THE PNEUMATIC SCOUR DETECTION SYSTEM

The Pneumatic Scour Detection System (PSDS), is designed to operate under the most extreme flood conditions and monitor the development of a scour zone in real time. This technique is based on the differential resistance to air (or liquid) flow through a vertical array of porous filters made of stainless steel. Each filter in the array is sealed into the wall of a very strong steel tube (4 in. i.d.) that is battered into the river bottom through any debris or boulders accumulated around the pier. The PSDS technique has the advantages of ruggedness, as the tube used is of sufficient strength to withstand impact from flood-borne debris, and there are no mechanical parts, such as sliding collars, that can be jammed by debris. Results from a small-scale field test are presented.