Field measurements of local scour at bridges during floods, and measurement of sedimentation processes in general, has been a frustrating and unrewarding activity in the past. Surprisingly, little scour data has been collected in that time and only a small portion of the data have been taken during floods at bridges crossing natural streams. Recent efforts of u.S. Geological survey (usgs) field crews to measure scour during floods for the federal highway administration and several state highway agencies, however, demonstrate that it can be done. This paper outlines procedures used, insights and experiences gained, and some preliminary results obtained while chasing floods and measuring scour during the may 1990 floods in the southwest. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1290, Third bridge engineering conference, march 10-13, 1991, denver, colorado, volume 2.
Abstract