Supplied Sediment Tracking for Bridge Collapse with Large-Scale Channel Migration

Abstract

Here, we provide a numerical model that assigns an identification number to trace sediments and also identify the source of sediment supply. We analyze the efficacy of our model by reproducing the reach-scale field observations from flooding events in 2010 and 2016 that affected Kyusen Bridge over the Bebetsu River, Hokkaido, Japan. Our simulation results can successfully reproduce and trace the formation of bars caused by sediment supply in the study region. Our study also suggests a strong relationship between bank erosion rate, sediment supply and flow-discharge. The bank erosion rate is higher when sediment supply increases, and bank erosion reduces as flow discharge goes down. The model can also replicate the changes in a bed concerning sediment supply and was used to reproduce the bridge-abutment failure caused by the 2016 flooding with large sediment supply and the bridge-pier failure caused by the 2010 flooding with less sediment supply.