Bridge piers and highway embankments leading to a bridge often obstruct the flow flood waters, causing an increase in velocity and the development of the vortices. The increased velocity and the vortices often cause scour near the bridge foundations. The damage to and failure of bridges caused by scour are problems of national concern. This course material presents methods for predicting local and contraction scour at planned and existing bridges. The current equations and methods for estimating scour at bridges are based primarily on laboratory research. The course provides the methodology of field data collection to verify the applicability and accuracy of the various design procedures for the range of soil conditions, stream flow conditions, and bridge designs encountered throughout the nation. This course describes results of the USGS national field-data collection and analysis study on scour at bridges by comparing with laboratory research results. This course material is based on Federal Highway Administration Publication Number FHWA-RD-03-052: Evaluations of streambed scour at bridges.

At the conclusion of this course, the learner will have a better understanding about Field Observations and Evaluations of Streambed Scour at Bridges for Scour Depth Prediction as well as an understanding of the following topics:

• The components of scour at bridges
• Field methods for data collection
• Bridge Scour Data Management System
• Various classifications of scour and prediction methodology
• Hydraulic analysis and comparison with field data for accuracy