Mohammad Vaghefi

This research study focuses on the examination of the effects of submerged vanes on the variations of bend topography, particularly in the proximity of a bridge pier, using a laboratory model. The experimental setup consisted of a 180-degree bend with a rectangular cross section, wherein a cylindrical pier with a diameter of 5 cm was positioned at the center of a flume. Plexiglas vanes were strategically installed upstream of the bridge pier. The study aimed to measure the maximum depth of local scour during the period of relative equilibrium. Parametric studies were conducted to investigate the influence of various factors, including the number of vanes, different vane lengths, and vane angles. The resulting scour profiles were compared to assess the effectiveness of the different configurations. The experimental findings demonstrated that the maximum reduction in scour depth around the bridge pier was observed when three submerged vanes, with a length 1.5 times the diameter of the pier, were placed at an angle of 15 degrees relative to the tangent at the mid-section of the bend. This configuration resulted in an approximate reduction of scour depth by 30 percent compared to other cases examined in the study.