Investigation of Scour Evolution Considering the Influence of Nature-based Solutions Around Hydraulic Structures

Coastal infrastructure assets are continuously exposed to complex hydrodynamic conditions which can generate significant erosion processes around submerged and nearshore foundations. Bridge piers and offshore foundations are particularly vulnerable to scouring caused by flow-structure-sediment interactions which cause the removal of bed material due to hydrodynamic forces. This phenomenon is one of the principal causes of structural instability and failure in coastal and hydraulic environments worldwide. This study investigates the evolution of scouring patterns around coastal infrastructure assets and evaluates the influence of the variability resulting from the considered nature-based adaptation solution (calcareous deposit). The numerical approach simulates the flow field, updates the bed morphology according to sediment transport fluxes, and computes scour depth. The results indicate the effectiveness of the applied nature-based solution in reducing the scour depth from 1.4 m to 0.5-0.6 m, enhancing the resilience of the coastal infrastructure assets.