Scour under

Structures
TERM PAPER PRESENTATION
OE5800:: COASTAL ENGINEERING

HARIKRISHNAN V

SRINIJA A

TEJASREE D

Introduction

Scour is the removal by hydrodynamic forces, of granular bed

material in the vicinity of a coastal structure.

Unlike erosion, it requires presence of the structure.

It occurs where sediment is eroded from an area of the seabed due
to the forces by waves and currents.

scour is a threat to the stability of coastal structures such as piles,

breakwaters, seawalls, etc.

Categories of scour
General scour
Local scour
Global or dishpan scour
Constriction scour
Overall seabed movement

Local and Global Scour

Local scour occurs around the

individual structural elements.

Global scour occurs beneath

and around the structure.

Common scour problems

Physical Processes Of Scour

When fluid flow meets a structure:

Flow seperation
Lee-wake vortices
Horse shoe vortex
Streamline contraction
Local acceleration
Shear stress on seabed
Scour

 Scour occurs when Shear strength of soil<Shear stress

by fluid

Waves/currents/combinations: Same basic physics and

shape- intensity vary

Scour depth is a function of water depth

Vertical type structures: Wave superposition leads to
higher velocities and thus scour at toe

Liquefaction and Scour

The transformation of seabed from solid state to a liquefied
state as a consequence of increased pore pressure and
reduced effective stress

Under liquefaction the equilibrium scour depth decreases, but

corresponding potential gain is limited.

Geotechnical Factors
Properties of soil dictates scour potential:
Particle size
Particle shape
Sediment concentration
Fall velocity
Specific weight of particles
Grain size distribution
Soil type

Soil types with scour problems

Sediment Type
Sand
Cohesive
Mixed
Gravel
Bed rock
Uncertain
silt
total

Percentage
(%)
48
19
13
10
05
05
00
100

Durations for maximum scour depths

in different soils
Type
Sand and gravel bed materials
Cohesive bed materials
Glacial tilts, poorly cemented
sandstones and shale
Hard, dense, well cemented
sandstones and shale
Granites

Duration
In hours
In days
In
months
In years
In
centuries

Scour Prediction
Classification:

Scour due to currents

Current magnitude

Scour due to waves

Scour due to waves and currents

Key Parameters for Scour Formation :

Orbital wave velocity
Pile diameter

Less important parameters are sediment size and pile shape*

* if the pile has noncircular cross
section

Scour around piles due to Currents

A widely used equation used for piles subjected to currents :
(Richardson and Davis 1995)

Where K1 shape factor and K2 orientation factor

Best results for h/b > 1.5

Scour due to Waves

Equation to estimate scour at a vertical pile under live bed
conditions:

(Sumer, Christiansen, and Fredsoe 1992a):

KC = Keulegan -Carpenter number, which is defined as

Similar empirical equation is extended for square cross section

Scour due to waves and currents

A grey area of understanding

Kawata and Tsuchiya (1988)

:Even a small current addition causes large

variation

Eadie and Herbich (1986) :10%

increase in scour depth as compared to

only

current

Bijker and de Bruyn (1988)

Wang and Herbich (1983) :Unanswered

:Contradicts the above results

questions about scaling the

prototype scale
Hence CEM recommends the use of Current alone prediction method

results to

Scour at large diameter vertical piles

Estimates of maximum scour depth as functions of pile
equivalent diameter:
(Rance 1980)

Scour Protection Measures

Choice of protective measures :

Structural and locational features of the system

Availability of materials and cost factor

Design of the structure

Based on past successful field experience

Based on small-scale laboratory tests

 Scour apron constructed of stone or riprap

Gabions
Protective mattress
Sandbag or Grout filling
Artificial seaweed / flow reduction methods
Burying in trench (pipelines)

Geotextile containers: R&D in

UK
Offshore wind farm turbine
foundations

Artificial seaweed and boyant fronds

Installed marine matress

(Kennedy Space research center)

References
The Mechanics of Scour in the marine environment, by
B.Mutlu Sumer & Jorgen Fredsoe
Coastal Engineering Manual, CERC, US Army Corps of
Engineers, Vicksberg, USA
Prof. V. Sundar, (2012), Coastal Engineering, Online
Video Lecture, Webpage: http://nptel.iitm.ac.in
Scour of sand beaches in front of seawalls by John B.
Herbich