Scour Development in Square Pile Groups: Effects of Pile Number and Spacing
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Local scour around pile group foundations poses a significant risk to hydraulic and coastal structures, particularly when multiple piles interact with complex flow patterns. This study presents a numerical investigation of local scour around pile groups arranged in 2×2, 3×3, and 4×4 square configurations using Flow-3D. The model incorporates clear-water scour conditions, the RNG k–ε turbulence scheme, FAVOR geometry representation, and the Van Rijn sediment transport formulation. Simulations were conducted for three pile spacing ratios (G/D = 2.5, 3, 3.5) to evaluate the influence of pile number and spacing on scour depth and scour-hole morphology. The results show that scour decreases from upstream to downstream piles due to sheltering, while central piles experience slightly deeper scour due to intensified flow interference. Increasing spacing reduces pile-to-pile interaction and leads to scour patterns resembling single-pile behavior. Overall, the numerical model reliably captures scour mechanisms and provides useful insights for safer pile-group design.
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