Risk Assessment of Bridge Substructure due to Scour and Seasonal Moisture Variations

Changes in flooding patterns, temperature extremes, and soil moisture cycles are intensifying the environmental loads acting on bridge infrastructure. These changes often result in more frequent and severe hydrologic events, potentially heightened vulnerability to structural failure of bridges. Scour, the erosion of soil around bridge piers and abutments due to increased streamflow during heavy rainfall, is a leading cause of hydraulic-related bridge failures. Similarly, soil moisture variability caused by extreme temperature and precipitation swings can compromise pile capacity, as soil stiffness decreases significantly under saturated conditions. These issues are particularly critical for Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) projects, where rapid construction methods must ensure longterm performance and resilience. Scour and soil moisture variations can accelerate foundation deterioration, compromising the integrity and safety of ABC bridges. Therefore, the proposed study aims to incorporate hydraulic hazard effects into the assessment of bridge substructure performance. Specifically, it will develop a comprehensive understanding of how the increasing frequency and intensity of hydraulic events influence bridge vulnerability, particularly the risk of damage caused by scour and seasonal variations in soil moisture. The research team will evaluate multiple Global Climate Models (GCMs) using different Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios to project future temperature and precipitation trends at selected study locations. Hydrologic modeling tools will be used to develop calibrated streamflow models using historical datasets of precipitation, temperature, and flow rates. Also, scouring depths at bridge foundations will be estimated following the HEC-18 procedures. These outputs will be integrated into a finite-difference model to study how scour and variations in soil moisture affect the lateral load behavior of bridge piles. The results will quantify failure probabilities, providing a comprehensive understanding of bridge resilience under changing hydraulic hazard conditions.

• Record URL:
  • https://abc-utc.fiu.edu/risk-assessment-of-bridge-substructure-due-to-scour-and-seasonal-moisture-variations/

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $65,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348322

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (IBT/ABC-UTC)

  Florida International University
  Miami, FL  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Oklahoma, Norman

  School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science
  202 West Boyd Street, Room 334
  Norman, OK  United States  73019
• Principal Investigators:

  Ashik Ali, Syed

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge foundations; Bridge substructures; Failure; Precipitation; Risk assessment; Scour; Soil water
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01987961
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Innovative Bridge Technologies/Accelerated Bridge Construction University Transportation Center (IBT/ABC-UTC)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348322
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Apr 27 2026 7:40PM