Experimental and numerical comparison study of complex bridge pier models

The major goal of this thesis is to distinguish between several complex bridge piers by identifying the flow characteristics around each type. Experimental and numerical analyses have been conducted for this goal, and the outcomes from these two approaches have been compared. A study using dye visualization technique has been conducted experimentally. After the experimental study, numerical analyzes have been carried out under the same conditions using Detached Eddy Simulation turbulence model and the results from the same regions were visualized for comparison. The Reynolds number has been set as Re = 1.5x104 for both experimental and numerical analyzes. Additionally, by using numerical analysis, certain significant parameters that could not be deduced from the experimental findings have been estimated and presented. Based on the results of the study, when the pile cap regions have been examined, the wake region had the lowest mean streamwise velocities, with similar values obtained for all geometries. Furthermore, mean pressure values have been found to have an effect on the front of the complex bridge piers based on the results of time-averaged normalized mean pressure values. Finally, drag coefficients have been sorted from low to high when comparing complex bridge piers in all geometries as elliptical, 2D cylinder, D cylinder, rectangular, tandem cylinders, square, and 4D cylinder.