Experimental investigation of the angle effect of the cylindrical bridge group piers relative to the flow direction on the maximum scour depth of the piers

Bridges are one of the important structures in the field of land communication. With the construction of these structures in the river, a flow pattern with a three-dimensional structure is formed in the vicinity of its piers, and as a result of increasing the flow speed and the formation of horseshoe vortex and wake vortices, part of the sediments around the piers and foundation will be washed away, and if the sufficient depth of foundation is not taken into account, the destruction of the bridge will result especially during floods. Road or railway crossing over the rivers is limited to the particular reach of the rivers which is determined by the general direction of the road or railway. Moreover, the general direction of the road or railway determines the position of the bridge over the river. Selection of the bridge path angle relative to the river flow direction is very important.  Sometimes, due to the geographical conditions of the region and the general direction of the road or railway, the bridge crossing directly perpendicular to the flow direction is impossible. In this case, the bridge deck diagonally crosses over the river and the bridge group piers are angled relative to the flow direction. In such case, the distance between the piers, the flow direction relative to the piers and the piers submergence are very important parameters which affect the scour depth.