Bridge Scour Failures

This paper describes a case history of failure of three reinforced concrete highway bridges built across Wadi El Nagah watercourse in the northeastern part of Libya. Two out of three bridges collapsed and one suffered damage that could be repaired. All these bridges have been victim of heavy floods in the wadi, which caused severe damage due to scour, erosion and undermining of the soil below the foundations of intermediate piers and the abutments. In all cases, parts of the approach road embankments were also washed away.