#bridge pier
- Scour — The act of scouring and its result; a hydrodynamic phenomenon of local erosion, washing away, and excavation of a riverbed or soil at the base of a hydraulic structure, such as bridge piers or dikes, under the direct action of strong currents. This structural process can jeopardize the stability of the entire foundation if consolidation measures are not applied.
- Starling — The upstream part of a bridge pier, projecting forward and specially shaped (pointed, wedge-like, or ogival) to split the water current, guide the flow, and protect the structure against water pressure, ice jams, or floating debris carried by the river. It serves as the frontal safety component of a bridge infrastructure facing the hydrological flow.