Journal of New Approaches in Water Engineering and Environment
Scientific Journal

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECT OF PLATE ON REDUCING THE SCOUR AROUND SPINDLE-SHAPED BRIDGE PIER

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ali Niknam 1
Mohammad Heidarnejad 2
Alireza Masjedi 2
Amin Bordbar 3

1 Department of Water Science Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture and natural sciences, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

2 Department of Water Science Engineering, faculty of Agriculture and natural sciences, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Department of Water Science Engineering, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/nawee.2025.503788.1133
Abstract
Every year, a large number of bridges around the world are destroyed, mainly due to the lack of hydraulic role in their design. Methods of controlling and reducing local scour include the use of roughness, collars, submerged plates and protective piles. In the present study, the effect of submerged plates in controlling and reducing scour around the Spindle-shaped pier has been investigated. In this research, plates with different angles of 15, 30 and 45 degrees were used in single, two and three rows with different flow rates. The experimental results showed that by installing 45 degree plates with 1, 2 and 3 rows, we see 23.3, 40.5 and 43.8% reduction of scouring compared to the pier without plate. As the number of rows increases, the sediment displacement and accumulation in front of the bridge pier increases, which ultimately reduces scouring. By installing three rows of plates with angles of 15, 30 and 45 degrees to the direction of flow, we see 32.8%, 39.7% and 43.8% reduction of scouring compared to the pier without plate. By increasing the angle of the plates along the stream, their effective length increases and thus increases the sediment displacement by them, which results in more sediment being transferred to the front of the base and better scour control. Additionally, the simulation using the Flow-3D mathematical model closely aligns with the physical model, yielding an RMSE of 0.0392.

Keywords

Spindle-shaped bridge pier
Submerged Plate
Scour
Mathematical model
simulation
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Journal of New Approaches in Water Engineering and Environment
Volume 4, Issue 2
Special Issue: Guest Editor: Prof. Ozgur Kisi
September 2025
Pages 1-19

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