Backwater Effects of Piers in Subcritical Flow

Details

• Creators:
  Charbeneau, Randall J. ; Holley, Edward R.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas. Dept. of Transportation
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Bridge piers
  • Piers (Supports)
  • Backwaters
  • Mathematical prediction
  • Formulas
  • Drag forces
  • Subsonic flow
  • Subcritical flow
  • Water level changes
  • Yarnell's equation
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-0-1805-1
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• TRIS Online Accession Number:
  00933882
• Corporate Publisher:
  University of Texas at Austin. Center for Transportation Research
• Abstract:
  Construction or renovation of bridge structures may require placement of bridge piers within the channel or floodplain of natural waterways. These piers will obstruct the flow and may cause an increase in water levels upstream of the bridge structure. The water level increase caused by the presence of bridge piers is called backwater. In this experimental research, the backwater effects caused by bridge piers were investigated in the laboratory for different pier sizes and for a range of subcritical flow conditions. Both water level changes and drag forces on bridge piers were measured during two research programs. The results from this research suggest that use of standard formula for calculation of backwater will over-predict water level increases. An improved formula for calculating backwater is presented.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  0-1785
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/14906/dot_14906_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.13 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:0c566b5e83cc49749b25f8aa92e0472a700f383f2f277893df03a6690cabc525