The stability of foreland types under dike breach conditions - an experimental study

Due to accelerating climate change, which entails more extreme storm conditions and exponential sea level rise, the protective function of our dikes and levees is under growing pressure. The presence of so-called forelands (e.g., beach, mudflat, and tidal marsh) are promising Nature-based Solutions to reduce the probability of dike failure and...

The effects of forelands on embankment breaching in coastal and river regions

Embankments are one of the key aspects of flood protection programs. As the sea levels are expected to rise the coming decades coastal protection is becoming increasingly important. To better prepare for the future, increased understanding of embankment breaching is desired. An area of embankment breaching that has been relatively left untouched...

Retardation of breach growth under high flow velocities: Applicability of a bentonite-additive

People all around the world live and work in low-lying areas. Low-lying areas have to be protected against high water levels in rivers and at sea by a water protection system (e.g. by dunes, dikes and barriers). Dikes are an important component within water protection systems. Generally, dikes are described as elongated naturally occurring or...

Design of a breach retardant dike

Sand dikes have a sand core and a clay layer to protect the core against erosion. It is not unlikely that this layer fails due to several failure mechanisms, exposing the sand core to water. This can be catastrophically when water is overtopping the dike. In case the protective cover fails, water can flow over the core and erode the sand,...