United States Department of Transportation
i
Comparison of observed and predicted abutment scour at selected bridges in Maine.
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2008
[PDF-1.22 MB]
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Abstract:Maximum abutment-scour depths predicted with five different methods were compared to
maximum abutment-scour depths observed at 100 abutments at 50 bridge sites in Maine with a
median bridge age of 66 years. Prediction methods included the Froehlich/Hire method, the
Sturm method, and the Maryland method published in Federal Highway Administration
Hydraulic Engineering Circular 18 (HEC-18); the Melville method; and envelope curves. No
correlation was found between scour calculated using any of the prediction methods and
observed scour. Abutment scour observed in the field ranged from 0 to 6.8 feet, with an average
observed scour of less than 1.0 foot. Fifteen of the 50 bridge sites had no observable scour.
Equations frequently overpredicted scour by an order of magnitude and in some cases by two
orders of magnitude. The equations also underpredicted scour 4 to 14 percent of the time.
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