Hydrodynamic Impacts on Bridge Decks: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Bridges are subjected to various forces and stress generated by wind, hydraulic impacts, seismic activity, vehicular loads, temperature fluctuations, and environmental degradation. Among these, the hydraulic impacts play one of the most crucial roles in structural stability of bridges. Although modern bridges are designed to withstand hydraulic impacts, 60% of failures in the United States are still linked to hydraulic events. This indicates that some challenging aspects still require more comprehensive attention. In particular, the effect of movable bed on hydrodynamic forces is still largely unaddressed. So, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the literature on hydrodynamic forces acting on bridge decks. We critically examine existing studies on the topic, including physical experiments, numerical simulations, and theoretical models. Then we analyze the effects of key parametric ratios on hydrodynamic forces, identifying gaps in the current knowledge on the topic and suggesting directions for future research. Finally, we discuss some interesting results from tests conducted at the hydraulic laboratory of the University of Pisa, comparing the pressure distribution on bridge decks under both movable and fixed bed conditions.