Numerical study of the flow at a vertical pile with net-like scour protection matt

Local scour at a pile or pier in current or wave environments threats the safety of the upper structure all over the world. The application of a net-like matt as a scour protection cover at the pile or pier was proposed. The matt weakens and diffuses the flow in the local scour pit and thus reduces local scour while enhances sediment deposition. Numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the flow at the pile covered by the matt. The simulation results were used to optimize the thickness $d_t$ (2.6$d_{95}\sim 17.9d_{95}$) and opening size $d_n$ ($7.7d_{95}\sim 28.2d_{95}$) of the matt. It was found that the matt significantly reduced the local velocity and dissipated the vortex at the pile, substantially reduced the extent of local scour. The smaller the opening size of the matt, the more effective was the flow diffusion at the bed, and smaller bed shear stress was observed at the pile. For the flow conditions considered in this study, a matt with a relative thickness of T = 7.7 and relative opening size of S = 7.7 could be effective in scour protection.