UTFacultiesETDepartmentsCEMResearch groupsWater Engineering and ManagementResearchModelling of wave overtopping erosion for flood defence reliability

Modelling of wave overtopping erosion for flood defence reliability

Type
PhD research

Duration
2017-2021

Persons involved
Vera M. van Bergeijk, MSc. (PhD candidate)
Prof. dr. Suzanne J.M.H. Hulscher (Promoter)
Dr. Jord J. Warmink (daily supervisor)

Funding of the project
NWO – STW

Other stakeholders
Stichting Toegepast Onderzoek Waterbeheer
Rijkswaterstaat
Deltares
HKV – Lijn in water
Royal HaskoningDHV
Arcadis
Witteveen en Bos
Hillblocks
Rivierenland
Aa en Maas
Vechtstromen
Noorderkwartier

Summary of the research
This PhD project focusses on the modelling of wave overtopping erosion for flood defence reliability. During storms, waves overtop the dikes and cause erosion on the landward side of the dike. The erosion due to wave overtopping can lead to a dike breach. For this reason, it is important to determine the probability of dike failure due to wave overtopping. However, there is still a lot unknown about the wave overtopping process and its erosional effects.

The goal of the project is to gain better understanding of the wave overtopping flow and the erosion due to wave overtopping. In this project, an idealized wave model and a detailed hydrodynamic model will be developed to simulate the overtopping flow over the dike crest and the landward slope. These models will be coupled to an erosion model for the dike cover to investigate the erosional effects due to wave overtopping. This project focusses on the influence of transitions in dike cover and dike geometry on the overtopping flow and the overtopping erosion.

This project is part of the All-Risk program: “Implementation of new risk standards in the Dutch flood protection program”. This program investigates flood risk and how measures such as flood defences can reduce this risk. The All-Risk program is a collaboration of of various universities (RU, TUD, UT, UU and WU), research institutes (NIOZ and Unesco-IHE) and user groups.

Keywords 
Wave overtopping, dike erosion, transitions, flood defence reliability, hydrodynamic modelling,

More information
Vera van Bergeijk 
Room Horst W203
Tel. +31 53 489 7882 
E-mail v.m.vanbergeijk@utwente.nl