This study investigates the turbulent flow characteristics around a complex pier (CP) with elliptical pile cap, for understanding the mechanics of flow responsible for current-induced scour. The velocity data are recorded using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) for a Reynolds number of 67,745. This study gives mean velocities in horizontal and vertical planes, Reynolds stresses, turbulent kinetic energy, and spectral analysis around the CP, which are not addressed earlier. The streamwise spectra with vortex-shedding frequencies and corresponding Strouhal numbers are focused on three distinct regions generated by CP. The elliptical pile-cap shields the downward flow at the upstream of the column, and the upward-moving wakes at the downstream of the CP, responsible for the sediment entrainment around a pier. On comparison, the effect of perturbed flow around the CP is considerably less than that of the simple pier (SP), resulting in less scour around the CP with identical flow situations.
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