Countermeasure Scour Equation Apply to Culverts Outlets.

Abstract

Understanding scour geometry is fundamental for the design and implementation of effective erosion and scour countermeasures, as it directly influences the structural integrity and service life of hydraulic infrastructure subjected to high-velocity flows in natural channels. This study evaluates a representative set of natural channels encompassing a broad range of hydraulic conditions, with Froude numbers spanning supercritical, critical, and subcritical flow regimes. The analyzed sites include typical hydraulic structures such as culverts, wing walls, and bridges. Based on the hydraulic and geometric data obtained, an empirical equation was developed to estimate scour depth, width, and length for rivers exhibiting morphological and hydraulic characteristics representative of those found in Puerto Rico. The proposed equation was derived using numerical modeling tools within HEC-RAS, in conjunction with established methodologies such as HEC-14, which is widely applied for scour estimation at culverts