HEC-RAS simulation of scour in circular piers using a sediment transport demonstration channel

Intending to take advantage of the implementation of two very affordable resources, a sediment transport demonstration channel for teaching and a very versatile open-source software (HECRAS), the present work develops the numerical simulation of the scour in a circular pier. The numerical modeling (HEC-RAS) was calibrated with the tests of the physical model (sediment transport demonstration channel). The reduced dimensions of the channel limited the number and precision of the tests; however, they were sufficient to provide the information required by the numerical model. The work details the physical and numerical modeling in such a way that a clear and simple guide is obtained, to simulate the scour of piers in bridges. The result obtained in the first instance exceeds the scour of the physical model, however, due to the simulated conditions, very close to a wide pier in shallow flow, the overestimation was expected.