Numerical simulation of flow velocity around single and twin bridge piers with different arrangements using the Fluent model

Flow structure around bridge pier is a very complicated phenomenon. Due to the special geometric and structural conditions in some cases, it is required that the piers be placed in pairs next to each other with special arrangements, which leads to a more complex flow structure around the piers. In this study, the variations of the flow velocity and turbulent kinetic energy around single and the twin bridge piers with a circular cross section is simulated using the Fluent model. The twin piers are placed in three configurations including tandem, side-by-side, and at inclined with the flow direction. The three-dimensional components of flow velocity, streamlines, and velocity contours have been investigated for both single and twin piers. By comparing the longitudinal velocity between measured and simulated conditions in two selected cross sections, the average error for the single tandem piers was 7.3% and 3.54%, respectively. Also, the longitudinal velocity in the tandem, side-by-side and inclined piers has decreased by 2.34% and 9.27% and increased by 87.8%, respectively, compared to the single pier conditions. In general, due to the minimum values of turbulent velocity and kinetic energy, the side-by-side model is recommended as the most appropriate arrangement of the piers with respect to the flow direction.