| Bridge pier scour is a common problem and its effects are thought to be elevated when a sheet of ice forms on top of the river and adheres to the piers (Hains 2004). When this occurs, the ice forms a temporary solid immovable boundary. This boundary inhibits the water level from rising freely, creating added water pressure, perhaps increasing scouring effects.Whether the ice to pier bond fails before the ice itself fails or vice versa and what load magnitude is required for either failure to occur is not well understood. As soon as either the ice to pier bond fails or the ice fails, the ice boundary is no longer immovable, and the added pressure is relieved. This research investigates these failure modes and evaluates which failure method occurs first and what load is required for failure to take place.Experimental and finite element modeling are performed. The experimental tests conducted in this research provide the adhesion strength of ice to various materials concrete, wood, and steel. The finite element modeling is constructed to represent the ice sheet between bridge piers. This finite element modeling provides insight on the failure load and verifies failure occurs at the ice to pier connection. As will be discussed further in the report, the strength of the ice to pier adhesion is weaker than the strength of ice therefore, failure is always expected to occur at the ice to pier connection. The computer modeling concluded that small pressure loads are required for failure to occur. |
