Resilience Program: Preliminary Investigation of Bridge Scour Countermeasure and Mitigation Strategies in Virginia

About the project:

Scour, the erosion of material from stream beds and banks due to flowing water, poses a significant threat to transportation infrastructure integrity, particularly around bridge piers and abutments, where it is a primary cause of damage and failure in U.S. bridges. While steady scour under typical flow conditions allows for monitoring and maintenance, rapid erosion during flood events can lead to infrastructure failure with limited warning. Despite extensive engineering-driven research, limited field data and focus on large bridges have left smaller infrastructures vulnerable. The FHWA recommends monitoring and implementing scour countermeasures, but existing techniques lack standardized evaluation and approval. Variability in topography and geology across regions complicates the selection of effective countermeasures. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) faces increasing scour-related challenges but lacks specific procedures to address them. Therefore, a comprehensive study is crucial for VDOT to identify effective scour countermeasures adaptable to diverse topographies across Virginia's districts.

Project Team

Co-Principal Investigators