Topic outline

  • Scour in Cohesive Soils

    Credits: 7 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    Scour in cohesive soils has been a challenge for engineers and designers. Unlike noncohesive soils, practical measurement techniques and well accepted guidance of the scourability of cohesive soils are severely lacking.

    This course summarizes a study through which an erosion testing device that simulates open channel flow on a small scale was developed and tested. In addition, a recommended design approach is provided that can be used for estimating scour for a range of cohesive soils.

    Topics:

    • Cohesive soil behavior
    • Erosion testing and testing devices for cohesive soils
    • Critical shear stress of conhesive soils
    • Erosion rates, rate models, and estimated parameters
    • The ESTD, the Moving Belt, and the direct Force Gage
    • Measure of flow and bed shear stress
    • Flow field, shear stress measurements
    • Soil preparation and properties
    • Preparing soil specimens
    • Direct shear and unconfined compression test
    • Slaking, the slaking mechanism, and slaking test
    • Critical shear stress, USDA models, Briaud mounds, power model

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: This course is intended for structural, geotechnical, civil, environmental, water resources, and other engineers whose job description requires a comprehensive knowledge of scour testing procedures for cohesive soil conditions.
    Publication Source: US FHWA Pub# FHWA-HRT-15-033, May 2015

    Donald Parnell, PE

    • Topic 1