3D NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FLOW PATTERN AND BED SHEAR STRESS AROUND CONICAL PIERS

Investigation of the flow pattern around bridge piers is of utmost importance because of its great effect on destruction of the piers. Despite the hydrodynamical and structural values of designing sections causing minimum turbulence against the flow passing the bridge pier, a review of the literature shows that investigation of the flow pattern around bridge piers with varying section has not been studied by the researchers. In this research study, a threedimensional numerical model has been used to study the flow field around a cylindrical and four conical piers of different slopes. The computational domains were first discretized using GAMBIT and then analyzed by FLUENT. Finally, the flow pattern and bed shear stress around the piers have been investigated and the relevant comparisons have been made. Numerical model results show that increment of the pier’s slope has a great effect on reducing turbulence of the passing flow and thus lessening the bed shear stress around the pier.