Mechanism of Scouring Around Group of Bridge Piers in Tandem Arrangement

Numerous studies have reported that flow takes place around more than one obstruction and objects in close proximity. Invariably, in all such cases, interference effects occur, and the forces experienced by the obstructions are influenced by those effects. These effects play a major role in the structures like flow-induced transmission towers, off shore structures and in many other practical situations. In this paper, the changes in the flow field that occur due to the interference effects are demonstrated, and analyzed. The results obtained from experimentation were validated against the results acquired from literature. The features that have been brought out in this paper mainly make use of the stand and geometry of circular cylinders in close proximity and the flow part of such geometry. The failure might have taken place due to the flow modification occurring on account of the complex and close positioning of a number of piers supporting the transmission tower. In a tandem arrangement, the upstream pier acts as a shield, shelter, or protector for the downstream pier. © 2023, The Institution of Engineers (India).