The Equivalent Depth of Wave-Induced Scour Around Offshore Pipelines

Physical experiments have been conducted to study the scouring around a pipe over an erodible bed under wave motion. The results show that the depth of the wave-induced scour is reduced when the pipe is installed in a primary depth. It is also indicated that when the primary installation depth of the pipe, $|e|$⁠, exceeds a specified depth, no scouring occurs underneath the pipe. This specific depth is called the equivalent depth of wave-induced scour, $Se$⁠. The equivalent depth of wave-induced scour is estimated as a function of pipe diameter and the Keulegan–Carpenter number. With respect to the primary installation depth of the pipe, a new equation is suggested to predict the scour depth before installation of the pipe. And the scour width is predicted in two other new equations. The proposed equations are then simplified in the form of diagrams. The experiments cover small KC numbers $(KC<6)$ that represent deep water conditions.