SCALE EFFECTS IN SCOUR PHYSICAL-MODEL TESTS: CAUSE AND ALLEVIATION

Authors

Yu-Hai Wang, Department of Sediment Research, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China.Follow
Wei-Guo Jiang, State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Yan-Hong Wang, River Harbor Engineering Department, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing, China

Abstract

Scale effect occurs when a prototype hydraulic process is simulated at a laboratory scale due to dissatisfaction of similarity laws. It might lead to considerable deviation when the model scour depth is extrapolated to prototype value. Three popular experimental approaches including predictionequation-targeted flume test, series-model test and similitude-model test are reviewed with emphasis upon their merits and limitations in reducing or alleviating scale effects. Scale laws guiding scour physical-model design are discussed for performing cost-effective model tests. An empirical equation is further derived from data of clear-water pier scour experiments to examine the test results in up-scale extrapolating. It is suggested that scale effect in a scour physical model test could be efficiently reduced if both the mobility similarity of bed particles and Froude number similarity are satisfied simultaneously.

Recommended Citation

Wang, Yu-Hai; Jiang, Wei-Guo; and Wang, Yan-Hong (2021) "SCALE EFFECTS IN SCOUR PHYSICAL-MODEL TESTS: CAUSE AND ALLEVIATION," Journal of Marine Science and Technology: Vol. 21: Iss. 5, Article 5.
DOI: 10.6119/JMST-012-0718-2
Available at: https://jmstt.ntou.edu.tw/journal/vol21/iss5/5