Erosion
around hydraulics structures can cause significant
damage and poses a safety hazard. Empirical methods
are commonly employed to predict the rate and
amount of scour, often with limited success.
FLOW-3D®
can predict the local amount of erosion around
hydraulic structures, as shown here. Notice the
formation of a hole immediately surrounding the
pier; the hole is deepest on the sides of the pier
tangent to the bulk flow. This is where the fluid
must accelerate around the pier, raising the local
fluid shear. Also, a vortex forms at the leading
edge of the pier, enlarging the hole. At the
downstream edge of the pier, a stagnation point
forms in the flow; here the shear is reduced and
the balance between settling and erosion result in
reduced net erosion.
