thumbnail

U.S. Geological Survey - Virginia Department of Transportation: Bridge scour pilot study

Fact Sheet 2018-3006
Prepared in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183006

Links

Background

Cost effective and safe highway bridge designs are required to ensure the long-term sustainability of Virginia’s road systems. The streamflows that, over time, scour streambed sediments from bridge piers inherently affect bridge safety and design costs. To ensure safety, bridge design must anticipate streambed scour at bridge piers over the lifespan of a bridge. Until recently Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) guidance provided only for scour estimates of granular, noncohesive, highly erosive material yielding overestimates of scour potential in instances when streambed materials offer some resistance to scour. This study seeks to estimate stream power and streambed scour for these more resistive sites, with bridge piers potentially established in cohesive soil or erodible rock. This new knowledge may provide significant construction cost savings while ensuring design and construction of safe highway bridges.

Suggested Citation

Austin, S.H., 2018, U.S. Geological Survey - Virginia Department of Transportation: Bridge scour pilot study: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2018–3006, 2 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183006.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Table of Contents

  • Background
  • Purpose of the Study
  • Outcomes
  • Study Deliverables
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title U.S. Geological Survey - Virginia Department of Transportation: Bridge scour pilot study
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2018-3006
DOI 10.3133/fs20183006
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Virginia Water Science Center
Description 2 p.
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details