Research Reports
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Abstract
The SRICOS (Scour Rates In COhesive Soils) method had been proposed as an alternative design methodology for predicting scour at bridges founded in cohesive soils. As the new method can produce substantial savings in bridge construction costs at cohesive soil sites, it is important that South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) evaluates the method carefully for use in bridge design. This research project compared the predictions of the SRICOS method for pier scour with measured scour at three bridge sites in South Dakota and examined the technical issues involved in using the method.
This research recommends that SDDOT: (1) use the SRICOS method as a supporting tool in evaluating bridges for scour, (2) continue to monitor current and future research to observe new improvements, (3) conduct workshops to train design engineers in using the method; (4) acquire testing equipment to measure soil erodibility; (5) establish a procedure for collecting scour data immediately after major floods to verify future improvements; and (6) conduct research to improve predictions of hydraulics of bridge waterways and the effect of large floods on time rate of scour.
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