Institute of Hydrology
Topic
Numerical Study of Flow-Sediment-Wood Processes at Bridge Piers
PhD. program
Water Resources Engineering
Year of admission
2025
Name of the supervisor
MSc. Saeid Okhravi, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Civil Engineering STU
Annotation
Flood risk assessments often overlook the significant role of sediment and wood transport during extreme events. Recent floods in Europe, such as those in Switzerland (2005, 2014), Germany and Belgium (2021), and Slovenia or Spain (2023), demonstrate that transported sediment and large wood (LW) can exacerbate flood hazards. In particular, wood accumulations at bridge piers obstruct flow, elevate upstream water levels (afflux), and intensify local scour, threatening infrastructure stability and public safety.
While experimental studies have explored wood accumulation probabilities and their impact on scour, they often use static models, failing to capture the dynamic interactions between flow, sediment, and wood. This research addresses these gaps by employing a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to simulate the formation, growth, and breakup of wood jams at bridge piers. The model will analyze the non-linear interactions between flowing water, sediment transport, and wood dynamics throughout the lifecycle of wood accumulations, providing insights into scouring processes under flood conditions.
The project’s outcomes will include a refined understanding of wood jam-induced scour depth and its temporal evolution, enabling the development of more accurate scour prediction tools. These advancements will enhance flood hazard assessments, improve bridge safety guidelines, and inform resilient infrastructure design to mitigate risks from extreme flood events.
While experimental studies have explored wood accumulation probabilities and their impact on scour, they often use static models, failing to capture the dynamic interactions between flow, sediment, and wood. This research addresses these gaps by employing a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to simulate the formation, growth, and breakup of wood jams at bridge piers. The model will analyze the non-linear interactions between flowing water, sediment transport, and wood dynamics throughout the lifecycle of wood accumulations, providing insights into scouring processes under flood conditions.
The project’s outcomes will include a refined understanding of wood jam-induced scour depth and its temporal evolution, enabling the development of more accurate scour prediction tools. These advancements will enhance flood hazard assessments, improve bridge safety guidelines, and inform resilient infrastructure design to mitigate risks from extreme flood events.