Overtopping induced failure of non-cohesive, homogenous fluvial dikes

Breach; dike failure; fluvial dike; non-cohesive; overtopping; subaqueous reconstruction; laser profilometry; image processing; hydraulic modelling; flood; flood risk; flood risk management

Abstract :

[en] Accurate predictions of breach characteristics are necessary to reliably estimate the outflow hydrograph and the resulting inundation close to fluvial dikes. Laboratory experiments on the breaching of sand-filled fluvial dikes were performed, considering a flow parallel to the dike axis. The breach was triggered by overtopping of the dike crest. A detailed monitoring of the transient evolution of the breach geometry was conducted, providing key insights into the gradual and complex processes involved in fluvial dike failure. The breach develops in two phases: (1) the breach becomes gradually wider and deeper eroding on the downstream side along the main channel, and (2) breach widening controlled by side slope failures, continuing in the downstream direction only. Increasing the inflow discharge in the main channel, the breach formation time decreases significantly and the erosion occurs preferentially on the downstream side. The downstream boundary condition has a strong influence on the breach geometry and the resulting outflow hydrograph.

Research Center/Unit :

Aquapôle - ULiège

Disciplines :

Civil engineering

Author, co-author :

Rifai, Ismail ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Form. doct. sc. ingé. & techn. (archi., gén. civ. - paysage)

Erpicum, Sébastien ; Université de Liège > Scientifiques attachés au Doyen (Sc.appliquées)

Archambeau, Pierre ; Université de Liège > Département ArGEnCo > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)

Violeau, Damien; EDF R&D - LNHE > Laboratoire National d'Hydraulique et Environnement

Pirotton, Michel ; Université de Liège > Département ArGEnCo > HECE (Hydraulics in Environnemental and Civil Engineering)

El kadi Abderrezzak, Kamal; Electricité de France (EDF)-R&D

Dewals, Benjamin ; Université de Liège > Département ArGEnCo > Hydraulics in Environmental and Civil Engineering

Language :

English

Title :

Overtopping induced failure of non-cohesive, homogenous fluvial dikes

Publication date :

April 2017

Journal title :

Water Resources Research

ISSN :

0043-1397

eISSN :

1944-7973

Publisher :

American Geophysical Union, Washington, United States - District of Columbia

Volume :

Issue :

Pages :

3373–3386

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016WR020053/abstract

Available on ORBi :

since 23 March 2017

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