Prediction of scour depth at piers with debris accumulation effects using linear genetic programming

Abstract

Exact evaluation of scour depth around piers under debris accumulation is crucial for the safe design of pier structures. Experimental studies on scouring around pier bridges with debris accumulation have been conducted to estimate the maximum scour depth using various empirical relationships. However, due to the oversimplification of a complex process, the proposed relationships have not always been able to accurately predict the pier scour depth. This research proposes linear genetic programming (LGP) approach as an extension of the genetic programming to predict the scour depth around bridge piers. Among the artificial intelligence techniques, LGP and locally weighted linear regression (LWLR) models have not been used to predict the scour depth at bridge piers. Literature experimental data were collected and used to develop the models. The performance of the LGP method was compared with gene-expression programming, LWLR, multilinear regression and empirical equations using rigorous statistical criteria. The correlation coefficient (R) and the root mean squared error (RMSE) were (R?=?0.962, RMSE =0.31) and (R?=?0.885, RMSE =0.542) for the LGP and LWLR, respectively. The results demonstrated the superiority of the LGP method for increasing the accuracy of the predicted scour depth in comparison with the other models.     

Experimental Study on Local Scour Around Bridge Piers in Tidal Current

Local scour around a bridge pier is an important pm‘mneter for the design of a bridge. Compared with the local scour in a mono-directional current, the local scour in a tidal current has its unique characteristics. In this paper, several aspects of local scour around bridge piers in tidal current, including the scour development process, the plane form of a scour hole and the maximum scour depth, are studied through movable bed flume experiments.     

Evaluation of the applicability of pier local scour formulae using laboratory and field data

The reliable estimation of the local scour depth at a bridge pier is essential for proper design and maintenance of bridge piers. Most local scour formulae have been developed based on the results of laboratory experiments. The formulae based on laboratory data do not often produce reasonable predictions for field piers because laboratory investigations are apt to oversimplify or ignore many of the complexities of the flow fields around the bridge piers. Validation of the formulae is necessary in order to ascertain which of the formulae are able to provide reasonable estimates of the local scour depth. In this study, six commonly cited formulae based on laboratory data or field data were selected for validation using 180 laboratory data sets gathered from the literature and 446 field data sets collected from four countries. The six formulae validated in this paper are the Colorado State University (CSU), Neill, Froehlich, Breuser, Laursen, and simplified Chinese formulae. Comparisons between the predicted and measured depths were performed using scour from the laboratory and field data. An artificial neural network technique was also applied in order to compare the tendencies between the field and laboratory data sets.     

Prediction of local scour around circular piles under waves using a novel artificial intelligence approach

Abstract

The scour phenomena around vertical piles in oceans and under waves may influence the structure stability. Therefore, accurately predicting the scour depth is an important task in the design of piles. Empirical approaches often do not provide the required accuracy compared with data mining methods for modeling such complex processes. The main objective of this study is to develop three data-driven methods, locally weighted linear regression (LWLR), support vector machine (SVR), and multivariate linear regression (MLR) to predict the scour depth around vertical piles due to waves in a sand bed. It is the first effort to develop the LWLR to predict scour depth around vertical piles. The models simulate the scour depth mainly based on Shields parameter, pile Reynolds number, grain Reynolds number, Keulegan–Carpenter number, and sediment number. 111 laboratory datasets, derived from several experimental studies, were used for the modeling. The results indicated that the LWLR provided highly accurate predictions of the scour depths around piles (R?=?0.939 and RMSE = 0.075). Overall, this study demonstrated that the LWLR can be used as a valuable tool to predict the wave-induced scour around piles.     

Developing empirical formulas for assessing the scour of vertical and inclined piers

Abstract

Because scour is one of the main reasons for bridge failure, this study focuses on accurately predicting the maximum scour depth around different vertical and inclined piers. Scouring is an issue of concern in the bridge design process, as most existing equations for predicting local scour near bridge piers suffer from over- or underprediction issues, resulting in higher foundation costs or bridge failure and inaccurate predictions of the scour around piers. The dimensionless maximum scour depths (y_s/D) of vertical and inclined piers were investigated for seven pier shapes with different L/D ratios and four inclination angles (θ) under shallow flow conditions. The inclined pier configuration reduced the y_s/D of the piers. The maximum y_s/D was observed for a rectangular pier with an L/D of 4.5 in both vertical and inclined configurations (θ of 10, 15 and 21°, respectively). The y_s/D was significantly decreased by increasing the angle of the pier from 10 to 30°. The y_s/D of the inclined rectangular piers decreased as θ decreased from 30 to 10° and the L/D ratio increased from 1 to 4.5. The best y_s/D results were obtained for inclined rectangular piers at a θ value of 30° and an L/D ratio of 7.5 compared to other shapes and inclination angles. New equations were developed to predict the local scour depth for circular, square and rectangular bridge piers. The equations yielded excellent results for predicting the maximum clear water scour depth around vertical and inclined piers with inclination angles of 10, 15, 21 and 30°, respectively.     

强潮流作用下桥墩不对称“双肾型”冲刷地貌特征与机理

本文在海图地形资料分析桥轴线附近的海床自然冲刷的基础上,利用多波束测深技术研究大桥主墩附近局部冲刷地形。结果表明,该大桥桥位附近地形冲刷较显著,且大桥主墩位置有持续冲刷的趋势;主墩上、下游群桩最大冲刷深度呈上游最深、中部淤积、下游渐深的不对称形态,最大局部冲刷深度为4 m;桥墩整体冲刷坑形态呈南北“双肾型”;潮流流向与桥墩迎流面存在偏南的入射角,使得各桥墩南侧的最大冲深和冲刷范围均大于北侧。     

Clear water scour around a finite array of cylinders

This experimental study presents clear-water scour and deposition patterns around hexagonal arrays of circular cylinders in steady flow conditions. Understanding the scour processes around such configurations could facilitate the design of several hydraulic and marine engineering structures, such as bridge piers and piles. The flow alteration caused by the examined porous obstacles depends on the solid volume fraction of the obstacles and on the angle of attack of the incoming flow, due to the limited number of cylinders constituting the array. Flume experiments with erodible bed were carried out for four array densities (solid volume fractions: 0.14, 0.20, 0.32 and 0.56) under three different orientations (regular, angled and staggered configurations). The scour/deposition characteristics were obtained by means of laser scanner and the results were compared to solid cylinders of equal circumambient diameter. Different angles of attack of the incoming flow lead to different blockage ratios, which have direct impact on the scour characteristics and deposition patterns. The arrays with the higher solid volume fraction generated scour/deposition patterns similar to solid cylinder, while in the arrays with the lower solid volume fractions, local scour around the individual small cylinders became evident. Finally, considering that the load bearing capacity of a pier basically depends on the area of its cross-section, a comparison of the maximum induced scour depth and volume by the cylinder arrays and the solid cylinder with equal solid cross-sectional area is presented, in order to introduce an alternative pier configuration that induces less scour. The results showed that the array of cylinders could generate 27% less scour volume and 22% less scour depth compared to its single solid cylinder counterpart.     

Local scour prediction around piers with complex geometry

A laboratory study of local scour at complex piers under steady clear-water conditions is presented. The term complex piers is used to define a bridge pier comprising of a column, pile cap, and pile group. Comprehensive data over the full range of possible pile cap elevations for complex piers with different geometries were obtained using five complex pier models, which were scaled down from existing bridges in Malaysia. The data are used to evaluate existing methodologies for characterizing the effective width of complex piers with varying pile cap location relative to the undisturbed streambed. The effect of pile cap location on scour depth is also addressed. To improve the predictions of local scour at complex piers, the new data and some previous data are used to propose a new method to predict local scour depth at complex piers.     

长江口沙波分布区桥墩局部冲刷深度计算公式的改进

利用多波束水深仪、浅地层剖面仪和多普勒流速仪对长江口苏通大桥南、北主墩区域现场测量,结果显示主墩周围最大冲刷深度为8.3 m和19.6 m。建墩前后河床形态变化显著,建墩后桥墩所在床面由平床改变为典型不对称沙波发育,平均波长为30.8 m和23.1 m,平均波高为4.2 m和9.4 m,陡坡朝向下游。基于实测水文条件和地形资料,以沙波起动流速和落急最大流速分别取代单向流作用下"平床"假定的桥墩局部冲刷计算公式中单颗粒泥沙的起动流速和墩前流速,获得河口涨落潮双向流作用下沙波底床桥墩局部冲刷计算公式。且该公式计算的苏通大桥南、北主墩局部冲刷深度为9.5 m和22.1 m,非常接近实测值。     

Scour below submarine pipelines under irregular wave attack

Submarine pipelines are widely used coastal structures, and scour around them can influence their stability. In this study, scour around rigid submarine pipelines under normal-incidence irregular wave attack on horizontal and (1/10) sloping beaches is studied. This paper presents experimental results concerning scour under irregular wave attack. Multiple regression analysis is used to develop models to predict the scour depth under pipelines under the influence of irregular wave attack. The representative wave parameters that characterize the irregular sea state that causes the same scour depth as regular wave attack were determined.     

Circular time-domain reflectometry system for monitoring bridge scour depth

Abstract

Sediment has a severe effect on bridge stability, and time-domain reflectometry (TDR) is a suitable method for assessing scour depth. This paper presents a fundamental study to demonstrate the suitability of a circular TDR system to enhance the resolution when monitoring scour depth with consideration of detailed local changes over a wide area around piers. A total of 32 electrodes are vertically installed on a cylinder pier around the circumference at ～7.36?mm intervals. Scour depth is investigated through small-scale laboratory experiments, where a measured waveform reflects the artificially constructed scour depth with high resolution (≈5?mm). Different scour types including circular, mushroom, elliptical, and irregular shapes are developed to verify the application of circular TDR, and shapes are predicted through the detailed local distribution. The influences of the reflected waveform according to water level change, temperature variation, and salinity effect are investigated as additional considerations, and the relative deviation of scour depth is analyzed. This study demonstrates that the proposed circular TDR system achieves better resolution than existing single TDR systems and may provide a better alternative technique for monitoring scour depth.     

港珠澳大桥青州航道桥桥墩基础冲刷试验研究

桥墩基础冲刷是桥梁毁坏的重要因素,是桥梁基础设计的关键指标之一。目前国内外对于桥墩基础在复杂动力条件下冲刷深度的研究常采用物理模型试验方法,利用正态系列模型方法,在波流水槽中研究了水流、潮流和波流共同作用下青州航道桥索塔基础周围流态变化和局部冲刷特征。研究结果表明,桥墩最大冲刷深度和冲淤范围与水流流速、桥墩轴线与水流夹角和波浪等因素有关;在潮流最大流速和恒定流流速一致情况下,桥墩局部冲刷深度达到平衡后,将会达到与恒定流基本一致的最大冲深;波流共同作用下的最大冲刷深度比恒定流增加10%左右。设计桥墩形状在100年一遇水流和波浪共同作用下桥墩基础局部最大冲刷深度为13.7 m。     

台阶式沉井等效墩宽计算方法探究

桥梁工程中存在形状各异的桥墩,在研究不同截面桥墩的局部冲刷特性时,桥墩尺寸的定量描述非常重要。以台阶式沉井结构为研究对象,梳理并分析了国内外相关等效桥墩宽度计算方法,发现各类公式本质上为计算不同条件下的桥墩平均阻水宽度。开展了台阶式沉井局部冲刷试验研究,基于试验数据对比分析了各类等效墩宽计算方法的计算结果,发现Melville和Raudkivi的等效墩宽计算公式能够较好地估算考虑动床条件下台阶式沉井的平均阻水宽度;进一步收集了国内外193组台阶式沉井类结构的局部冲刷试验数据,数据集统计分析结果显示Melville和Randkivi的等效墩宽计算公式能够较为准确且保守地量化大多数台阶式沉井类结构的截面非均匀性;最后基于数据集冲深墩宽比统计结果对该公式近似方法的合理性进行了讨论。     

Estimation of pile group scour using adaptive neuro-fuzzy approach

An accurate estimation of scour depth around piles is important for coastal and ocean engineers involved in the design of marine structures. Owing to the complexity of the problem, most conventional approaches are often unable to provide sufficiently accurate results. In this paper, an alternative attempt is made herein to develop adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) models for predicting scour depth as well as scour width for a group of piles supporting a pier. The ANFIS model provides the system identification and interpretability of the fuzzy models and the learning capability of neural networks in a single system. Two combinations of input data were used in the analyses to predict scour depth: the first input combination involves dimensional parameters such as wave height, wave period, and water depth, while the second combination contains nondimensional numbers including the Reynolds number, the Keulegan–Carpenter number, the Shields parameter and the sediment number. The test results show that ANFIS performs better than the existing empirical formulae. The ANFIS predicts scour depth better when it is trained with the original (dimensional) rather than the nondimensional data. The depth of scour was predicted more accurately than its width. A sensitivity analysis showed that scour depth is governed mainly by the Keulegan–Carpenter number, and wave height has a greater influence on scour depth than the other independent parameters.     

Empirical design of scour protections around monopile foundations: Part 1: Static approach

Together with new opportunities, offshore wind farms raise new engineering challenges. An important aspect relates to the erosion of bottom material around the foundation of the wind turbines, caused by the local increase of the wave and current induced flow velocities by the pile's presence. Typically, the expected scour has a considerable impact on the stability and dynamic behavior of the wind turbine and a scour protection is placed to avoid erosion of the soil close to the foundation. Although much experience exists on the design of scour protections around bridge piers (which are placed in a current alone situation), at present, little design guidelines exist for the specific case of a scour protection around a monopile foundation subjected to a combined wave and current loading.     

桩柱周围海底冲刷深度计算及动力参数的选取

通过６０年代以来研究的桩柱周围海底冲刷深度计算模式的对比分析表明,我国学者王汝凯等人提出的“普遍冲刷深度”、“局部冲刷深度”和“总冲刷深度”的计算模式在科研和生产实践中是可行的,能给设计和施工提供科学的和有价值的参数。各种冲刷深度的计算模式如下：普遍冲刷深度ｌｇ（Ｓｕ０／ｎ＋０．０５）＝－０．６６３＋０．３６４９ｌｇα（１）局部冲刷深度ｌｇ（Ｓｕ１／ｈ）＝－１．２９３５＋０．１９１７ｌｇβ（２）总     

大型桥梁钢沉井下沉过程局部冲刷研究

钢沉井下沉过程中局部冲刷的研究是同类桥墩设计和施工十分关心的重要课题,它对保证钢沉井安全有效施工、桥梁设计中施工期桥墩最大冲深、失稳和安全计算有重要参考价值。通过室内试验研究了钢沉井下沉过程中的局部冲刷机理和冲刷形态,探讨了桥墩下部钢沉井基础施工的相对高程对局部冲刷的变化规律,并将试验研究所获得的局部冲刷规律和影响因素,采用墩型系数方法引入局部冲刷计算中,给出了计算公式。研究成果补充了国家行业规范内容,对同类工程的设计、施工具有借鉴和指导意义。     

中性网格对圆桩局部冲刷的水动力弱化及防护效果分析

针对水下桩墩的局部冲刷问题,提出一种适用范围广、防冲促淤效果显著的防护措施。该防护措施把一种相对密度略大于水、几何特征特殊的中性网格结构完全覆盖在冲刷坑或可能出现冲刷坑的床面上,以减弱冲刷坑内水动力,促进泥沙落淤,达到减轻局部冲刷的目的。通过数值模拟和水槽试验探讨了中性网格结构对圆桩周围冲刷坑内水动力及床面形态的影响,并研究了网孔尺寸对防冲促淤效果的影响规律。结果表明：该中性网格结构能显著减小局部冲刷坑内的流速,有效抑制局部冲刷,且对桩前来流来沙的影响微弱。孔径比7.7的网格防护结构可以使无黏性沙床上圆桩的局部冲刷深度减少92%,已存在的冲刷坑则可被修复73%。这些研究成果为桩墩局部冲刷防护提供一种新的思路。     

Burial and scour around short cylinder under progressive shoaling waves

The results of a laboratory experimental program aimed at better understanding the scour around and burial of heavy cylindrical objects under oscillating flow on a sandy bed are described. This study was motivated by its application to the dynamics of isolated cobbles/mines on a sandy floor under nonlinear progressive waves, such as that occur in shallow coastal waters beyond the wave-breaking region. In the experiments, nonlinear progressive waves were generated in a long wave tank of rectangular cross-section with a bottom slope. Model mines (short cylinders) were placed on the sandy bottom and the temporal evolution of the bed profile and the velocity field in the near field of the object were observed. Experiments were conducted at relatively high Reynolds numbers for a range of flow conditions, which can be characterized by the Keulegan–Carpenter number and Shields parameter. Depending on the values of these parameters, four different scour regimes around the cylinder including periodical burial of cylinder under migrating sand ripples were observed; they were classified as: (i) no scour/burial, (ii) initial scour, (iii) expanded scour, and (iv) periodic burial cases. A scour regime diagram was developed and the demarcation criteria between different regimes were deduced. Semi-empirical formulae that permit estimation of the scour depth with time, the equilibrium maximum scour depth and length, and conditions necessary for the burial of the cylinder as a function of main external parameters are also proposed.