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Published April 14, 2025 | Version 1.0
Dataset Open

Structural Performance Monitoring and Evaluation of Scoured Bridges under Dynamic Actions (ERIES: Scour & Shake)

Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Politecnico di Milano
  • 2. ROR icon Polytechnic University of Turin
  • 3. Brunel University London
  • 4. ROR icon Université Gustave Eiffel
  • 5. ROR icon Cardiff University
  • 6. Construction and Building Materials
  • 7. Tailor Engineering Group
  • 8. ROR icon Marche Polytechnic University
  • 9. SMARTEC
  • 10. ROR icon University of Bristol
  • 11. ROR icon Università di Camerino
  • 12. University of Birmingham
  • 13. ROR icon Khalifa University of Science and Technology
  • 14. ROR icon Egnatia Odos (Greece)
  • 15. ROR icon Democritus University of Thrace
  • 16. ROR icon National Technical University of Athens
  • 17. ROR icon University of Strathclyde

Contributors

Hosting institution:

Description

This dataset presents results from a comprehensive experimental campaign investigating the dynamic response of bridge piers on embedded caisson foundations under scour conditions. The project was conducted at the UKCRIC Soil-Foundation-Structure Interaction (SoFSI) Laboratory at the University of Bristol, as part of the project Scour & Shake: Structural Performance Monitoring and Evaluation of Scoured Bridges under Dynamic Actions, within the project framework ERIES: Engineering Research Infrastructure for European Synergies (2022–2026), funded by Horizon Europe (Ref: 101058684-HORIZON-INFRA-2021-SERV-01-07).

The experimental programme focused on: (a) the effectiveness of vibration-based methods for scour identification, (b) the accuracy of available numerical modelling techniques, and (c) the effects of scour remedial measures in improving seismic performance. The tests were performed using a 4.8×1.0×1.2m³ equivalent shear beam box on a 6×4m², 50-tonne biaxial shaking table. The soil container was filled with 950mm of densely pluviated silica sand, underlain by a 40mm rubber layer to simulate deep soil conditions. Two model piers were tested:

  • A slender (flexible) model, representing a tall pier with a long-span bridge;
  • A stiff (squat) model, simulating a shorter pier with a lighter deck.

The piers were constructed using rectangular steel sections, with steel top masses connected by angle brackets. The caisson foundations were built from cylindrical steel sections, filled with concrete to achieve the target mass, and externally coated with glued sand to realistically reproduce interface friction. A schematic of the experimental setup and instrumentation is provided in the dataset.

Each pier was initially subjected to fixed-base tests, for modal identification. Then, the piers were placed in the soil container and the following scour scenarios were investigated:

  • No scour (caisson fully embedded)
  • Low scour (caisson exposed up to 50% of its depth)
  • High scour (caisson exposed up to 75% of its depth)
  • Remedial measures, involving gravel infill in the scour hole (slender specimen only)

Each setup was subjected to white noise tests with increasing amplitudes from 0.01 to 0.50g for modal identification, as well as a series of seismic ground motions corresponding to low and high seismicity. In total, over 250 tests were conducted. Fixed-base tests were performed on 27th June 2024, and full soil-structure interaction tests during the week commencing 15th July 2024.

The dataset (Version 1.0) focuses on white-noise tests with a target amplitude of 0.01g, used for identifying dynamic properties of the model structures under different foundation and scour conditions. The data are reported in units of seconds (time), millimeters (length), g (acceleration), and microns (dimensionless strain in parts of a million). The following configurations are included as CSV files:

  • Stiff Specimen - Fixed Base - White Noise 0.01g
  • Stiff Specimen - No Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Stiff Specimen - Low Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Stiff Specimen - High Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Slender Specimen - Fixed Base - White Noise 0.01g
  • Slender Specimen - No Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Slender Specimen - Low Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Slender Specimen - High Scour - White Noise 0.01g
  • Slender Specimen - Remedial Measures - White Noise 0.01g

Files

Scour_and_Shake_Configuration.png

Files (137.3 MB)

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md5:c69c2e99f4233a9989945cbef60951a3
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Additional details

Funding

European Commission
ERIES - Engineering Research Infrastructures for European Synergies 101058684

Dates

Created
2024-06-27
Fixed Base Test Data
Created
2024-07-15 / 2024-07-22
Shear Stack Test Data