Experimental Investigation of Wave Forces on Coastal Bridge Decks Subjected to Oblique Wave Attack

Abstract

Large wave forces induced by the combination of storm surge and hurricane waves have caused significant damage and failure of various coastal bridges in the Gulf of Mexico. Existing research studies are mainly focused on the wave forces generated by normal incident waves rather than oblique waves. In this study, wave forces induced by oblique hurricane-induced waves were investigated experimentally. A full bridge specimen, including superstructure, substructure, and neighboring segments, was manufactured and employed in this experiment to measure wave forces and wave-impact pressure. A detailed test covering different wave heights, clearances, and wave angles was conducted in the wave flume. The characteristics of wave forces under different wave conditions were analyzed to provide more insight regarding the oblique wave action on coastal bridges. The vertical wave force was found to reach the peak at a wave angle of 30° under a clearance of 4.0 cm. Wave overtopping was found to have a significant effect on the vertical force in the semisubmerged and submerged cases. The pressure distribution for an elevated case was also investigated to obtain a better understanding of the vertical wave force under oblique wave action.