Title: RIPRAP PROTECTION AROUND BRIDGE PIERS IN A DEGRADING CHANNEL
Abstract: This study shows the behavior of a riprap layer around bridge piers in a degrading channel. The major failure modes found in riprap layers in a stable channel, such as shear failure, edge failure, winnowing failure and bed feature destabilization, are also present here. An additional feature that is unique to riprap layers around bridge piers in a degrading channel is the net degradation of the bed level that consists of finer sediment particles, while the larger riprap stones remain intact. This causes the formation of a riprap mound around the pier. Although this mound appears to serve its function in protecting the pier against erosion, the study shows that additional floods with large dunes translating past the pier can have dire consequences on the integrity of the riprap mound. Observations showed that the riprap layer had disintegrated significantly when two floods of similar magnitude were allowed on the riprap layer around the bridge pier. This result suggests that recurrent maintenance is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the riprap layer in protecting the pier against scour in a degrading channel.
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Date: 2002-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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