event
Friday 22 Feb 2019: Embedding debris-induced bridge scour into bridge management practice
Diego Panici - University of Exeter
Harrison 170 13:30-14:30
Abstract:
Recent research at the University of Exeter has developed an innovative approach to estimate the localised scour that is caused at a bridge pier when debris accumulations form. Namely, a scour factor based on debris size and relative position to the river bed can be applied to standard pier scour estimation approaches and embedded into the current UK regulation. Here it is proposed a method to: first, pragmatically assess whether a bridge is liable to debris accumulations or not; second, how including debris as a factor significantly increases the scour risk. Some examples from bridges managed by the Devon County Council are proposed and discussed.
Biography:
Diego has (almost) completed his PhD in hydraulic engineering at the University of Southampton, and has recently joined the University of Exeter as a Postdoc on the implementation of woody debris effects into bridge scour assessment. Besides from academia, he has worked with the Environment Agency as a coordinator of flood modelling and forecasting, as well as for a large motorway construction work in the North-East of Italy.
