Scour Analysis and Countermeasures Recommendations for the New Bridge Construction on PR-9 over Rio Cana Ponce, Puerto Rico

Abstract

Scour is a natural phenomenon caused by the erosive action of flowing stream on alluvial beds. Failure of bridges due to scour at their foundations, which consist of abutments and piers, is a common incident. An accurate prediction of scour depth at piers is essential for the safe design of bridge foundations. Scour depth estimation at the pier site is necessary for safety and economy of the designed bridge. If sediment or rock on which bridge supports rest is scoured by a river, the bridge could result in a bridge failure resulting from hydraulic conditions, primarily due to scour of foundation material. As part of AASHTO requirements for highway bridges, a hydraulic study is necessary for the preliminary design, as well as the estimation of scouring depths at piers and abutments. The objective of this report is to evaluate the analysis of a new bridge construction presenting scour at the early stages of construction and provide recommended countermeasures to prevent or reduce the severity of hydraulic problems. Key Terms - Bridge, Countermeasure, Hydraulic Study, Scour Design.