This thesis presents a review of the reported research on local sand-bed scour around bridge piers, describes the mechanics of local scour with particular reference to the horseshoe vortex, describes experiments on the effect of the vertical velocity distribution of the approach flow on local scour, and reports the results of these experiments. The review of the previous research on local scour shows that the pier size is the most important parameter affecting the equilibrium depth of local scour, while the pier shape is of secondary importance. Two flow parameters are found to be important; the flow velocity and the flow depth, although their relative importance depends on the regime of the flow being considered. The primary scouring agent is seen to be the horseshoe vortex system, which is a system of linked vortices that arises out of the vorticity always present in shear flows, due to the interaction of the pier and the flow. The experiments that were done consisted of observations and measurements of vertical velocity distributions, scour depths, and vortex patterns, for a circular cylinder in a laboratory flume. These experiments showed that the vertical velocity distribution of the boundary layer flow approaching the pier affects the structure of the horseshoe vortex system and the equilibrium depth of scour at the pier nose. The Thesis concludes with a Summary and Conclusions, including recommendations for further research. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

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The main objective of this research is to estimate the sizes of riprap (loose rock) on highway or railroad embankments approaching bridges, that would be stable in major floods. Two assumptions about the flow direction were made: one horizontal to the bridge abutment and the other normal to the projection of the bridge abutment. Three dynamic conditions of stability of riprap were observed and classified as shaking, some movement, and large movement (washing out). Shaking is the most conservative criteria for design because it indicates more stability than is necessary, requires larger rock, and is less cost efficient. Some movement suggests a conservative design criteria and is the most desirable because it requires smaller riprap and is therefore less expensive. Large movement or washing out means the least stable condition; it may leave the structure as well as human lives exposed to danger.

This thesis is a contribution to the existing knowledge of the nature of the scour hole around bridge piers. The analysis is based on the fictitious, long contraction concept developed by Dr. Emmett M. Laursen. This concept and its equation has been used herein to determine the size of rip-rap particles which will reduce the local scour at bridge piers. Evaluation of the parameters involved in it is required for sizing the rocks in a prototype. Values such as approach velocity, water depth, average diameter of the rip-rap particles in the scour, and geometry of the pier are among the values to be known. Both a graphic and an analytical procedure are proposed as a means to find the size of particles to be used as protection. The discussion and conclusions derived from this investigation will be of great help to civil engineers working in the field of river engineering.

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The purpose of this paper was to investigate the architectural appearance and the evolution of bridges. It is to show the intentions and consequent symbols of civilizations who built bridges. The paper also investigates bridge types, foundations and falsework. / Master of Architecture

Load Factor Design (LFD), adopted by AASHTO in the mid-1970, is currently used for bridge superstructure design. However, the AASHTO specifications do not have any LFD provisions for foundations. In this study, a LFD format for the design of shallow foundations for bridges is developed. Design equations for reliability analysis are formulated. Uncertainties in design parameters for ultimate and serviceability limit states are evaluated. A random field model is employed to investigate the combined inherent spatial variability and systematic error for serviceability limit state. Advanced first order second moment method is then used to compute reliability indices inherent in the current AASHTO specifications. Reliability indices for ultimate and serviceability limit states with different safety factors and dead to live load ratios are investigated. Reliability indices for ultimate limit state are found to be in the range of 2.3 to 3.4, for safety factors between 2 and 3. This is shown to be in good agreement with Meyerhof's conclusion (1970). Reliability indices for serviceability limit state are found to be in the range of 0.43 to 1.40, for ratios of allowable to actual settlement between 1.0 to 2.0. This appears to be in good agreement with what may be expected. Performance factors are then determined using target reliability indices selected on the basis of existing risk levels. / Master of Science

Caisson or pier foundations are encountered as part of the foundation system of tall structures such as bridges, transmission towers, heliostats, etc, and correspond to rigid blocks of length-to-diameter (D/B) ratio on the order of D/B = 2-6. As a result of their geometry and stiffness characteristics, the mechanisms of load transfer from the superstructure to the surrounding soil and their kinematic response to seismic wave propagation are governed by a complex stress distribution at the pier-soil interface, which cannot be adequately represented by means of simplified Winkler models for shallow foundations or flexible piles. Continuum model solutions, such as 3D finite elements (FE) cannot be employed frequently in practice for the design of non-critical facilities due to the cost and effort associated with these analyses. The objective of this work is to develop a Winkler-type model for the analysis of transversely-loaded caissons, which approximately accounts for all the main soil resistance mechanisms mobilized, while retaining the advantages of simplified methodologies for design at intermediate levels of target accuracy. Investigation of the governing load-transfer mechanisms and development of complex spring functions is formulated on the basis of 3D FE simulations. Initially, the soil-structure stiffness matrix is computed by subjecting the pier to transverse static and dynamic loading at the top, and numerically estimating the response. Complex frequency-dependent functions are next developed for the spring constants by equating the stiffness matrix terms to the analytical expressions developed for the four-spring model. Sensitivity analyses are conducted for optimization of the truncated numerical domain size, finite element size and far-field dynamic boundary conditions to avoid spurious wave reflections. Simulations are next conducted to evaluate the transient response of the foundation subjected to vertically propagating shear waves, and results are compared to the response predicted by means of the 4-spring model. Finally, the applicability of the method is assessed for soil profiles with depth-varying properties. While the methodology developed is applicable for linear elastic media with no material damping, the expressions of complex spring functions may be extended to include hysteretic damping, nonlinear soil behavior and soil-foundation interface separation, as shown in the conclusions.

This thesis examines the stress relaxation phenomenon that may occur in stainless steel rods that are used as part of an all-stainless steel externally post-tensioned rod system for strengthening reinforced concrete pier caps in shear. An overview of the stress relaxation phenomenon and its modeling is presented. Previous work on stress relaxation of stainless steel is reviewed and used to select an appropriate stress relaxation model to analyze the stress relaxation data obtained from experiments performed during this research. An experimental program utilizing six specimens of Type 304/304L stainless steel stainless steel rods similar to those likely to be candidates for pier cap rehabilitation is presented, and the data are analyzed using the model identified from the review. This model reasonably captures the behavior of the resulting stress relaxation with time, and calculates stress values that are fairly close to those obtained experimentally. Using this model to predict long-term stress losses in a service environment, guidelines for design and installation of the post-tensioned stainless steel rods are proposed.