRIPTION: The scope of work consists of researching identified bridge pier scour issues to predict scour and to improve scour prediction equations. The research will be based on a combination of data obtained from the historical scour research literature, laboratory experiments, field testing, data collection, and data evaluation. The TFHRC J. Sterling Jones Hydraulics Research Laboratory will collaborate on this proposed research and will provide laboratory capabilities and technical assistance.

HEC-18

Jan-09

ongoing

PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONS:  GENEX Systems and DOE's Argonne National Laboratory/TRACC

STUDY PARTNERS: FL, FHWA, MS, NY

Enhancements to the FHWA-FST2DH Model for Simulating Two-Dimensional, Depth-Averaged Flow and Sediment Transport TPF-5(248)

DESCRIPTION: Enhancements to the FHWA-FST2DH Model for simulating two-dimensional, depth-averaged flow and sediment transport will be performed. This study will utilize current multicore computing technology to solve systems of equations that will enhance the modeling performance.

HEC-18/HDS-7

August 2011

July 2013

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  GENEX Systems

STUDY PARTNERS: AK, FHWA, GA, MD, MI, MN, VT, WI

Updating U.S. Precipitation Frequency Estimates for the Northeastern Region  TPF-5(249)

DESCRIPTION:  The purpose of this study is to update the rainfall maps for MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT, and to determine annual exceedance probabilities (AEP) and average recurrence intervals (ARI) for durations ranging from 5 minutes to 60 days and for ARIs from 1 to 1,000 years. The updates will be published as subsequent volumes of NOAA Atlas 14.

HDS-2

N/A

N/A

PERFORMING ORGANIZATION:  DOC's NOAA/National Weather Service

STUDY PARTNERS: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, VT