ABSTRACT
This paper presents a new 3-D numerical model to explain the conveyance and accumulation processes of woody debris at bridge piers. This model combines a 3-D flood flow model and 3-D distinct element method (DEM). The most characteristic of this model is that the 2-D and 3-D hybrid flow model is adopted for the flood flow analysis. This hybrid approach led the method to run much faster than did a full 3-D flow simulation, and the method effectively obtains information regarding 3-D flow velocity. The method was calibrated and validated using flume data on woody debris conveyance and accumulation. Comparison of the method’s predictions and the flume results showed that the proposed method is capable of accurately simulating woody debris accumulation at bridge piers.
