Evaluation of Pier Arrangement on a Curved Channel by using Improved US-model

Unsafe Ship-handling model (US-model) is known as an evaluation method which analyzes the potential risk of marine accidents. In previous paper, this model was improved for evaluating small obstacles, definitely. This research aims to evaluate the influence of the pier arrangement by applying the improved US-model to the bridge design on a straight channel and a curved channel. In ship-handling simulator, a bridge with the various pier-pier distances was set on the straight channel. The potential collision risk to the pier decreases when the pier-pier distance is wide enough, such as 2000m by the experiment results. In the traffic simulation, pier-pier distances, pier arrangement types and curved angles were set on the curved channel. The potential collision risk extremely increases at the following conditions. (1) The pier-pier distance is less than 1500m. (2) The curved angle becomes severe at the pier-pier distance is 1000m. (3) The arranged pair of pier is set on the backward side from the curved corner. In conclusion, it can be said that the improved US-model could evaluate the influence of the pier arrangement on a straight and a curved channel clearly.