CFD Modelling of Local Scour and Flow Field around Isolated and In-Line Bridge Piers using FLOW-3D

Scouring at bridge piers is troublesome and inevitable at the same time. Numerous empirical studies have been conducted in the last century to predict scour depth, but they completely ignore the physics of the problem. The physics behind scouring at bridge piers can be best understood in terms of the effect of the flow field around the pier at different stages of scour. This study comprises experimental and numerical parts. Experiments are conducted in the laboratory in which the flow field data at equilibrium is collected using Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) and the equilibrium scoured bed is measured around isolated and In-Line Piers. Additionally, the commercial CFD code “FLOW-3D HYDRO 2022 R1” is utilized to simulate the flow field and scour around bridge piers. The FLOW-3D model solves the three–dimensional momentum and continuity equations coupled with the sediment transport equations to calculate and predict the flow field and the equilibrium scoured bed. While the maximum scour depth at equilibrium has been used to validate various CFD codes in the past, point-wise comparison of scour depth is scanty in previous research works. Moreover, the flow field at the equilibrium scour stage obtained using FLOW-3D has also been compared with experimental data available in the literature and experiment conducted in the laboratory. The performance of the CFD model is evaluated, the flow field and scoured bed geometry at equilibrium are analyzed and results are presented.