Studying the Shape Effect of Piers On the Vortices in Open Channels

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University

2 Coastal Research Institute, National Water Research Center

3 Mechanical Engineering Department, Institute of Aviation Engineering and Technology

Abstract

Scour is one of the most important natural phenomena that directly affect the safety of water structures.
Scour is formed due to vortices formation in the water flow in river and open channels. It also works to move
materials from the bottom and banks of the watercourse near the bridge structures. The main objective of this paper
is to study pier shape effect on minimizing vortices formation and consequently scouring. To achieve this
objective, experiments were carried out using a flume in Imbaba Flight Institute Hydraulic Laboratory, Egypt. Five
different shapes of piers with a constant discharge were used, which are circular, square, oblique square, a square
with circular noses, and oblique rectangular piers. From the obtained results, it was concluded that the best shape of
the pier is the square with circular noses achieving the least length and width of the formed scour holes behind it.
While the worst shape is the square pier achieving the largest length and width of the formed scour holes behind it.
The values of difference of the scour holes length for the oblique rectangular, the circular pier, the oblique square
pier, and the square pier compared to the square with circular noses are more by 46%, 114%, 124%, and 243%,
respectively.
The values of difference of the scour holes width for the circular pier, the oblique rectangular pier, the oblique
square pier, and the square pier compared to the square with circular noses are more by 40%, 108%, 117%, and
220%, respectively

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