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Bulbous Pier: An Alternative To Bridge Pier Extension As A Countermeasure Against Bridge Deck Splashing, Moses Karakouzian, Amilcar Chavez, Donald Hayes, Mohammad Nazari-Sharabian

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Bridge deck splashing causes deterioration to a bridge’s structure and renders the bridge unsafe for motorists and pedestrians. The traditional countermeasure for bridge deck splashing has been pier extension. Pier extensions move the pier wave and the associated splash away from the bridge deck, but retrofitting existing bridges with pier extensions is costly. This research evaluates the use of a bulbous added to the pier as an alternative to pier extension. A bulb placed on the upstream side of a bridge pier affects the splashing. The energy in the passing water is redirected from the impact by streamlining the flow. …