Detecting bridge scour by measuring the thermal variation across the stream bed

摘要

In recent years, there have been numerous advances in bridge scour detection devices. However, many of these devices are expensive, sensitive to adverse flow environments, and difficult to maintain. This paper focuses on the feasibility of detecting and monitoring scour by measuring temperature variations at the water-sediment interface. A thermal scour detection (TSD) device has great potential to overcome the disadvantages of existing scour detection methods by providing an accurate, inespensive, robust, and low maintenance device.