Numerical study on local scour characteristics around submarine pipelines in the Yellow River Delta silty sandy soil under waves and currents

Due to their high reliability and cost-efficiency,submarine pipelines are widely used in offshore oil and gas resource engineering.Due to the interaction of waves,currents,seabed,and pipeline structures,the soil around submarine pipelines is prone to local scour,severely affecting their operational safety.With the Yellow River Delta as the research area and based on the renormalized group(RNG)k-εturbulence model and Stokes fifth-order wave theory,this study solves the Navier-Stokes(N-S)equation using the finite difference method.The volume of fluid(VOF)method is used to describe the fluid-free surface,and a threedimensional numerical model of currents and waves-submarine pipeline-silty sandy seabed is established.The rationality of the numerical model is verified using a self-built waveflow flume.On this basis,in this study,the local scour development and characteristics of submarine pipelines in the Yellow River Delta silty sandy seabed in the prototype environment are explored and the influence of the presence of pipelines on hydrodynamic features such as surrounding flow field,shear stress,and turbulence intensity is analyzed.The results indicate that(1)local scour around submarine pipelines can be divided into three stages:rapid scour,slow scour,and stable scour.The maximum scour depth occurs directly below the pipeline,and the shape of the scour pits is asymmetric.(2)As the water depth decreases and the pipeline suspension height increases,the scour becomes more intense.(3)When currents go through a pipeline,a clear stagnation point is formed in front of the pipeline,and the flow velocity is positively correlated with the depth of scour.This study can provide a valuable reference for the protection of submarine pipelines in this area.

Numerical Study of Flow Features Around Submerged Circular and Square Piles at Flat and Scoured Beds Using OpenFOAM

Elucidating the flow features around piles in local scouring processes is crucial for studies of local scouring mechanisms and scour depth estimates.This study details the flow turbulence characteristics of two submerged piles that are determined by solving the Navier-Stokes equations with the improved delayed detached eddy simulation model.This model is verified by comparing experimental and numerical results for hydrodynamic parameters with the literature for both square-crossing piles(SCPs)and circular-crossing piles(CCPs).Original topographies of flat and scoured beds(i.e.,the initial and equilibrium scouring stages)are based on experimental results obtained by the authors in the present paper.SCP and CCP flow features in the scouring process are discussed.The results indicate that during the scouring process,the time-averaged drag coefficient and root mean square(rms)of the lift coefficient increase linearly in the CCP test,while the rms of the lift coefficient in the SCP test decreases linearly.Moreover,the minimum pressure coefficient is always located in the upstream corners in the SCP case but moves from 72.5°to 79.5°when the scour hole is completely developed in the CCP case.Downward flow behind the pile,which is generated by separated boundary layers above the top face of the pile,can reach the sand bed and turn the separated shear layers into patches of small vortices in the near-wake regions.Thus,the high shear stress zones are mainly at the scour edges under scoured-bed conditions.

Local Scour Mechanisms and Prediction Methods Around Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations:Insights and Future Directions

Local scour around offshore wind turbine foundations presents a considerable challenge due to its potential influence on structural stability,driven by hydrodynamic forces.While research has made strides in comprehending scouring mechanisms,notable complexities persist,specifically with newer foundation types.Addressing these limitations is vital for advancing our understanding of scour mechanisms and for improving mitigation strategies in offshore wind energy development.This review synthesizes current findings on local scour across various offshore foundations,encompassing field observations,data-driven approaches,turbulence-sediment interactions,scour evolution processes,influencing factors,and numerical model advancements.The objective is to enrich our understanding of local scour mechanisms.In addition,future research directions are outlined,including the development of robust arti-ficial intelligence models for accurate predictions,the exploration of vortex structure characteristics,and the refinement of numerical models to strengthen prediction capabilities while minimizing computational efforts.

Experimental Study on Engineering Behavior of Solidified Soil for Scour Repair and Protection

A new scour countermeasure using solidified slurry for offshore foundation has been proposed recently.Fluidized solidified slurry is pumped to seabed area around foundation for scour protection or pumped into the developed scour holes for scour repair as the fluidized material solidifies gradually.In the pumping operation and solidification,the engineering behaviors of solidified slurry require to be considered synthetically for the reliable application in scour repair and protection of ocean engineering such as the pumpability related flow value,flow diffusion behavior related rheological property,anti-scour performance related retention rate in solidification and bearing capacity related strength property after solidification.In this study,a series of laboratory tests are conducted to investigate the effects of mix proportion(initial water content and binder content)on the flow value,rheological properties,density,retention rate of solidified slurry and unconfined compressive strength(UCS).The results reveal that the flow value increases with the water content and decreases with the binder amount.All the solidified slurry exhibits Bingham plastic behavior when the shear rate is larger than 5 s^(-1).The Bingham model has been employed to fit the rheology test results,and empirical formulas for obtaining the density,yield stress and viscosity are established,providing scientific support for the numerical assessment of flow and diffusion of solidified slurry.Retention rate of solidified slurry decreases with the water flow velocity and flow value,which means the pumpability of solidified slurry is contrary to anti-scour performance.The unconfined compressive strength after solidification reduces as the water content increases and binder content decreases.A design and application procedure of solidified soil for scour repair and protection is also proposed for engineering reference.

Experimental Study of Local Scour Around Four Piles Under Different Attack Angles and Gap Ratios

In an effort to investigate and quantify the patterns of local scour,researchers embarked on an in-depth study using a systematic experimental approach.The research focused on the effects of local scour around a set of four piles,each subjected to different hydromechanical conditions.In particular,this study aimed to determine how different attack angles—the angles at which the water flow impinges on the piles,and gap ratios—the ratios of the spacing between the piles to their diameters,influence the extent and nature of scour.A comprehensive series of 35 carefully designed experiments were orchestrated,each designed to dissect the nuances in how the gap ratio and attack angle might contribute to changes in the local scour observed at the base of pile groups.During these experimental trials,a wealth of local scour data were collected to support the analysis.These data included precise topographic profiles of the sediment bed around the pile groups,as well as detailed scour time histories showing the evolution of scour at strategic feature points throughout the test procedure.The analysis of the experimental data provided interesting insights.The study revealed that the interplay between the gap ratio and the attack angle had a pronounced influence on the scouring dynamics of the pile groups.One of the key observations was that the initial phases of scour,particularly within the first hour of water flow exposure,were characterized by a sharp increase in the scour depth occurring immediately in front of the piles.After this initial rapid development,the scour depth transitioned to a more gradual change rate.In contrast,the scour topography around the piles continuously evolved.This suggests that sediment displacement and the associated sculpting of the seabed around pile foundations are sustained and progressive processes,altering the underwater landscape over time.The results of this empirical investigation have significant implications for the design and construction of offshore multi-pile foundations,providing a critical reference for engineers and designers to estimate the expected scour depth around such structures,which is an integral part of decisions regarding foundation design,selection of structural materials,and implementation of scour protection measures.

SCOURS IN FRONT OF A BREAKWATER BY BROKEN WAVES AND THEIR SIMILARITY LAW

The sea bottom in front of a breakwater is scoured under the action of broken waves,and this will affect the stability of the breakwater.In this paper,the scours of sandy seabed in front of a breakwater under the action of broken waves are investigated experimentally.The depth and range of the scouring trough at the foot of a breakwater are studied,and the influence of open foundation-bed on scouring and depositing is also discussed.In order to apply the research results to practical projects,the scale of model sediment and the scale of scours and depositions are suggested.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Local Scour Around Submarine Piggyback Pipeline Under Steady Current

As a new type of submarine pipeline, the piggyback pipeline has been gradually adopted in engineering practice to enhance the performance and safety of submarine pipelines. However, limited simulation work and few experimental studies have been published on the scour around the piggyback pipeline under steady current. This study numerically and experimentally investigates the local scour of the piggyback pipe under steady current. The influence of prominent factors such as pipe diameter, inflow Reynolds number, and gap between the main and small pipes, on the maximum scour depth have been examined and discussed in detail. Furthermore, one formula to predict the maximum scour depth under the piggyback pipeline has been derived based on the theoretical analysis of scour equilibrium. The feasibility of the proposed formula has been effectively calibrated by both experimental data and numerical results. The findings drawn from this study are instructive in the future design and application of the piggyback pipeline.

Local Scour and the Laws of Scour Pit's Shape Downstream of Debris Flow Sabo Dam

The erosion shape and the law of development of debris flow sabo dam downstream is a weak part in the study on debris flow erosion. The shape and development of scour pit have an important effect on the stability and safety of debris flow sabo dam, which determines the foundational depth of the dam and the design of protective measures downstream. Study on the scouring law of sabo dam downstream can evaluate the erosion range and reasonably arrange auxiliary protective engineering. Therefore, a series of flume experiments are carried out including different debris flow characteristics （density is varying from 1.5 t/m3 to 2.1 t/m~） and different gully longitudinal slopes. The result shows that the scour pit appears as an oval shape in a plane and deep in the middle while superficial at the ends in the longitudinal section, the position of the maximum depth point moves towards downstream with an increase of flume slope angle. The maximum depth of scour pit is mainly affected by the longitudinal slope of gully, density of debris flow, and the characteristics of gully composition （particle size and the viscosity of soil）. The result also indicates that the viscosity of soil will weaken the erosion extent. The interior slopes of scour pit are different between the upstream and the downstream, and the downstream slope is smaller than the upper one. For the viscous and non-viscous sands with the same distribution of gradation, the interior slope of non- viscous sand is smaller than the viscous sand.According to tbe regression analysis on the experimental data, the quantitative relationship between the interior slope of scour pit, slope of repose under water and the longitudinal slope of gully is established and it can be used to calculate the interior slope of scour pit. The results can provide the basis for the parameter design of the debris flow control engineering foundation.

Bed Load Transport Rates during Scouring and Armoring Processes

Dambreak-induced bed scouring may undermine the foundation of bridge piers and other structures,and that destruction can pose a serious threat.Consequently,this paper aims at exploring the mechanisms of scouring and armoring.Firstly,the incipient velocity for nonuniform sediment particles was studied,and a formula was derived based on the angle of repose of nonuniform sediment.The results showed that the mechanism of incipient motion for sand and fine gravel differed from that for coarse gravel and cobbles.Also,comparison between experimental and field data shows that the results from the proposed formula agree well with those observed for all conditions.Secondly,a birth-death,immigration-emigration Markov process was developed to describe the bed load transport rate associated with scouring and armoring.The comparison between experimental data and computed results shows that our model can predict the bed load transport rate,although there may be some limitations,the chief of which is that there are many variables in the model to be determined through experiment.This makes its application in river engineering inconvenient.

Effects of spillway types on debris flow trajectory and scour behind a sabo dam

Debris flows are one of the common natural hazards in mountainous areas.They often cause devastating damage to the lives and property of local people.The sabo dam construction along a debris flow valley is considered to be a useful method for hazard mitigation.Previous work has concentrated on the different types of sabo dams such as close-type sabo dam,open-type sabo dam.However,little attention has been paid to the spillway structure of sabo dam.In the paper,a new type of spillway structure with lateral contraction was proposed.Debris flow patterns under four different spillway structures were investigated.The projection theory was employed to predict trajectory of debris flow out from the spillway and to estimate the incident angle and terminal velocity before it plunged into the scour hole behind the sabo dam.The results indicated that the estimated data were in good agreement with the experimental ones.The discrepancy between the estimated and experimental values of main parameters remained below 21.82%(relative error).Additionally,the effects of debris flow scales under different spillway structures were considered to study the scour law.Although the debris flow pattern and scour law behind the sabo dam under different operating conditions was analyzed in this paper,further study on the scour mechanism andthe maximum scour depth estimation based on scour theory is still required in the future.

Experiments on Interaction Between Current-Induced Vibration and Scour of Submarine Pipelines on Sandy Bottom

In order to understand the dynamic behavior of submarine pipelines exposed to current and the mechanism of the interaction between current-induced vibration and scour of pipelines on a sandy bottom, an experimental investigation is conducted with a small scale model A test model which can be tested in the flume is set up by taking into account the typical working conditions of the pipelines and by applying the similarity theory. The interactions between the shape of the scour hole and the behavior of the pipeline as well as the flow patterns of the current are detailed, and the interaction mechanism outlined. The effect of vibration of the pipeline on the development of dynamic scour at different stages is found out. The proposed experimental method and test results provide an effective means for design of marine pipelines against scouring.

Bridge pier failure probabilities under combined hazard effects of scour, truck and earthquake. Part Ⅰ: occurrence probabilities

In many regions of the world, a bridge will experience multiple extreme hazards during its expected service life. The current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials （AASHTO） load and resistance factor design （LRFD） specifications are formulated based on failure probabilities, which are fully calibrated for dead load and nonextreme live loads. Design against earthquake loads is established separately. Design against scour effect is also formulated separately by using the concept of capacity reduction （or increased scour depth）. Furthermore, scour effect cannot be linked directly to an LRFD limit state equation, because the latter is formulated using force-based analysis. This paper （in two parts） presents a probability-based procedure to estimate the combined hazard effects on bridges due to truck, earthquake and scour, by treating the effect of scour as an equivalent load effect so that it can be included in reliability-based bridge failure calculations. In Part I of this series, the general principle of treating the scour depth as an equivalent load effect is presented. The individual and combined partial failure probabilities due to truck, earthquake and scour effects are described. To explain the method of including non-force-based natural hazards effects, two types of common scour failures are considered. In Part 11, the corresponding bridge failure probability, the occurrence of scour as well as simultaneously having both truck load and equivalent scour load are quantitatively discussed.

Earthquake damage potential and critical scour depth of bridges exposed to flood and seismic hazards under lateral seismic loads

Many bridges located in seismic hazard regions suffer from serious foundation exposure caused by riverbed scour. Loss of surrounding soil significantly reduces the lateral strength of pile foundations. When the scour depth exceeds a critical level, the strength of the foundation is insufficient to withstand the imposed seismic demand, which induces the potential for unacceptable damage to the piles during an earthquake. This paper presents an analytical approach to assess the earthquake damage potential of bridges with foundation exposure and identify the critical scour depth that causes the seismic performance of a bridge to differ from the original design. The approach employs the well-accepted response spectrum analysis method to determine the maximum seismic response of a bridge. The damage potential of a bridge is assessed by comparing the imposed seismic demand with the strengths of the column and the foundation. The versatility of the analytical approach is illustrated with a numerical example and verified by the nonlinear finite element analysis. The analytical approach is also demonstrated to successfully determine the critical scour depth. Results highlight that relatively shallow scour depths can cause foundation damage during an earthquake, even for bridges designed to provide satisfactory seismic performance.

Experimental Investigation on Flow and Scour Characteristics Around Tandem Piers in Sandy Channel With Downward Seepage

Experimental investigations have been carried out to study morpho-hydraulic characteristics such as scour geometry and turbulent flow properties around tandem piers in alluvial channels. Experiments were carried out in a plane sand bed with two circular piers of same diameter arranged in tandem manner under no seepage, 10% seepage and 20% seepage conditions. Downward seepage minimizes the scour depth around piers and restrains the development of scour depth with time. Strong reversal flow is found near the bed at upstream of piers and near free surface at downstream of piers where velocity and Reynolds shear stress are found to be negative which reduce in magnitude with downward seepage. The flow is more critical within the gap between two piers where velocity is lesser near free surface and gradually increasing towards bed. Quadrant analysis shows that contribution of each event to the total Reynolds shear stress increases with downward seepage. Sedimentation effect prevails within the scour hole whereas outside the scour hole erosive forces become more dominant. Reduced reversal flow at upstream of pier because of downward seepage results in decreasing higher order moments and turbulent kinetic energy. At downstream of piers, secondary currents are dominant due to wake vortices. Strouhal number decreases in case of seepage runs than no seepage condition.

Bridge pier failure probabilities under combined hazard effects of scour, truck and earthquake. Part Ⅱ: failure probabilities

In many regions of the world, a bridge will experience multiple extreme hazards during its expected service life. The current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials （AASHTO） load and resistance factor design （LRFD） specifications are formulated based on failure probabilities, which are fully calibrated for dead load and non-extreme live loads. Design against earthquake load effect is established separately. Design against scour effect is also formulated separately by using the concept of capacity reduction （or increased scour depth）. Furthermore, scour effect cannot be linked directly to an LRFD limit state equation because the latter is formulated using force-based analysis. This paper （in two parts） presents a probability-based procedure to estimate the combined hazard effects on bridges due to truck, earthquake and scour, by treating the effect of scour as an equivalent load effect so that it can be included in reliability-based failure calculations. In Part I of this series, the general principle for treating the scour depth as an equivalent load effect is presented. In Part II, the corresponding bridge failure probability, the occurrence of scour as well as simultaneously having both truck load and equivalent scour load effect are quantitatively discussed. The key formulae of the conditional partial failure probabilities and the necessary conditions are established. In order to illustrate the methodology, an example of dead, truck, earthquake and scour effects on a simple bridge pile foundation is represented.

The characteristic and prediction of scour in front of breakwaters by standing waves

In this paper bottom scours in front of vertical breakwaters by standing waves are systematically investigated, the scouring patterns, criterion for differentiating the scouring patterns and scouring mechanism are discussed ; a formula of maximum depth of scouring trough considering sediment size is given; and influence of mound foundation on bottom scours is investigated.

Scour and liquefaction issues for anchors and other subsea structures in floating offshore wind farms: A review

This article reviews scouring and liquefaction issues for anchor foundations of floating offshore wind farms.The review is organized in two sections:(1)the scouring issues for drag-embedment anchors(DEAs)and other subsea structures associated with DEAs such as tensioners,clump weights,and chains in floating offshore wind farms;and(2)the liquefaction issues for the same types of structures,particularly for DEAs.The scouring processes are described in detail,and the formulae and design guidelines for engineering predictions are included for quantities like scour depth,time scale,and sinking due to general shear failure of the bed soil caused by scoui\The latter is furnished with numerical examples.Likewise,in the second section,the liquefaction processes are described with special reference to residual liquefaction where pore-water pressure builds up in undrained soils(such as fine sand and silt)under waves,leading to liquefaction of the bed soil and precipitating failure of DEAs and their associated subsea structures.An integrated mathematical model to deal with liquefaction around and the resulted sinking failure of DEAs,introduced in a recent study,has been revisited.Implementation of the model is illustrated with a numerical example.It is believed that the present review and the existing literatures from the"neighboring"fields form a complementary source of information on scour and liquefaction around foundations of floating offshore wind farms.

Effect of Local and Global Scour on Lateral Response of Single Piles in Different Soil Conditions

Marine structures, offshore platforms and bridge piers are usually supported on foundation piles. These piles are subjected to lateral loading due to wind, waves and currents. Piles installed in marine or river environments are susceptible to scour depending on wave and current characteristics and soil types. In this paper, the effect of local and global scour on behavior of laterally loaded piles installed in different soil conditions has been investigated. Finite element model (FEM) using the software program PLAXIS and Winkler model using the software program LPILE were used in the analyses. Different parameters were investigated such as soil types, scour depth, scour hole dimension, pile material, submerged condition, magnitude of lateral load and load eccentricity. The results showed that scour has a significant impact on piles installed in sand and a less significant impact on piles installed in clay. Global scour has a significant impact on pile lateral displacement and bending stresses. The effect of scour is more significant if piles are subjected to large lateral loads due to the nonlinear response of pile-soil system. Effect of scour of stiff clayey soils on piles is more pronounced than that of soft clayey soils.

Experimental investigation of turbulent flows around high-rise structure foundations and implications on scour

Many studies have been undertaken to predict local scour around offshore high-rise structure foundations(HRSFs),which have been used in constructing the Donghai Wind Farm in China.However,there have been few works on the turbulent flow that drives the scour process.In this study,the characteristics of the turbulent flow fields around an HRSF were investigated using the particle image velocimetry technique.The mean flow,vorticity,and turbulence intensity were analyzed in detail.The relationship between the flow feature and scour development around an HRSF was elaborated.The results showed that the flow velocity increased to its maximum value near the third row of the pile group.The shear layer and wake vortices could not be fully developed downstream of the last row of the piles at small Reynolds numbers.The strong flow and turbulent fluctuation near the third piles explained the existence of a longtail scour pattern starting from the HRSF shoulders and a trapezoidal deposition region directly downstream of HRSF.This laboratory experiment gains insight into the mechanism of the turbulent flow around HRSFs and provides a rare dataset for numerical model verifications.

Experimental investigation and flow analysis of clear-water scour around pier and abutment in proximity

Local scour around bridge piers and abutments is one of the most significant causes of bridge failure.Despite a plethora of studies on scour around individual bridge piers or abutments,few studies have focused on the joint impact of a pier and an abutment in proximity to one another on scour.This study conducted laboratory experiments and flow analyses to examine the interaction of piers and abutments and their effect on clear-water scour.The experiments were conducted in a rectangular laboratory flume.They included 18 main tests(with a combination of different types of piers and abutments)and five control tests(with individual piers or abutments).Three pier types(a rectangular pier with a rounded edge,a group of three cylindrical piers,and a single cylindrical pier)and two abutment types(a wingewall abutment and a semicircular abutment)were used.An acoustic Doppler velocimeter was used to measure the three-dimensional flow velocity for analyses of streamline,velocity magnitude,vertical velocity,and bed shear stress.The results showed that the velocity near the pier and abutment increased by up to 80%.The maximum scour depth around the abutment increased by up to 19%.In contrast,the maximum scour depth around the pier increased significantly by up to l71%.The presence of the pier in the vicinity of the abutment led to an increase in the scour hole volume by up to 87%relative to the case with a solitary abutment.Empirical equations were also derived to accurately estimate the maximum scour depth at the pier adjacent to the abutment.