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Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars

and slots
a b c d
A.T. Moncada-M , J. Aguirre-Pe , J.C. Bolívar & E.J. Flores
a
Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center , School of Civil Engineering,
University of the Andes , Mérida, 5101, Venezuela E-mail:
b
Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center , School of Civil Engineering,
University of the Andes , Mérida, 5101, Venezuela E-mail:
c
Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center , School of Civil Engineering,
University of the Andes , Mérida, 5101, Venezuela E-mail:
d
Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center , School of Civil Engineering,
University of the Andes , Mérida, 5101, Venezuela E-mail:
Published online: 26 Apr 2010.

To cite this article: A.T. Moncada-M , J. Aguirre-Pe , J.C. Bolívar & E.J. Flores (2009) Scour protection of circular bridge
piers with collars and slots, Journal of Hydraulic Research, 47:1, 119-126

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 Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009), pp. 119–126
doi:10.3826/jhr.2009.3244
© 2009 International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research

Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars and slots

Protection de l’affouillement autour de piles cylindriques de ponts avec
colliers et rainures
A.T. MONCADA-M, (IAHR Member), Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center, School of Civil Engineering, University
of the Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela. E-mail: alix@ula.ve

J. AGUIRRE-PE, (IAHR Member), Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center, School of Civil Engineering, University of
the Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela. E-mail: aguirrej@ula.ve
Downloaded by [University of Newcastle (Australia)] at 00:47 06 September 2014

J.C. BOLÍVAR, Civil Engineer, Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center, School of Civil Engineering, University of the
Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela. E-mail: chidra@ula.ve

E.J. FLORES, Civil Engineer, Hydraulics Laboratory, Hydraulics Research Center, School of Civil Engineering, University of the
Andes, Mérida, 5101, Venezuela. E-mail: chidra@ula.ve

ABSTRACT
Findings on further investigations on the effects produced by a collar around a circular pier and by the piercing of a rectangular slot for controlling
the scour depth are presented. Experiments were conducted using uniform sand and a circular pier of 7.3 cm diameter. The Froude number varied
between 0.20 and 0.32. Two collars of 14.6 cm and 21.9 cm diameter were first investigated. Subsequently, a slot of 1.8 cm width and variable length
was pierced on the central pier section. It was found that when the collar was placed at the bed level, the minimum depth of scour was reached. The
scour depth is reduced when the collar diameter is increased, and the most favorable location to decrease the local scour was obtained by placing the
slot near the bed. The scour depth decreases as the slot length increases and was almost entirely eliminated when applying the collar–slot combination
for the considered flow conditions.

RÉSUMÉ
Les résultats de recherches additionnelles sur les effets produits par un collier placé autour d’une pile cylindrique et du perçage d’une rainure
rectangulaire pour contrôler la profondeur d’affouillement sont ici présentés. Les expériences ont été faites avec du sable uniforme et une pile
cylindrique de 7.3 cm de diamètre. Le numéro de Froude a varié de 0.20 à 0.32. Les recherches ont d’abord été réalisées avec deux colliers de 14.6 et
21.9 cm de diamètre. Ensuite, une rainure de 1.8 cm de largeur et de longueur variable a été creusée dans la partie centrale de la pile. Nous résultats
montrent que quand le collier est placé au niveau du lit, on obtient la plus petite profondeur d’affouillement. Quand le diamètre du collier augmente, la
profondeur d’affouillement se réduit. La localisation de la rainure la plus favorable pour diminuer l’affouillement local s’est revelée être près du fond.
La profondeur d’affouillement décroît quand la longueur de la rainure augmente, et la profondeur d’affouillement est presque totalement éliminée
quand on applique la combinaison collier- rainure pour les conditions de flux considérées.

Keywords: Bridge piers, collar–slot combination, local scour, pier collar, pier slot, protection device, scour

1 Introduction
The formation of scour holes around bridge piers is one of the
main causes of bridge foundation collapse. Local scour at bridge
piers may be defined as a local lowering of the bed elevation
around a pier. This lowering is mainly caused by the horseshoe
vortex combined with the downflow in front of the pier, the vor-
tex shedding at the back of the pier and the flow contraction.
Bridge failure due to the effects of local scour associated with the
structure of the local flow field around a pier involves a consider-
able interest in scour prediction and scour protection measures.
Previous studies have shown that the scour depth evolution may
be influenced by the approach flow Froude number expressed in
terms of the bed particle size.
Two basic procedures may reduce the scour depth. The first
consists in enhancing the ability of the bed material to withstand
erosion. This is generally done by placing an armoring device on
the bed, such as riprap. The riprap provides a physical obstacle
that resists the erosive power of the flow. The second procedure
consists in reducing the downflow in front of the pier and the
horseshoe vortex scouring the bed material. This is generally
achieved by placing a circular collar around the pier. A collar

Revision received June 18, 2008/Open for discussion until August 31, 2009.

119
 120 A. T. Moncada-M et al.
avoids that sediment particles are eroded by the downflow. A slot
may also be pierced along the pier height, either near the bed or
near the water surface.
Herein the combined effect produced of placing a collar
around a circular pier and piercing a rectangular slot to con-
trol the depth of scour is examined. Experiments were conducted
using collars of different diameters placed at different elevations.
The slot was located near the bed and near the water surface to
assess the effects of both arrangements on the scour depth. Sev-
eral experiments were carried out by combining the slot with a
collar. From a practical viewpoint, the hydraulic-oriented coun-
termeasures should conform the structural requirements. Slot
clogging with floating debris could reduce the slot efficiency.
Furthermore, wide collars placed at separate piers may reduce
the net bridge opening, especially in case of navigational use of
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rivers.
2 Review of literature
Although many experimental studies were conducted to predict
pier scour, there is little information regarding the best way to
protect piers against scour. Maza and Sánchez (1966) proposed a
method to protect piers against scour formation. This method was
based on the theory of critical conditions for sediment entrain-
ment and hydraulic bed resistance. Replacing bed particles with
another material of larger diameter and more resistant to ero-
sion was also proposed. Breusers et al. (1977) recommended
the placement of boulders with a critical entrainment velocity of
twice the extreme flood velocity around the pier. Posey (1974)
performed tests using transparent cylinders of different diameter
and prismatic diamond-shaped hollow wooden piers. He con-
cluded that bridge piers in erodible material can be protected
from under-scour by means of an inverted filter extending to 1.5
to 2.5 pier diameters from the pier. He also reported that Terza-
ghi’s inverted filter design consisting of one or more layers of
progressively coarser material was effective. Terzaghi’s studies
(Posey, 1974) showed that the interstices in a protective layer
must be small enough to prevent the finer material below from
escaping, but large enough to allow the upward flow of water
without creating too large a lift force. Posey (1974) concluded
that the particle size should be selected in relation to the pier
shape, the percentage of pier contraction, and the approach flow
Froude number.
Lauchlan and Melville (2001) studied failure mechanisms, the
stability, and the riprap placement level effects at bridge piers.
Their results showed that under clear water conditions, riprap is
subject to shear, winnowing, and edge failure. Under live-bed
conditions, a fourth failure mechanism was the destabilization
due to sand wave passage. Further experiments were conducted
to assess the capacity of riprap to protect bridge piers under a
wide range of flow conditions. Their study showed that, as the
flow velocity increases, the ability of riprap to protect a pier
decreases asymptotically until the scour depth in the riprap layer
reaches that of an equivalent unprotected pier. Lauchlan and
Melville (2001) also investigated the effect of placing a riprap
Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)
layer deep within the sediment bed rather than at the bed surface.
As the riprap was deeper, the riprap exposed to destabilizing bed
forms was smaller, and a better protection against local scour
was achieved. They concluded that the destabilization of riprap
layers protecting bridge piers by the progression of bed forms
past the pier is the predominant failure mode under live-bed
conditions.
Chiew (1992) conducted experiments using a cylindrical pier
of diameter 32 mm. The bed material involved an uniform sand
of 0.33 mm median particle size and of 2.65 t/m3 specific gravity.
The flow depth was 180 mm. The flow velocity varied between
0.67 and 0.81 m/s. Chiew studied the effects produced by a collar
placed around the pier, a slot in the pier, and a combination of both
on scour. His experiments showed that these three methods were
effective in reducing the scour depth. By placing a one-fourth
diameter wide slot near the water surface or at bed level, it was
possible to reduce the clear water scour depth by as much as 20%.
His study also indicated that a one-half diameter wide slot placed
near the water surface may reduce the clear water scour depth up
to 30% and that a slot placed near the bed combined with a collar
could eliminate scour completely. The present study uses collars
and slots for flow conditions different from those considered by
Chiew (1992).
Kumar et al. (1999) assessed the effect of pier slots and collars
on the reduction of local scour at bridge piers. The experimen-
tal work reported by Kumar (1996) was carried out in a 30 m
long, 1 m wide, and 0.60 m deep flume of longitudinal slope
So = 7.73 × 10−4 . Experiments were conducted under differ-
ent flow conditions and for slots and collars of different sizes
using piers and sediment of various sizes. Kumar et al. (1999)
studied the efficiency of slots of different lengths and different
angles of attack, including the scour reduction in terms of the
collar location and size at different elevations. They found that
larger diameter collars close to the bed are more effective than
smaller. It was concluded that a slot can be effective in reducing
scour, particularly if it extends into the bed, and that the slot is
practically ineffective if the approach flow has a high obliquity
with respect to the slot.
Zarrati et al. (2004) tested the efficiency of collars on rectan-
gular piers in reducing scour. Their experiments included piers
aligned and skewed at 5◦ and 10◦ to the approach flow. It was
again found that a wide collar close to the bed is effective,
and that the collar performance reduces with increasing pier
skewness.
Garg et al. (2005) studied the effect of a group of three collar
plates of size 1.5D with D as the pier diameter having an inter-
plate spacing of D/6 to D/4 with the top plate initially placed at
average bed level. They found that this protection device reduces
the scour by about 80% as compared to the scour depth of an
unprotected pier.
3 Experiments
The experimental study was conducted in an 8.50 m long, 0.50 m
wide, and 0.50 m deep horizontal channel under clear water flow
 Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)
conditions using an iron pier. Uniform sand with a median particle
size of 0.14 cm was used as bed material with a single cylindri-
cal pier of diameter D = 7.3 cm. The cohesionless material was
leveled prior to experimentation. The working section was cov-
ered with a carpet to avoid undesirable scour of bed sediment
under inadequate flow depth. The approach flow depth was con-
trolled by a downstream gate. When flow was stabilized, the
carpet used to protect the channel bed was carefully removed.
Discharge was measured with a sharp-crested weir to ±2% accu-
racy. After reaching the equilibrium scour state, i.e. the scour hole
advance had stopped, the channel was drained, and the scour hole
geometry was measured. Each experiment lasted for about 6 h.
Gauges located in front and on the sides of the pier allowed the
observation of the scour depth advance during a test. The equi-
librium scour depth was assumed to have been reached when a
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change inferior to 0.1 cm was observed within 2 h. Eight experi-
ments were conducted with an unprotected pier. The authors did
not find that the local scour depth variations at a certain time were
important in the experimental range studied. Scour depths were
only measured along the channel axis.
To study the effect produced by a collar on the scour depth,
a collar of diameter W = 2D and 0.2 cm thickness was first
(a)
Figure 1 (a) Local scour around the pier, (b) equilibrium local scour hole
(a)
Figure 2 (a) Pier with slot near the bed, (b) equilibrium local scour hole
Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars and slots 121
placed around the pier. For each approach flow depth, differ-
ent collar elevations were investigated (Fig. 1a). Figure 1(b)
shows the scour hole around the pier for a typical out of the
experiments.
This procedure was repeated with a 3D diameter collar and
0.2 cm thick. Twenty one experiments were thus conducted and
the scoured bed profile was measured. This allowed to determine
the maximum scour depth and the effect of collar size and of its
location on the size and form of the scour hole.
Subsequently, a slot was pierced at the central pier section to
examine its effect on the scour depth. A slot of width e = 0.25D
was set along the pier height. The slot length Lr increased by
2 cm by inserting plastic blocks of required height. The experi-
ments were conducted with a constant approach flow depth of
Yn = 14.44 cm and a discharge of Q = 2.68 × 10−2 m3 /s.
Figure 2(a) shows the slot-pier arrangement. Seven tests involved
the variation of the slot length from the water surface to the bed
and six by varying Lr from the bed to the water surface. Figure
2(b) shows a typical scour hole. Finally, a slot-collar combina-
tion was used to study its effect on the scour depth. The above
described slot-pier arrangement was used and the 2D diameter
collar was located at bed level.
(b)
(b)
 122 A. T. Moncada-M et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)

1.2
4 Results
Yn = 19.10 cm
Yn = 14.24 cm
4.1 Effect of collar Yn = 12.31 cm
Chiew (1992)

Ysm (collar ) /Ysm (ref )

Eight reference tests (pier without protection) with approach flow 0.8
depths Yn ranging between 12.1 and 19.1 cm and 1.86 × 10−2 ≤ 0.30 0.27

Q ≤ 3.78 × 10−2 m3 /s were conducted. To define the scour hole F = 0.27 0.32 0.26
0.31 0.29
profile, the scour depth Ys at a horizontal distance x from the
0.29
pier was measured. Figure 3 shows a sketch of a collar and pier 0.4 0.28

arrangement in which Ysm is the maximum scour depth at the pier 0.24 0.27
F = 0.25 0.24
0.30
front. 0.25
F = 0.22
The collar was placed at different elevations above the original 0.21 0.24

sediment bed Yd = −6, −3, 0, 3, 6 and 9 cm. A collar of 2D 0

-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
diameter was first used. A total of 29 tests were carried out with
Y d /Y n
11.84 ≤ Yn ≤ 19.54 cm and 1.52 × 10−2 ≤ Q ≤ 3.84 ×
10−2 m3 /s. Figure 4 shows the scour profiles for different collar Figure 5 Ysm(collar) /Ysm(ref) versus Yd /Yn and the Froude number F for
Downloaded by [University of Newcastle (Australia)] at 00:47 06 September 2014

locations indicating that a collar reduced the scour hole depth W = 2D

under otherwise identical conditions. Also for Yn = 14.57 cm
and Q = 2.71 × 10−2 m3 /s, the scour depth Ys upstream pier was included. The collar effect is seen to be obvious when it is placed
considerably reduced when the collar was located at or below the at the bed level. In some cases, the efficiency is greater when the
bed level. Normally, the collar was found to be effective when collar is placed below the bed.
located at bed level. To determine the collar efficiency E for a particular Froude
Figure 5 compares the maximum scour depths reached with number and flow depth, the reduction of the scour depth with
the collar Ysm(collar) and in the reference experiment Ysm(ref) under respect to the reference scour depth without the protection device
identical approach flow depth Yn , as a function of Yd /Yn , and was defined as
the approach flow Froude number F = V/(gYn )1/2 , where V is

the approach flow velocity and g the acceleration due to gravity. Ysm(ref) − Ysm(collar)
E(%) = 100 (1)
Additional data from Chiew (1992) for these conditions are also Ysm(ref)

Figure 6 shows the relationship between the collar efficiency

and the collar location Yd for various depths Yn . For Yn =
19.10 cm, E = 65% if Yd = −3 cm, and 55.24% if Yd = 0.
For Yn = 14.24 cm and Yn = 12.31 cm, E = 79% and 96.54%,
respectively, both for Yd = 0. The collar effect improved as the
collar was placed at bed level. However, E was also found to be
significant when the collar was placed below the bed-level. The
collar efficiency was lower but significant when the collar was
placed above the bed level. Furthermore, it was found that the
smaller the flow depth Yn the larger the collar effect, i.e. the E is
inversely related to the flow depth (Figs 5 and 6).
Figure 3 Definition sketch of collar and pier arrangement
120

0
0.21 0.24
F = 0.22
90 0.25
F = 0.25 0.30 0.24
0.24 0.27
-4
E (%)
Ys (cm)

Y n = 14.57 cm 60 0.28 0.29

0.31 0.29
Pier without collar F = 0.27
Yd = - 6 cm 0.32 0.26
-8 Yd = - 3 cm 0.30
Yd = 0 cm 30
Yd = 3 cm 0.27
Yn = 19.10 cm
Yd = 6 cm Yn = 14.24 cm
Yd = 9 cm Yn = 12.31 cm
-12 0
0 4 8 12 16 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12
x (cm) Y d (cm)
Figure 4 Axial scour hole profiles Ys (x) for Yn = 14.75 cm and variable Figure 6 Efficiency E(%) of the 2D collar as a function of Yd , Yn ,
location Yd and F
 Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009) Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars and slots 123

A collar of larger diameter W = 3D was then used to study the 120

Yn = 19. 10 cm (W = 3D)
effect of collar size on the scour depth. Twenty one experiments
0.30 Yn = 19. 10 cm (W = 2D)
were carried out for 12.29 ≤ Yn ≤ 19.74 cm and 1.45 × 10−2 ≤
Q ≤ 3.53 × 10−2 m3 /s involving 0.20 ≤ F ≤ 0.32. It was 80
0.23
found that the scour depth upstream of the pier is considerably

E (%)
larger when the pier is not protected with the collar. With a larger 0.28

diameter collar of W = 3D as compared to W = 2D, no scour F = 0.24 0.29

0.26 0.26
was observed around the pier when the collar was located at bed 40 F = 0.27
0.28
level. The relationship between Ysm(collar) and the reference exper- 0.27
0.28
iments Ysm(ref) for constant depth Yn is shown in Fig. 7. These 0.30
results allow to assert that the best location for larger diameter
0
collars is also at bed level. -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12
Y d (cm)
From Eq. (1) the efficiency reached with the 3D collar for
Yn = 19.07 cm was E = 100% for Yd = 0, and E = 72.86% for Figure 8 Efficiency E versus Yd reached with collars of different
Yd = −3 cm. Further, for Yn = 14.24 cm, E = 100% for Yd = 0, diameters for Yn = 19.1 cm
and E = 82.08% for Yd = −3 cm. Moreover, it was found that
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E = 100% for Yn = 12.31 cm and Yd = 0, and E = 93.53% 0

for Yd = −6 cm. Figure 7 allows to state that for collar locations

above the bed, the collar effect as a protection device is reduced,
-2
and that this effect increased as the collar reached the bed level. It
is worthwhile mentioning that E is also significant if the collar is
Ys (cm)

placed below the bed level. Furthermore, E appears to fall within -4

the same range for collars with the same distance both above and
below the bed for low Froude numbers. Yn = 14.55 cm, W = 3D
-6 Yn = 14.55 cm, W = 2D
Figure 8 shows the efficiency of different diameter collars for
Yn = 19.10 cm, W = 3D
Yn = 19.1 cm and 0.23 ≤ F ≤ 0.30. It can be observed that
Yn = 19.10 cm, W = 2D
the efficiency increases as W increases. Figure 9 illustrates scour -8
profiles obtained with collars of various diameters for constant 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

flow depth and collar location. It is seen that the larger diameter x (cm)
collar is more effective capable of reducing the scour depth. This
Figure 9 Influence of collar size on scour depth for Yd = 3 cm
indicates that the larger the collar diameter, the smaller the scour
depth around the pier. Additionally, it was found that for small
flow depths, the scour depth at the pier front is reduced, and with holes develop and the variation of the scour depth as a function
both collars similar efficiency is reached. Under these conditions, of flow depth Yn and collar location Yd is observed. The similar-
the collar size exerts a small influence on the collar efficiency. ity was established by plotting Ys /Ysm versus the dimensionless
One would expect that for a low Froude number, both collars longitudinal distance x/XYsm/2 , with Ys as the scour depth at dis-
should exhibit more or less the same effect. tance x from the pier front, and XYsm/2 as the location x where
To study the similarity in scour hole profiles, axial profiles Ys /Ysm = 0.5, as proposed by Rajaratnam (1981). It was found
upstream of the pier were analyzed. In this zone the largest scour that the dimensionless profiles are quite similar if the maximum
scour depth Ysm and XYsm/2 are the respective scales for the scour
depth and the longitudinal distance. Figure 10 shows the scour
1 hole profiles around the pier without collar, and those for 2D
Yn = 19.10 cm
Yn = 14.24 cm
Yn = 12.31 cm

0.75 0.28 0
0.28
Ysm (collar ) / Y sm (ref )

0.26
0.31
F = 0.24
0.32
-0.4
0.5
Y s/Ysm

F = 0.25 -0.8
0.30 0.28
0.23 Experimental profiles, W = 2 D
0.25 Experimental profiles, W = 3 D
0.24 0.26 -1.2
0.24 Eq. ( 2)
0.20
F = 0.22 0.30 Reference experiment
0.28
0
0.23 -1.6
-0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
Yd / Yn x/X Y sm /2
Figure 7 Relation between Ysm(collar) /Ysm(ref) and Yd /Yn for W = 3D Figure 10 Similarity of axial scour hole profiles using a collar
 124 A. T. Moncada-M et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)

and 3D collars. All the cross-sectional profiles are similar and these obtained for the unprotected pier. Figure 11(b) indicates that
independent of flow depth and of the collar size and location Yd . when the slot length Lr varies from the water surface to the bed,
The profiles can be described by means of Rajaratnam’s (1981) the scour hole is larger. Figure 12 shows the maximum slot scour
exponential equation depth Ysmr as a function of Lr and slot location. With the small
  2  number of data, no trend may be obtained. The resulting curve is
Ys x
= exp −0.693  (2) the best fit.
Ysm XYsm/2 Figure 12 shows that when the slot length Lr varies from the
bed to the water surface, the maximum scour depth Ysmr reduces.
resulting in a mean error of 10.67% and 10.73% for the tests
Figure 13 relates to a slot length Lr varying from the water surface
conducted with the 2D and 3D collars, respectively.
to the bed with a flow depth Yn = 14.44 cm, for e/D = 0.25,
showing Ysmr /Ysm(ref) versus Yef /D in which Yef = Yn − Lr is
4.2 Rectangular slot the effective flow depth.
The slot was located at two points of reference, namely near Figure 13 relates to the fact that the scour depth generally
the bed and near the water surface for a constant flow depth. decreases when the slot length Lr increases, i.e. if Yef is smaller,
Thirteen experiments were carried out varying the slot length indicating that the effective depth reduction of the approach
Downloaded by [University of Newcastle (Australia)] at 00:47 06 September 2014

Lr for the constant flow depth Yn = 14.44 cm and for Q =
2.68 × 10−2 m3 /s, i.e. F = 0.31. Figure 11 shows the scour hole
profiles.
Figure 11 indicates that, in general, the greater the slot length
Lr , the smaller the scour hole. However, in some cases the test
data did not corroborate this assertion, e.g. Lr = 10.44 and
2.44 cm or Lr = 8.44 and 6.44, 4.44 and 2.44 cm in Fig. 11(a),
or in Fig. 11(b) for Lr = 4.44 and 2.44 cm or for Lr = 8.44 and
6.44 cm. In general, a slot considerably reduces the scour depth.
All the scour profiles around the pier with the slot are smaller than
flow depth causes a scour depth reduction. Thus, the approach
flow depth exerts an important effect on the scour depth. It is
thus concluded that a slot on the pier significantly reduces the
scour depth. It was moreover found that when Lr increases,
the scour depth decreases regardless of the slot location. It is
worthwhile mentioning that the smallest scour depth occurred
when the slot length increased from the bed level to the water
surface.
The dimensionless profiles Ys /Ysmr as a function of x/XYsm/2
allow to verify the similarity of the scour profiles (Fig. 14).

0 0

-4 -4
Y s (cm)
Y s (cm)

Reference
Lr = 14.44 cm Reference
Lr = 12.44 cm Lr = 14.44 cm
Lr = 10.44 cm Lr = 12.44 cm
-8 Lr = 8.44 cm -8 Lr = 10.44 cm
Lr = 6.44 cm Lr = 8.44 cm
Lr = 4.44 cm Lr = 6.44 cm
(a) Lr = 2.44 cm (b) Lr = 4.44 cm
Lr = 2.44 cm
-12
-12
0 4 8 12 16
0 4 8 12 16
x (cm)
x (cm)
Figure 11 Scour hole profiles with (a) Lr increasing from bed to water surface, (b) Lr increasing vice-versa

6
From water surface 0.6
From the bed level

4
Ysmr / Ysm ( ref )

0.4
Ysm r (cm)

2 0.2

0 0.0
0 5 10 15 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
L r (cm) Y ef / D
Figure 12 Effect of slot location and length on scour hole depth Figure 13 Relationship between Ysmr /Ysm(ref) and Yef /D
 Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)
0 an efficiency of 100% of the slot-collar combination, regardless
-0.4
Ys /Ysm r
-0.8
-1.2
0 0.5 1 1.5
x/X Ysm /2
Figure 14 Dimensionless profiles of scour holes with slot Ys /Ysmr
versus x/XYsm/2
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The profile shape is seen to be independent of slot size and loca-
tion. Figure 14 shows that all the test data fit Eq. (2) with a mean
error of 9.28% when the slot length Lr increases from the water
surface to the bed level, and of 12.47% when it increases from
the bed level to the water surface. Figure 14 indicates further that
the shape of the scour hole profiles does not change with either
pier device as a protection method.
Equation (1) was also used here to determine the efficiency
of the slot as a protection device for controlling the scour depth.
Figure 15 shows the slot efficiency related to the slot length Lr
increasing both from the water surface and the bed level, for
a constant flow depth Yn . If the slot length Lr increases from
the water surface to the bed level, E varied between 47.60%
and 85.31%, while for Lr increasing from the bed to the water
surface, E varied between 60.00% and 88.33%. Figure 15 shows
that the efficiency is larger if Lr increases from the bed to the
water surface. Both curves have a similar tendency. When Lr
increases, the slot efficiency increases as well.
Finally, to analyze the effect of a collar–slot combination,
seven tests were conducted for Q = 2.68 × 10−2 m3 /s and Yn =
14.44 cm, with a 2D collar placed at bed level. The slot length Lr
increased by 2 cm from the bed to the water surface between 2.44
and 14.44 cm. No scour at all occurred around the pier indicating
100
80
60
E (%)
40
20 From water surface
From the bed level
0
0 3 6 9
L r (cm)
Figure 15 Slot efficiency E versus slot length Lr
Scour protection of circular bridge piers with collars and slots 125
of slot length.
5 Conclusions
Reference experiment
From water surface The present research showed that collars and slots may signif-
From the bed level icantly reduce scour depths at bridge piers. The experiments
Eq. (2)
performed allow to draw the following conclusions:
2 2.5 1. The scour depth may be reduced between 55% and 96% if
a 2D diameter collar is located at bed level, depending on
the flow conditions, with the bed level as the most efficient
location. The scour depth decreased considerably for a 3D
diameter collar located at the bed level, reducing the scour
depth to zero. When the collar is placed below bed level, its
efficiency was also significant. It reduced for a collar located
above bed level.
2. A 3D diameter collar was found more effective than the 2D
collar, indicating that the larger the collar diameter, the smaller
the scour depth.
3. A slot in the pier considerably reduces the scour depth. When
the slot length increases from the water surface to the bed
level, the efficiency was between 48% and 85%, while when
it increased from the bed level to the water surface, it was
between 60% and 88%. Therefore, the slot location is a param-
eter that has a direct effect on the scour depth, with the best
location near the bed.
4. The larger the slot length the smaller is the scour depth. Large
efficiencies were obtained by increasing the slot length from
the bed to the water surface.
5. The axial scour hole shape remains similar regardless of flow
depth and collar location and size. These profiles depend nei-
ther on the length nor on the location of the slot, i.e. the profiles
are self-similar. It was concluded that the protection devices
of piers do not significantly alter the scour hole shape.
6. By combining a collar placed at bed level and a slot of variable
length from the bed to the water surface, the local scour depth
was completely eliminated.
The above conclusions apply exclusively for the test conditions
considered in the present research. They may vary under different
test conditions.
Acknowledgments
The authors express their gratitude to the “Consejo de Desarrollo
Científico, Humanístico y Tecnológico (CDCHT)” of Univer-
sidad de Los Andes for its financial support through Grant
CVI-ADG-I-07-95C. They are also grateful to the Editorial Board
for their valuable comments and to Dr Françoise Meyer for
reviewing the manuscript.
12 15 Notation
D = Pier diameter
E = Efficiency
 126 A. T. Moncada-M et al. Journal of Hydraulic Research Vol. 47, No. 1 (2009)

e = Slot width
F = Froude number
g = Acceleration due to gravity
Lr = Slot length
Q = Discharge
V = Approach flow velocity
W = Collar diameter
XYsm/2 = Value of x where Ys /Ysm = 0.5
Yd = Collar location
Yef = Effective flow depth, Yef = Yn – Lr
Yn = Approach flow depth
Ys = Scour depth at horizontal distance x from the pier
Ysm = Maximum scour depth at pier
Ysm(collar) = Maximum scour depth with collar
Ysmr = Maximum scour depth with slot
Ysm(ref) = Maximum scour depth in reference tests
Downloaded by [University of Newcastle (Australia)] at 00:47 06 September 2014
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