The revetments on the waterside slopes of dikes are loaded by wave impacts. While the lower parts of these revetments are generally made out materials such as asphalt, blocks, rubble mound, the top part (especially of sea dike) is generally covered by grass.
The current models used in the design and safety assessment of revetments are derived based on regular slopes of about 1V:3H. The wave pressures which are exerted by wave impact on these slopes generally do not fluctuate significantly between different types of revetment (in example in case of grass or asphalt). Wave impact is then described by the formula of van Mourik (in case of grass) or by a Minersom fatigue model (in case of asphalt). However, these models have limited applicability in case of gentler or steeper slopes.
This research focuses on how the inclination of the slope and berms affect wave pressures exerted by wave impacts on dike revetments. It aims to quantitatively describe the effect of slopes and berms on how grass covers and asphalt revetments are loaded by wave impacts, using modeling techniques such as OpenFOAM. Secondly (and when possible in this thesis), it aims to derive new (design) formulas to take these effects into account in the design and safety assessment of grass covers and asphalt revetments.
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