Breaching Flow Slides and the Associated Turbidity Currents: Large-Scale Experiments and 3D Numerical Modelling

Underwater slope failure is a common problem in the fields of geotechnical, dredging and hydraulic engineering, posing a major risk to submerged infrastructure and flood defences along coasts, rivers, and lakes. The term ‘flow slide’ refers to a specific, complex failure mechanism of underwater slopes, which occurs when a substantial amount of...

Modeling of Breaching-Generated Turbidity Currents Using Large Eddy Simulation

Breaching flow slides result in a turbidity current running over and directly interacting with the eroding, submarine slope surface, thereby promoting further sediment erosion. The investigation and understanding of this current are crucial, as it is the main parameter influencing the failure evolution and fate of sediment during the breaching...

Bank Erosion Processes in Regulated Navigable Rivers

Vessel-induced waves affect the morphology and ecology of banks and shorelines around the world. In rivers used as waterways, ship passages contribute to the erosion of unprotected banks, but their short- and long-term impacts remain unclear. This work investigates the effects of navigation on bank erosion along a reach of the regulated Meuse...

Wave overtopping: Impact of water jets on grassed inner slope transitions

The safety of a large part of the Netherlands depends on sea dikes. Due to climate change, a sea level rise is predicted. Together with stronger storms and more wave attack, wave overtopping on the current dikes will increase. As a response, crest levels of the dikes need to be raised in order to meet the present regulations for wave overtopping...

Breach Erosion of Earth Dams

In this report a breach erosion model for earth dams is presented. Descriptions of historical earth dam failures and data of (field) experiments are used to form a model in which the geometric development of the breach is emphasised. Three components form the basis of this model: 1. A water balance in which the inflow into the upstream reservoir...