Experimental Study on Wave Force on Large-Scale Pier Column Foundation of Sea-Crossing Bridge for Preserving the Marine Environment

Based on the project sea area where the large-scale sea-crossing bridge is located, the marine environment is facing the threat of severe marine environmental issues such as strong typhoons and big waves. In order to resist the impact of the super wave load, the research focuses on a new structure derived from soft computing techniques in a simulated environment. Since the conventional methods cannot be used for handling such an important problem, soft computing techniques can certainly help to provide simulated solutions. These solutions can be exploited in a real-time environment to test their viability. The overall physical model test of the wave with a scale of 1 : 40 is carried out in this research study by using the proposed methodology. By setting a series of groups such as different wave height, period, water level (pier foundation scouring depth), and wave-current coupling, it is studied that the wave height and period are in positive proportion to the wave force on the pier column structure. However, there is no obvious relationship with the water level change (scouring depth). The buoyancy of the pile cap structure is about 1.27 times greater than that of the pier structure. Compared with the combined wave force of the single wave and wave current, the sensitivity and the relationship have been studied. Using this study and several engineering results completed in the early stage and also verified by the measured data, the results show that the proposed soft computing technique has good accuracy and can provide a reference for the load estimation of large-scale foundation structures.