Schyler J. Knopp | Search USGS

USGS2019

Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2016–17

Stream stability, flood frequency, and streambed scour potential were evaluated at 20 Alaskan river- and stream-spanning bridges lacking a quantitative scour analysis or having unknown foundation details. Three of the bridges had been assessed shortly before the study described in this report but were re-assessed using different methods or data. Channel instability related to mining may affect scour at one site, while channel instability related to flow distribution changes can be seen at one site. One bridge was closed because of abutment scour prior to the study. Otherwise, channels generally showed stable bed elevations. Contraction and abutment scour were calculated for all 20 bridges, and pier scour was calculated for the 2 bridges that had piers. Vertical contraction (pressure flow) scour was calculated for one site at which the modeled water surface was higher than the superstructure of the bridge. Hydraulic variables for the scour calculations were derived from one-dimensional and two-dimensional hydraulic models of the 1- and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability floods (also known as the 100- and 500-year floods, respectively). Scour also was calculated for large recorded floods at two sites. At many sites, overflow of road approaches relieves the bridge during floods and lessens the potential for scour. Two-dimensional hydraulic models are superior to one-dimensional hydraulic models at distributing flow between bridges, road approaches, and floodplains, and therefore likely produce more reasonable scour values at sites with substantial floodplain flow.

Alaska↗

USGS2017

Streambed scour evaluations and conditions at selected bridge sites in Alaska, 2013–15

Streambed scour potential was evaluated at 52 river- and stream-spanning bridges in Alaska that lack a quantitative scour analysis or have unknown foundation details. All sites were evaluated for stream stability and long-term scour potential. Contraction scour and abutment scour were calculated for 52 bridges, and pier scour was calculated for 11 bridges that had piers. Vertical contraction (pressure flow) scour was calculated for sites where the modeled water surface was higher than the superstructure of the bridge. In most cases, hydraulic models of the 1- and 0.2-percent annual exceedance probability floods (also known as the 100- and 500-year floods, respectively) were used to derive hydraulic variables for the scour calculations. Alternate flood values were used in scour calculations for sites where smaller floods overtopped a bridge or where standard flood-frequency estimation techniques did not apply. Scour also was calculated for large recorded floods at 13 sites. Channel instability at 11 sites was related to human activities (in-channel mining, dredging, and channel relocation). Eight of the dredged sites are located on active unstable alluvial fans and were graded to protect infrastructure. The trend toward aggradation during major floods at these sites reduces confidence in scour estimates. Vertical contraction and pressure flow occurred during the 0.2-percent or smaller annual exceedance probability floods at eight sites. Contraction scour exceeded 5 feet (ft) at four sites, and total scour at piers (pier scour plus contraction scour) exceeded 5 ft at four sites. Debris accumulation increased calculated pier scour at six sites by an average of 2.4 ft. Total scour at abutments exceeded 5 ft at 10 sites. Scour estimates seemed excessive at two piers where equations did not account for channel armoring, and at four abutments where failure of the embankment and attendant channel widening would reduce scour.

Alaska↗