Experimental investigation of the shape of the scour hole around circular bridge piers

In this thesis, the shape of the scour hole around circular bridge pier was investigated under different steady state conditions. The experiments were carried out in a rectangular flume of 80 cm width, 18.6 m length and 75 cm depth in the Hydraulic Laboratory of the Civil Engineering Department at Dokuz Eylul University. The flow depths were monitored by ultrasonic level sensors and the flow rates were measured by electromagnetic flow meter. During the experiments uniform sediment with median diameter of 1.633 mm and geometric standard deviation of 1.303 was used. The shape of the scour hole was determined after each experiment and a new emprical equation was proposed by using the experimental results. The results of the proposed equation were compared and interpreted in the light of the available knowledge.