Using Numerical and Physical Modeling to Evaluate Total Scour at Bridge Piers

The contraction scour resulting from a two-dimensional (2D) mobile bed numerical model is superimposed on the local scour measured on a large scale mobile bed physical model to evaluate the total scour at bridge piers. Compared with the empirical methods currently used in engineering practice, this procedure provides more accurate, specific, and not excessively conservative results. Moreover, the approach avoids the shortcomings of physically modeling extended river reaches. The results given by the suggested method are compared on a case study to the ones calculated with empirical formulas.