Non-Linear Scour Calculator of Skewed Piers

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of skewed piers and their geometrical shape on the scouring. A non-linear equation estimating scour depths around skewed piers (i.e. Piers Scour Calculator PSC) is established experimentally. The rectangular, semicircle and curvilinear piers are investigated. PSC Eq. gives reasonable values compared to formulas of Froechlich (1988), Chitale (1962), Ahmad (1962) and Inglis-Poona (1949). RSQ values equal 92.5%, 83.5% of the training and validating data, respectively. PSC results are convenient with measurements compared to equations of (Richardson & Davis, 2001) and (Melville & Sutherland, 1988). The experimental results showed that values of the scouring parameter increase by 200%, 270% and 238% for the rectangular, the semicircle, and the curvilinear piers, respectively as the skewed angle increases from 0o to 16.7o. Two empirical equations presenting flow angles and shape factors are developed.