3D numerical investigation of roadway bridge response under hydrodynamic forces and local scour in stiff clay and sand foundations

Abstract

Bridges are critical components of transportation networks but are highly vulnerable to failure during extreme flood events, particularly due to hydrodynamic forces and local scour. This study quantitatively evaluates the effects of flood velocity and scour depth on bridge pier displacement for two representative soil conditions: very stiff clay (Ground Type B) and medium-dense sand (Ground Type C). A 3D finite-element model incorporating non-linear p–y springs was developed in CSI Bridge to represent soil–structure interaction (SSI). A total of 192 simulations were performed across flood velocities of 2–16 m/s and scour depths ranging from 0DF to 2DF. The results show that pier displacement increases systematically with both velocity and scour, with medium-dense sand exhibiting up to 30% higher displacement than very stiff clay at severe flood conditions (0.07 m vs. 0.06 m). These findings highlight the importance of soil stiffness in governing pier response under extreme hydrodynamic loading. While the study does not address debris impact, flow directionality or additional hydraulic parameters, the outcomes provide valuable insight for improving foundation design and incorporating SSI considerations into flood-resilient bridge engineering.