Assessing flooding impact to riverine bridges: an integrated analysis

Abstract

Abstract. Flood events are the most frequent cause of damage to infrastructure compared to any other natural hazard, and global changes (climate, socioeconomic, technological) are likely to increase this damage. Transportation infrastructure systems are responsible for moving people, goods and services, and ensuring connection within and among urban areas. A failed link in these systems can impact the community by threatening evacuation capability, recovery operations and the overall economy. Bridges are critical links in the wider urban system since they are associated with little redundancy and a high (re)construction cost. Riverine bridges are particularly prone to failure during flood events; in fact, the risks to bridges from high river flows and erosion have been recognized as crucial at global level. The interaction of flow, structure and network is complex, and not fully understood. This study aims to establish a rigorous, multiphysics modeling approach for the assessment of the hydrodynamic forces impacting inundated bridges, and the subsequent structural response, while understanding the consequences of such impact on the surrounding network. The objectives of this study are to model hydrodynamic forces as demand on the bridge structure, to advance a performance evaluation of the structure under the modeled loading, and to assess the overall impact at systemic level. The flood-prone city of Carlisle (UK) is used as a case study and a proof of concept. Implications of the hydrodynamic impact on the performance and functionality of the surrounding transport network are discussed. This research will help to fill the gap between current guidance for design and assessment of bridges within the overall transport system.

Preserving Heritage Riverine Bridges: A Hydrological Approach to the Case Study of the Grau Bridge in Peru

“…In addition, scour was calculated for a return period of T=500 years [37]. It should be noted that, for the hydraulic study, masonry arch bridges are particularly vulnerable to scour due to the combination of their high stiffness and shallow bases [7].…”

“…While seismic risks are crucial to consider, this research emphasizes hydrological risks, as bridges in Peru have demonstrated susceptibility to such phenomena as floods. It is noteworthy that flood-related incidents are a major contributor to bridge failures in river channels, causing flooding and scour in abutments and piers [7]. For instance, the El Niño Phenomenon between 2016 and 2017 resulted in the destruction of 449 bridges nationwide [8], underscoring the lack of resilience in Peru to extreme events [9].…”

Hydro-Meteorological Characteristics of the 1973 Catastrophic Flood in the Mahi Basin, India

“…Historic pre-instrumental records and longest stream flow 2 of 17 time series data have great significance in the design of hydraulic structures, namely, dams, bridges, and culverts [18]. Extreme rainfall, resulting in floods and scour, is the most dynamic cause of bridge failures [19,20]. Globally, numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of floods on infrastructure in different countries.…”

Prioritizing Riverine Bridge Interventions: A Hydrological and Multidimensional Approach

“…The most critical hazards to which they are exposed are hydrological [1][2][3][4], wherein the most recurrent failures are caused by floods that cause foundational movement [5]. Climate change directly influences hydrological events [4,6,7]. As the frequency of the maximum flood events increases, there are higher failure probabilities and an accelerated deterioration of bridges, which results in significant economic losses [4,8].…”

“…As the frequency of the maximum flood events increases, there are higher failure probabilities and an accelerated deterioration of bridges, which results in significant economic losses [4,8]. Under such a premise, it becomes a matter of priority to meet regulatory and functionality requirements [6,9], especially considering that many bridges have completed their intended life cycle. Consequently, vulnerability studies become important support tools to make decisions based on scientific evidence and thus prioritize investments in important infrastructures such as bridges [10].…”