Backwater effect of multiple bridges along Huaihe River, China

This study investigated the backwater effect of the eight bridges along the Huaihe River in China using physical model experiments. The experimental data obtained were used to derive equations to parameterise the backwater effect of a single bridge. The cumulative effect of two bridges was then analysed, using the backwater effect of a single bridge as a reference. It was found that, in order to eliminate the cumulative effect, the minimum distance between two bridges should be no less than 215 times the bridge pier width.