A new framework for evaluation of scour monitoring approaches for bridges

Abstract

Hydraulic actions resulting in scour are a major cause of bridge failures. Scour is influenced by many factors including structural geometry, river morphology, riverbed material and weather conditions. Detection of scour is often carried out using visual inspection-based methods. Visual inspection requires divers which incurs high levels of risk, especially during times of high-water flow. Therefore, sensing technologies which aim to supplement or replace this high-risk activity are valuable to the bridge engineering sector. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems are widely used to better understand and assess current performance and condition of assets. Scour rating frameworks can be used to evaluate the suitability of different types of scour monitoring technologies. In this thesis, an extensive literature survey focusing on bridge SHM deployments and scour rating frameworks is presented. A bridge case study database was developed and then used to compare three previously published scour rating frameworks. Based on these findings a new framework was developed using key elements from the reviewed approaches. The developed framework was then refined after a pilot study conducted with three of colleagues from University of Bristol. The refined framework was then tested by six bridge engineers using an anonymous survey. Developing framework, based on behaviour of specific instruments was found to be not an appropriate way to evaluate scour monitoring approaches. Instead understanding the needs of each site and suggestion an approach is preferred. Prior knowledge of technology capability is shown to be crucial for effective use of scour rating frameworks by practitioners.

Date of Award	17 Jun 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Paul J Vardanega (Supervisor) & Theo Tryfonas (Supervisor)