A debris deflector installed at a bridge pier was numerically modelled using DualSPHysics. The performance of different deflector geometries and configurations for the protection of bridge piers against floating debris was analysed. The study focuses on identifying an optimal configuration under subcritical free-surface flow conditions. The selected configuration was further evaluated under varying boundary conditions. The results demonstrated that deflector geometry significantly influences debris redirection; asymmetrical configurations promote rotation and effective redirection of debris, whereas symmetrical geometries tend to result in jamming. The optimal configuration reduces redirection time and decreases forces acting on the pier by transferring part of the hydrodynamic load to the deflector. Increasing Froude numbers further reduce the redirection time. It was shown that the deflector maintains its effectiveness across different hydraulic conditions. However, the model relies on several simplifications, and experimental validation is required. Future work should include more realistic debris representations and account for the effects of scour.
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